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!
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