August 25, 2009
SCRIPTURE: Judges 19
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
WARNING – DISTURBING CONTENT!!!
Look, here is my virgin daughter, and his concubine. I will bring them out to you now, and you can use them and do to them whatever you wish. But to this man, don’t do such a disgraceful thing. [Judges 19:24] The last three chapters of Judges are extremely disturbing, and need to be understood in their biblical context to appreciate the message. Why is this story recorded? Why does God record the horrible behaviours of the old man, the Levite, and the men of Gibeah. How can they offer the virgin daughter and the concubine, as if that wasn’t “such a disgraceful thing”?
This story is recorded as an illustration of how bad things turned in Israel after Joshua died. It compares with the story of Sodom and Gomorrah [Genesis 19:24], and is recorded to show God’s growing anger and judgment against His chosen people. As the beginning of the book predicted, they became as bad as the people of the land they did not remove. This story shows us what happens to a society when its people reject God and His ways. There is an increase in corruption, violence and perversity, and eventually leads to civil war.
Jesus picks up on this when He warns His followers about being rejected as messengers of the kingdom of God. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. [Matthew 10:14-15] To reject God and His kingdom is to inherit judgment. Sodom and Gomorrah is again a pattern for what happens when people reject God.
What do we see today? Spend some time on the internet, or reading the paper, and you will see this increase in corruption, violence and perversity. I can understand why people have rejected Christianity and the church – they have often been as bad as the people of Gibeah. But by rejecting God and Jesus, what has come in its place? Is the world better, when people choose to live their own way?
I believe God records these stories to show us how desperately we need Him, and His help. If we open our eyes, we will see that this story is being played out across the world, in many homes, villages and countries. God have mercy!
PRAYER:
Lord, this world is a mess, and the mess is in me too. Help us to take sin, and our need for help, seriously!
Lord, I sense You directing me to see those two girls, the young virgin daughter and the ‘concubine’ (what a degrading term). What must it be like for this young virgin daughter, to hear her father offer her to the men to abuse her and do what they wanted to her? What kind of relationship did they have? And to offer the women to the men, so that they would not do something disgraceful????????????
That poor woman – child of God – raped and abused all night long, until she died. Think about it, imagine the horror, the hell for her.
Lord, I sense Your anger rising in me, an anger at all such injustice, the kind of stuff still happening today – here in the ‘civilized’ west and all over the world.
You make me think of pornographic images, and the (mostly) men who rape and abuse them visually. What are the stories of those men and women, what led them to this point – rape, abuse, violence, neglect?
Think of child sex slaves, think of prostitutes who are pimped out, and abused if they do not keep it up.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on them, and turn the tables on all who promote and participate in such evil. Lord Jesus, make us angry in the best way possible. Show us what to do, and help us do it!
Lord, please intervene, please set these captives free, please bring their abusers to justice!
What a day to get the internet service back again with a reading like today! What can I say?
The theme in Judges is that every man does what is right in his own eyes. A law unto himself. God is not in the picture. Life without the Lord and . . .
This is like Sodom and Gomarrah. This shows the wickedness of the people – how far they have walked away from the Lord’s guidelines for LIFE. Anything goes. Life is not sacred. We can do what we want. Man is king. Who’s God? Who’s rules? I rule and I can do whatever.
Look at the world today and see how we regard life. Ethnic cleansing. Shoot outs each night. Killings. No regard for another. How far have we fallen!
Lord, may Your people today, see their fallen state and see how much they need you. As the body parts were sent to the people of Israel, may all your people be reminded this day that we must walk in Your light – Kingdom Vision – Total Vision – God Vision rather than our own vision – our own way. Help us daily to live out of Your Word and be GodStrong and LiveStrong by Your Spirit.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit ’till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.