Wed.’s Devo - The Evil of Gibeah

Read: Judges 19:1-20:48; John 3:22-4:3; Psalm 104:24-35; Provers 14:22-24 This story is one of my least favorite stories in the Bible. It is all upside down and shows the depravity of man’s sins. It proved what life was like when everyone does what is right in their own eyes. It begins with the statement: “Now in those days Israel had no king.” This was so true. God was suppose to be their king but they used him as a military officer who they called upon when they needed help fighting an enemy. They didn’t seem to involve God in their every day life. Women were property who got no respect. Our story is about a man from Ephraim who brought home a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. She became angry at him and ran back home. He went to get her and ended up staying for a while feasting with her father. Finally, he took his concubine and left. They needed to stop for the night but wanted to make sure they stayed in a town in Israel so they traveled to get to Gibeah which was in the territory of Benjamin. They sat in the town square hoping someone would invite them to stay with them but no one did. That evening, and old man who was also from Ephraim met them and invited them to stay with him. He told them it was not safe to stay in the square at night. While they were enjoying his hospitality, evil men from the town beat on his door and demanded give them the man who had come to stay with him so they could have sex with him. Instead, he threw out his concubine. They raped her to death that night and in the morning her husband found her outside the door. He put her body on his donkey and went home. At home, he cut her body into twelve pieces and sent them to each of the tribes of Israel. He called them to fight the town of Gibeah. Everything was wrong about this. He lied and told the tribes that his life was threatened and that they forced his concubine. All of this is half truths. He should have been tried for murder himself. He killed his concubine by not protecting her. Then he defiled her body by cutting it up into pieces. His dramatic appeal stirred up 400,000 armed warriors from all over Israel. They came against Gibeah and lost 26,000 the first day and 18,000 the next. Everyday they cried out to the Lord for help and guidance. God told them to attack every day and on the third time he told them they would win. On the third day, they attacked then ran, driving them out of the city. Another group came into the city from behind and ambushed them. They killed 25,100 of the Benjamite’s strongest warriors and destroyed and killed all in the town. About 600 men escaped to the rock of Rimmon where they lived for four months. The Israelites burned down many towns around Gibeah all belonging to Benjamin. In John, John was approached by one of his disciples who had noticed that people were leaving John’s ministry and going to Jesus to get baptized and hear his teachings. John told the man he was not jealous because he was like the friend of the bridegroom who was thrilled to listen to the vows. Jesus is the bridegroom and he was the one John was pointing everyone to. Jesus was the only one who came down to heaven from God as his son. John told the man that everyone should listen to Jesus; He speaks the words of God. Lord, may we be as humble as John who was not interested in worldly position or fame. May we lift your name high and boast of your power and love.