A Disgusting Story (Part A)

What God is doing with this 19th chapter is pulling back the curtain to show us the evil in the land evil amongst the people that were called to a higher life is pointing out results of idolatry that the people were religious but they were righteous, not every single one of them. But enough of them to cause the Civil War and almost the entire annihilation of the whole tribe. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Judges. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching. Now here's Pastor Rick in Judges chapter 19 as he begins a brand-new message called a disgusting story. Judges 19 the fun is over. That's it. This is not a good story. The title a disgusting story. I could've used a theological term and would not obstruct much interest.

I could've said a depraved story. It is a depraved story but it's disgusting so disgusting that it's painful to read. If you would just sit down and read this 19th chapter of Judges, it would I think the right to soul.

It would bother them the behavior of the men in this chapter is entirely inexcusable and it is there depravity that leads to many pointless deaths that we get in the next chapter, the casting away of God's moral law is the result of the rot that comes out of the hearts of these these people a come straight out of hell. This desire to get rid of God's moral law. We living it, unlike ever before in our country. One of the sickest stories in the Bible.

Unfortunately, there are a couple of others are as sick as God just not editing out the facts. Interesting thing about facts don't care about our feelings. They are what they are and it is best to try to be on the same side of the facts.

Then on the opposite side of them, but again their part in this is not going to come no cultural justification. There is does nothing about the agent they lived in that supports any of their appalling acts and it is a vomitus list of characters I'm setting it up pretty good and it illustrates for all of us. The full-blown blindness and the savagery of sin when it is rampant in the society when there is no salt of the earth to slow it down. No heroes only villains at Anna victim one almost victim also what God is doing with this 19th chapter is sees pulling back the curtain to show us the evil in the land evil amongst the people that were called to a higher life is pointing out the results of idolatry that the people were religious but they were righteous, not every single one of them.

But enough of them to cause a Civil War and almost the entire annihilation of the whole tribe. Give via of Benjamin is where the atrocities take take place had become like Sodom and Gomorrah is a something you put your finger on the symbol open, who now accepted. They turn their back on God so thoroughly so deliberately that hell just had a field day with the hearts the minds the conscience.

The total breakdown of morality.

So we look now at the first verse and it came to pass in those days when there was no king in Israel that there was a certain Levite staying in the remote mountains of Ephraim, he took for himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. This no king in Israel is been emphasized already twice. This is the third time it was reduced still be another. Of course it is telling us that the book was published in the days of the Kings with other evidences within Judges internal evidences that alert us to the deference we get to do chapter of verse 10 going to refer to Jerusalem is JBoss and and with the parentheses at that Jerusalem should be noted not occur or get the name change until David became king and he says here in verse one there was a certain Levite. Now here's another Levite, another spiritual leader, religious leader with shameful behavior. He is not centered on righteousness and isn't in actions will bring that out as well as his actions is not the same Levite that we read in chapter 17 and 18. And yes, the historian is saying listen. The land had those recalled to preach the word to uphold it in the don't they were doing it and as a result. This is what we got its negligent spiritual negligence. What happened what would happen if you had a solid church in the community with the pastor preached the word of God X positionally open a verse by verse. Even in nobody in the congregation preached anybody would be horrific just sat on who this is just good it would tickle tickle leaders. So this Levite again not the same one as we read he was bad enough. This Levite is a savage says staying in the remote mountains of Ephraim, that's a Levite settlement within Ephraim's territory. They were given land for the Levites read that in Joshua 21 and the rest of the children of color have had 10 cities by lot from the families of the tribe of Ephraim cohabit was, of course, Levite continues in verse 20 took for himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.

Now we got talk about these concubines, then the problem that the name sounds like concubine about the men that created this system.

He likely had a wife at least one other wife. In addition to the concubine and they were female servants for men. It was legal at this time in Israel. Or maybe I should say it this way was not illegal. There were actual laws given by God to Moses for the people concerning concubines. They were inferior wives with lesser rights and the children that they bore also would have lesser rights and less of an inheritance. This created strife whenever polygamy shows up in Scripture it it never is, is cast in a good light is always a problem laden which strife is almost as if God allowed these things to happen so he can show future generations. The folly of it all and the rabbis eventually wrote God gave Adam one wife on record and saw a man should have one wife Paul would ring in on that repeat carried over into the church also well she was regarded as part of the family often selected to bear children.

Hagar was a concubine of Abraham soul were billed that Bill and Zilpha Concha concubines of Jacob, and they were selected to have children for Jacob and again these assistant wives. It was a disaster there and no less than 31 accounts in Scripture of polygamists in the Old Testament, both good and bad men alike Abraham. As I mentioned in Jacob May Hoar, Abraham's brother is said to have had a concubine. Of course the Kings first three for sure. King Saul, David and let's not forget Solomon Solomon, as he did everything large and wrong. After a certain point it at 300 of them is no excuse for that you would be trouble to justify him having three or 800 wives or however many I lost count after 400 and you could you could somewhat okay. They were political. I'm not justifying I'm not saying it's right they dissuade his heart from the Lord. But if you wanted to look at it from a secular rely duality of a political marriage you will one other document you need them political gain from having concubine get all those wives while they were in all cutdown expenses anyway. This is given to us. In contrast, also what a stark difference is the way God treated Israel as a wife and not as a concubine, yet the nation never really seem to figure it out and not for a long stretch of time. Now it is fair to say that the Jewish people were surrounded by this behavior. Their entire existence of justice throughout the ancient land. It was, not something they created, but it was everywhere, and Solomon's falling headlong into it. Of course, does not justify his behavior.

Gideon great man of God.

Nobody can dispute we all love the story of Gideon. Most of us, but this fact in it and again factional care about your feelings.

Judges aid verse 30 and 31. Judge Gideon was set had 70 sons who were his own offspring, for he had many wives and let us told us that I'm 70 sons, you need to tell me had many wives there was a lawn anyway and it continues verse 31 Judges 8 and his concubine who was in Shechem but wasn't content with many wives concubine that brought you and raise up Abimelech. He was a murderer print problems okay if we've gotten concubine a jet of the way. For now from Bethlehem in Judah. Again Bethlehem knew not what she would mean to humanity to the human conduct of mankind by producing as places go the Messiah.

Verse not verse two, but his concubine played the harlot against him, and went away from him to her father's house at Bethlehem in Judah and was therefore four months and was therefore months now. There's a bit of a challenge to what she actually did or did not do was it harlotry or disharmony in the relationship and is there's a basis for this challenge because the Old Testament agreed Hebrew words as they can be tough.

Some of them in all the scholars we think this is it based on the root word that's connected to it and that's how they get to the bottom of the difficult ones. Others homonyms to sound so close to another one that did the meaning could be obscured.

The Vulgate, which is the Latin translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, the Septuagint is the Greek the Targum, the Aramaic, and then you have. Josephus the historian was a Jew and Josephus is not always that trustworthy, but still he is closer to the events and that you can account for something as opposed all four of those did not understand this word to mean infidelity marital infidelity because of the Harmon and they don't translate that way. They believe that she was not guilty of harlotry but of disharmony disagreements with this Levite.

She said fine him going home dad I can't take you anymore so she left only about .10 miles or so, and this is evidence within the story to support this. Had she been guilty as a concubine of infidelity. In Leviticus 19 verse 20 it seems to say that she would have been guilty, found guilty and scourged, but not put to death when he have taken her back is Levite, that would've been us you would say what I would do all of this would be socially unacceptable. We had bigger problems in this that they were just ignoring so you really challenge to to figure out what was going on in his empty head again. He's a savage is nothing redeeming about this Levite, when the pressures on losing out to him will come the filth alike.

And I don't think anybody should like this got this type of a character or lease of the light, not because there by the grace of God go I, the light of it so much but this is not these are not virtues that were being faced with were being faced with the absence of virtue. So anyway, the Septuagint says that the woman became angry with the Levite and went to her father and if she had children with him. She was probably too young at this point come to that moment they would be legitimate children, so this he had some status but second class and she went to her father's house in Bethlehem, which is not that forestry then her husband arose and went after her to speak kindly to her and bring her back having his servant and a couple of donkeys with him, so she brought him into her father's house and when the father of the young woman saw him he was glad to meet him apparently began to miss her. Sounds like a real romance going on here, but it's not and I don't take any not agree full review. It's just us. The story is hard to horrific to embarrass yourself by trying to look for some Silverlining that does not exist. He was speaking kindly to her, it says here to speak kindly to her to bring her back again.

Sounds like love is not even close is all selfish at all for him. He just wants her in caring about her. He wants to know how the just interesting how I can satisfy himself, so she brought him to her father's house.

She's young again will get that second.

This is a tragic not a happy ending. When her father when the father the bottom of verse three, the father of young woman saw him he was glad to meet him.

The father of the young woman that specification I think is there to alert us to the fact that the Levite is proud of what you would say the ideal age range for range for locum perceptible as ruthless, no problem, but significant of the story is her father and this Levite going to hit it off they can identify with each other to be buddies as you rocketed up the whole time and that in itself is not bad is just not enough. The father does not appear to be a rotten apple in the story, but the rest of the men do verse four. Now his father-in-law. The young woman's father detained him and he stayed with him three days so they ate and drank and lodged there.

Verse five and it came to pass on the fourth day that they arose early in the morning and he stood to department the young woman's father said to him, son-in-law, refresh your heart with a morsel of bread and afterward go your way. I pause there. Some of this is cultural, and this expected me I did to me you would be seated in from our culture is deceptive. You know you are trying to get me to stay the whole week you need to just take a little bit and go, but you really like Lehman got a guy onto a really this is cultural… Kind of saves face you know you you you give the person opportunities up until the one culture that they fill the TV up on your cup to halfway as you go through the meal when they fill it up all the way the testing you is time to go home as a very subtle and nice way to try it here. Nobody will get it deported until it flows over all over the table and need to still stay yet the telemarketer and the lights of England. Anyway, verse six, so they sat down and the two men ate and drank together than the young woman's father said to the man please be content to stay all night in the chart be married and when the man stood to the parties father in law urged him so he lodged there again. So there enjoying the company five days of eating and drinking.

This Levite seems to not be paying a cent for us have little time. So much so that three times in this one chapter, we read that he ate and drank. He ate and drank. He ate and drank father was good with that.

He was good with no abuse. There verse eight. Then he rose early in the morning on the fifth day to department the young woman's father said please refresh your heart so he delayed until afternoon, and both of them ate two fat after a while you so what were getting. Knowing the man if if if we if the man was noble when the when the trouble came. We would be looking at this in an entirely different light. We would say he must've been a strong character to do you know what what what we end up with the must've been a fun guy nice guy to be with you just had no courage and no sense of duty as a Levite, was there a sense on it other than his heart was there a call of duty on his life. You have to have a reason to live. Just you know eating and drinking stunned enough that catches up after a while. Even as you get older you want a purpose in life. God always says well you know as a backup plan. You can always pray you can get serious about praying.

Find out what to put on that list anyway. We, of course, Christians.

We have a call of duty. We are called to duty in a world of lost souls, and antichrist. I mean, now more than ever, we don't have people who just are interested in Christ would disagree with them. They actually aggressively they hate him and in on you like as it was during the Communists years in Eastern Europe. James chapter 4 verses 89 drawing near to God, he will draw near to you sooner saying is this Levite doing any of this, the same calling was on his life, and your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. James is saying if you if you not serious about saving souls in righteousness need to get serious with James is saying is what please.

Ecclesiastes 76 like the crackling of thorns under a pot so is the laughter of the full. This also is vanity no purpose in life. There is nothing there that is attractive and again the not not knowing the father, Lauren, anymore than his daughter was a concubine. He seems just have been having a good time with the Levite we cannot Nessus quickly put him in the same category as this Levite. Verse nine when the man stood to department.

He and his concubine and his servant, his father-in-law, the young man's the young woman's father said him look today is not going toward evening, please spend the night to the day is coming to an end large here to heart me. Maybe Mary tomorrow go your way early so that you may get home. However, verse 10. The man was not willing to spend the night so he rose and departed came to JBoss.

That is, Jerusalem with him to settle.

Doc is his concubine was also with him. And of course the servant so finally this is enough is enough. I've got to get home and he is now determined to leave. It is true some visitors don't know when the leave in turn AC off of the heat and given hints.

I don't sometimes you know you have a good time. You don't know when it ended me as honestly as the Camilo tricky thing, something so that they look like they're really having a lot of I'm having a lot of maybe I should leave now and then. Hell, the sudden the wife and husband living on the time to go just life. I like the teacup thing with we should institute that everybody start buying teacups and don't fill them up into your ready. Tough crowd. I figured as much.

Verse 11, they were near JBoss and the day was far spent in the servant said to his master come, please let us turn aside into the city of the Jebusites and lodged in it. Now the general JBoss originally salmon your Melchizedek king of Salem now JBoss, the Jebusites had had.taken possession of and they they are mean lot they they mocked David in knowing we can defend the city without you know those who are for F who are fit for combat, they can beat you back.

David and David said the man gets in open client of the well of JBoss and opens the gate for us.

He becomes commander of Army and Joab of course he did it. There were others probably going to make a move and he saw Joab look at them as we better just let Joab do it anointing about him, you do not want to be on the sword, piercing side of Joab so and that that comes later after Davis is King in Israel. So here these Jebusites not being Jews.

The Levite turns his nose up to them. I will stay with these Gentiles is a Canaanites and their disgusting is 5 miles from Bethlehem to JBoss and it's about another four to give me a which is the next Jewish village there, fearing night travel and that's what the servant says that snow is getting dark Stern here verse 12, but his master said to him, we will not turn aside here into a city of foreigners who were not children of Israel. We will go to give you was racially motivated not spiritually and yellow carefully obedience God righteousness simply hated Canaanites and would not be these Jebusites who commit this heinous crime is on the way the people of God move thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Judges cross reference radio is the teaching ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia. If you'd like more information about this ministry, we invite you to visit our website cross reference radio.com you will find additional teachings from Pastor Rick available there and encourage you to subscribe to our podcast by doing so you will be notified of each new edition of cross reference radio.

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