Spotted: Levite giving his seconds to Mr. Benjamin. Oh L, did you not realize the consequences of your sin? You may have saved yourself, but wife number 2 to death you sent and so many rules it seems you've bent. So on the stoop the next day is where she stayed, and on the back of a donkey to Ephraim she laid. Did you really think she had any chance of survival? And why in 12 pieces did you cut her upon arrival? To the Israelites you claimed of death you escaped, but why no mention of sacraficing your mate? Oh it seems like a mess you've helped create, by giving your second wife as bait...
Yes, I realize this is April Fool's Day.. but the story you are about to read is 100% from the bible. It is full of selfishness, cowardness, unfaithfulness, and sexual promiscuity. The first time I came across this passage, my jaw dropped... was this really happening??? I mean sure it happens in the real world all the time today, but I mean really, these people are in the Old Testament... A Levite is a descendent of one of the greatest prophets of the OT, Moses AND Levites were chosen by God to be allowed to be an intermediary between God and the Israelites (remember there was separation from God before Jesus)… so doesn’t that mean by default he would be a good an faithful servant, someone who was always faithful to God, who didn't fall prey to sin? Well, as you will see as you read the disturbing story below, that is far from the truth. The Levite was troubled by sin, just like you and I are, but is what he did really that far fetched? I mean sure he did hand his second wife over to men to be raped AND then he later lied about what actually happened to make himself seem like the victim/hero….but the choice was ultimately either himself or her… and if he would so easily give up his concubine for such an act, how much more quickly would he have given her up if the men said “come out so that we may kill you?”. If you were in the same situation as the Levite, and the only choice was you or your spouse, what would you do? I’m sure the answer is an obvious yes and you are probably offended that I even asked it… but seriously think about it, would you really give yourself over to be raped/killed? So maybe you would give yourself, but the only reason you would is because of your deep love and care for your spouse. And who knows, maybe the Levite only had marginal affection for the woman in the form of lust and he didn’t think she was good. Romans 5:7 says it best “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.” NOW go back and imagine the person you like least or possible hate in this life. Would you die for them? Of course not. BUT WAIT! You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6,8). You guys when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of Christ! (Romans 5:10) Now if that isn’t love I don’t know what is. Jesus has already done all the work needed for us to have a relationship with God and have eternal life, but the ball is in our court…we have free will.. it's like receiving a free gift, we can either accept the gift or reject it.. it's that simple. But enough rambling, read the passage for yourself. Below is the majority of Judges 19-20. DISTURBING PARTS ARE IN RED!
Now a Levite took a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. But she was unfaithful to him. She left him. After she had been there four months, her husband went to Bethlehem to persuade her to return and is successful. Levite takes concubine to return to Ephraim. During journey back they decide to rest for the night in Gibeah (home of the Benjamites) and an old man agrees to let them stay at his place for the night.
Yes, I realize this is April Fool's Day.. but the story you are about to read is 100% from the bible. It is full of selfishness, cowardness, unfaithfulness, and sexual promiscuity. The first time I came across this passage, my jaw dropped... was this really happening??? I mean sure it happens in the real world all the time today, but I mean really, these people are in the Old Testament... A Levite is a descendent of one of the greatest prophets of the OT, Moses AND Levites were chosen by God to be allowed to be an intermediary between God and the Israelites (remember there was separation from God before Jesus)… so doesn’t that mean by default he would be a good an faithful servant, someone who was always faithful to God, who didn't fall prey to sin? Well, as you will see as you read the disturbing story below, that is far from the truth. The Levite was troubled by sin, just like you and I are, but is what he did really that far fetched? I mean sure he did hand his second wife over to men to be raped AND then he later lied about what actually happened to make himself seem like the victim/hero….but the choice was ultimately either himself or her… and if he would so easily give up his concubine for such an act, how much more quickly would he have given her up if the men said “come out so that we may kill you?”. If you were in the same situation as the Levite, and the only choice was you or your spouse, what would you do? I’m sure the answer is an obvious yes and you are probably offended that I even asked it… but seriously think about it, would you really give yourself over to be raped/killed? So maybe you would give yourself, but the only reason you would is because of your deep love and care for your spouse. And who knows, maybe the Levite only had marginal affection for the woman in the form of lust and he didn’t think she was good. Romans 5:7 says it best “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.” NOW go back and imagine the person you like least or possible hate in this life. Would you die for them? Of course not. BUT WAIT! You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6,8). You guys when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of Christ! (Romans 5:10) Now if that isn’t love I don’t know what is. Jesus has already done all the work needed for us to have a relationship with God and have eternal life, but the ball is in our court…we have free will.. it's like receiving a free gift, we can either accept the gift or reject it.. it's that simple. But enough rambling, read the passage for yourself. Below is the majority of Judges 19-20. DISTURBING PARTS ARE IN RED!
Now a Levite took a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. But she was unfaithful to him. She left him. After she had been there four months, her husband went to Bethlehem to persuade her to return and is successful. Levite takes concubine to return to Ephraim. During journey back they decide to rest for the night in Gibeah (home of the Benjamites) and an old man agrees to let them stay at his place for the night.
22While they were enjoying themselves, some of the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, "Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him." 23The owner of the house went outside and said to them, "No, my friends, don't be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don't do this disgraceful thing. 24 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." 25 But the men would not listen to him. So the man took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her and abused her throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go. 26 At daybreak the woman went back to the house where her master was staying, fell down at the door and lay there until daylight. 27 When her master got up in the morning and opened the door of the house and stepped out to continue on his way, there lay his concubine, fallen in the doorway of the house, with her hands on the threshold. 28 He said to her, "Get up; let's go." But there was no answer. Then the man put her on his donkey and set out for home. 29 When he reached home, he took a knife and cut up his concubine, limb by limb, into twelve parts and sent them into all the areas of Israel. 30 Everyone who saw it said, "Such a thing has never been seen or done, not since the day the Israelites came up out of Egypt. Think about it! Consider it! Tell us what to do!"
…2The leaders of all the people of the tribes of Israel took their places in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand soldiers armed with swords. 3 Then the Israelites said, "Tell us how this awful thing happened." 4 So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, said, "I and my concubine came to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night. 5 During the night the men of Gibeah came after me and surrounded the house, intending to kill me. They raped my concubine, and she died. …
P.S. this event set in motion a civil war amongst the Israelites. 400,000 Israelites rally against their own people (the Benjamites) and killed over 100,000 men, women, and children. Eeek.
P.S. this event set in motion a civil war amongst the Israelites. 400,000 Israelites rally against their own people (the Benjamites) and killed over 100,000 men, women, and children. Eeek.
Posts
Special thanks to B who wrote the Gossip Girl intro!
ReplyDelete