I think Judges 19 holds one of the most horrific crimes in scripture. In fact, it is so heinous that one commentator on this passage, F. B. Meyer, has actually recommended not reading it. He suggests reading the first verse alone: "It will be sufficient to ponder these words, which occur four times in the book, without reading further in this terrible chapter, which shows the depth of the depravity to which many sink apart from the grace of God."
Finding no hospitality in Gibeah as a Levite and his concubine travel home, they are forced to spend their night in the open square. Eventually, an old man from Ephraim sees the couple and invites them to stay at his home. While enjoying fellowship together, troublemakers come and surround the house, demanding the Levite come out so that these perverted men can "know him carnally". (NKJV)
After begging the men of Gibeah to leave and stop behaving so wickedly, all participants in this unfolding drama become guilty, except the concubine herself, who was then abused all night. In the morning, the Levite, discovering her deceased, cuts her body into twelve pieces and distributes the portions to the twelve tribes of Israel. "Everyone who saw it said, 'Such a horrible crime has not been committed in all the time since Israel left Egypt. Think about it! What are we going to do? Who's going to speak up?'"
How do we respond to injustice? What can we do in the face of such atrocity? We wonder why such a gruesome depiction is included in scripture, yet it vividly highlights how far the people have fallen having no king and "all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes." (Judges 17:6)
We cannot disregard or tolerate evil. As the key verse from Judges 19 encourages, we need to consider it, discuss what action should result, and speak up. Warren Wiersbe writes, "When spiritual leaders fail to obey God and set godly examples, the church and the community suffer and ultimately the whole nation decays." Godly influencers need to take a stand.
The moral state of our world today is sadly no different. Allowing conscience to be a guide, instead of God, evil actions are the result. Impurity replaces personal holiness. The ruin of our day reflects those of these ancient people. We should respond in righteous indignation.
One of the greatest problems we face is best described in this quote by Blaise Pascal, "Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it." A growing population participate in such lewd behaviour without even recognizing it as sin. Fear of the evil surrounding us can't silence us. We actually strive against God when we neglect to speak up. This is not a call to convoys, but to conversations. We can't respond to injustice with indifference but Spirit-led involvement, and our initial interaction needs to be on our knees before God in prayer, asking Him to intervene. In whatever way we are then guided to address the issues, we need to remember we are Christ's ambassadors and do so in a way that is still pleasing and honouring to His name.
Our voice against injustice will most likely be met with accusations of being judgmental. The world wants tolerance in all things, but God wants loving confrontation in truth. The boldness to do this won't come from self, but in the Spirit's empowering and enabling. Lasting encouragement is found in knowing that one day God will finally destroy all works of wickedness. Until that time, seek His guidance in the 'how' and 'when', remaining a willing instrument to always share the gospel truth for His glory.
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