April 8 – Judges 20:1-11

April 8 – Judges 20:1-11

¹ Then all the people of Israel came out, from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, and the congregation assembled as one man to the Lord at Mizpah. ² And the chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, 400,000 men on foot that drew the sword. ³ (Now the people of Benjamin heard that the people of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the people of Israel said, “Tell us, how did this evil happen?” ⁴ And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came to Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night. ⁵ And the leaders of Gibeah rose against me and surrounded the house against me by night. They meant to kill me, and they violated my concubine, and she is dead. ⁶ So I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel, for they have committed abomination and outrage in Israel. ⁷ Behold, you people of Israel, all of you, give your advice and counsel here.”

⁸ And all the people arose as one man, saying, “None of us will go to his tent, and none of us will return to his house. ⁹ But now this is what we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it by lot, ¹⁰ and we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand, to bring provisions for the people, that when they come they may repay Gibeah of Benjamin for all the outrage that they have committed in Israel.” ¹¹ So all the men of Israel gathered against the city, united as one man.

Soldiers from all over Israel came together to attack Gibeah.  In all the chaos, do you see any hope in this set of verses? 

Take another look at Verse 7.  Is there any movement to realize the crime against the Levite, the woman, the nation, or God?

Do you think they were angered because they knew it could have happened to any of them as well, or was their outrage based on something else?  When someone wrongs a family member, friend or co-worker, to you feel outrage and desire justice, or does it impact you at all?  Are you ever angered realizing it could have happened to you instead of them?

 

Heavenly Father, I know there is righteous anger, but I find most of the time when I feel angry it is a sin, but usually because of my reaction to being angry.  Help me see others the way You see them so I can respond in the right way when I am wronged or someone I care about is treated poorly.  Help me respond instead of reacting in haste.  I know when I react quickly, it is usually in the wrong way.  Help me give at least a portion of the grace You give me.  I don’t deserve Your grace or forgiveness, yet You give it freely.

Thank You Father for Your love, grace and forgiveness.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen!