SHIELD 250109 Judges 20

ACCOUNTABILITY FOLLOW UP

250102 Judges 19: A: △: ▽: T:

Stephen 250102 Judges 19:19–21““Yet there is both straw and fodder for our donkeys, and also bread and wine for me, your maidservant, and the young man who is with your servants; there is no lack of anything.” Then the old man said, “Peace be to you. Only let me take care of all that you lack; however, do not spend the night in the open square.” So he brought him into his house and gave the donkeys fodder, and they washed their feet and ate and drank.” A: Struggling doing bare minimum not acceptable △: Talk to kids - talk to coworkers ▽: Not doing what I am supposed to be doing T: Kids

Tom 250102 Judges 19:22–26“They were making their hearts merry, and behold, the men of the city, certain vile fellows, surrounded the house, pounding the door; and they spoke to the owner of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring out the man who came into your house that we may know him.” Then the man, the owner of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brothers, please do not do evil. Since this man has come into my house, do not commit this disgraceful act. “Behold, my daughter who is a virgin, and his concubine—please let me bring them out that you may violate them and do to them whatever is good in your eyes. But do not commit such a disgraceful act against this man.” But the men were not willing to listen to him. So the man took hold of his concubine and brought her out to them; and they knew her and abused her all night until morning, and they let her go at the breaking of dawn. As the day began to dawn, the woman came and fell down at the doorway of the man’s house where her master was, unt…” A: Process judgment through the Word of God △: Slow down study - think ▽: Life will continue - rash decisions T: Debbie

Lonnie 250102 Judges 19:22–24“They were making their hearts merry, and behold, the men of the city, certain vile fellows, surrounded the house, pounding the door; and they spoke to the owner of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring out the man who came into your house that we may know him.” Then the man, the owner of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brothers, please do not do evil. Since this man has come into my house, do not commit this disgraceful act. “Behold, my daughter who is a virgin, and his concubine—please let me bring them out that you may violate them and do to them whatever is good in your eyes. But do not commit such a disgraceful act against this man.”” A: We are supposed to be protectors △: Bought Sophia a ring ▽: See it in the text T: Lauren and Sophia

Lyle 250102 Judges 19:7 “Then the man arose to go, but his father-in-law pressed him so that he turned back and spent the night there.” A: Made lots of wrong decisions by being persuaded by another △: stronger stand be patient ▽: regrettable decisions T: Alaine

Keith 250102 Judges 19:8 “And on the fifth day he arose to go early in the morning, and the girl’s father said, “Please sustain yourself and wait until afternoon”; so both of them ate.” A: Procrastination putting things off △: admit Keith ▽: Unknown T: Ilene

Mike 250102 Judges 19:20–21“Then the old man said, “Peace be to you. Only let me take care of all that you lack; however, do not spend the night in the open square.” So he brought him into his house and gave the donkeys fodder, and they washed their feet and ate and drank.” A: Responsibility protection provision △: talk to step daughter ▽: no conversation T: Julie Elli Anna

Mark 250102 Judges 19:25 “But the men were not willing to listen to him. So the man took hold of his concubine and brought her out to them; and they knew her and abused her all night until morning, and they let her go at the breaking of dawn.” A: Love my wife as Christ loves the Church △: Protect her mind and heart and body ▽: Can cause problems T: Boo Boo

CONTEXT of Judges 20

In chapter 19 we saw a Levite seek out his concubine and was delayed by the hospitality of his father in law

After the Levite was able to extract himself to head home they left late and had to seek shelter with an Ephraimite in a city of Benjamin

The inhabitants of the city attempted to attack the Levite but the Levite’s concubine was handed over to them and they killed her

The Levite cut his concubine into twelve pieces and sent the body parts throughout the land of Israel to instigate an investigation and bring justice to bear

TEXT ANALYSIS

I. Benjamin Defends Against Israel v1-7

1 Then all the sons of Israel from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, came out, and the congregation assembled as one man to Yahweh at Mizpah. 2 And the chiefs of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, took their stand in the assembly of the people of God, 400,000 foot soldiers who draw the sword. 3 (Then the sons of Benjamin heard that the sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the sons of Israel said, “Tell us, how did this evil take place?” 4 So the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came with my concubine to spend the night at Gibeah which belongs to Benjamin. 5 “Then the men of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded the house at night because of me. They intended to kill me; instead, they violated my concubine, and she died. 6 “And I seized my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout the land of Israel’s inheritance; for they have committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel. 7 “Behold, all you sons of Israel, give your advice and counsel here.”

Takeaway: Given an opportunity to stand for justice we must not be silent Malachi 2:7““For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of Yahweh of hosts.”

II. Mustered for Battle v8-11

8 Then all the people arose as one man, saying, “Not one of us will go to his tent, nor will any of us turn aside to his house. 9 “But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up against it by lot. 10 “And we will take 10 men out of 100 throughout the tribes of Israel, and 100 out of 1,000, and 1,000 out of 10,000 in order to take up provisions for the people, that when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, they may do to them according to all the disgraceful acts that they have done in Israel.” 11 Thus all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, united as one man.

Takeaway: There is strength in numbers, steeling resolve

III. The Benjamites Rebel Against Justice v12-19

12 Then the tribes of Israel sent men through the entire tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What is this evil that has taken place among you? 13 “So now, give up the men, the vile fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and purge this evil from Israel.” But the sons of Benjamin were not willing to listen to the voice of their brothers, the sons of Israel. 14 Then the sons of Benjamin gathered from the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the sons of Israel. 15 And from the cities on that day the sons of Benjamin were numbered, 26,000 men who draw the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah who were numbered, 700 choice men. 16 Out of all these people 700 choice men were left-handed; each one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss. 17 And the men of Israel besides Benjamin were numbered, 400,000 men who draw the sword; all these were men of war. 18 Then the sons of Israel arose, went up to Bethel, and asked of God and said, “Who shall go up for us to begin the battle against the sons of Benjamin?” Then Yahweh said, “Judah shall begin it.”

Takeaway: No matter the odds we must trust the Lord to bring about justice

IV. Israel Defeated in Battle v19-23

19 So the sons of Israel arose in the morning and camped against Gibeah. 20 And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel arranged themselves for battle against them at Gibeah. 21 Then the sons of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and destroyed to the ground on that day 22,000 men of Israel. 22 But the people, the men of Israel, strengthened themselves and arranged themselves for battle again in the place where they had arranged themselves the first day. 23 And the sons of Israel went up and wept before Yahweh until evening and asked of Yahweh, saying, “Shall we again approach for battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin?” And Yahweh said, “Go up against him.”

Takeaway: Success is not measured in numbers

V. Israel Seeks Yahweh - Yahweh answers v24-28

24 Then the sons of Israel drew near to the sons of Benjamin the second day. 25 And Benjamin went out to meet them from Gibeah the second day and destroyed to the ground again 18,000 men of the sons of Israel; all these drew the sword. 26 Then all the sons of Israel and all the people went up and came to Bethel and wept; thus they remained there before Yahweh and fasted that day until evening. And they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yahweh. 27 Then the sons of Israel asked of Yahweh (now the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, 28 and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, Aaron’s son, stood before it to minister in those days), saying, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin, or shall I cease?” And Yahweh said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand.”

Takeaway: The urgent need is not numbers or odds but to depend upon the Lord for success - He cannot fail

VI. Benjamin Finally Defeated v29-35

29 So Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah. 30 And the sons of Israel went up against the sons of Benjamin on the third day and arrayed themselves against Gibeah as at other times. 31 So the sons of Benjamin went out to meet the people and were drawn away from the city, and they began to strike and slay some of the people as at other times, on the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the field, about thirty men of Israel. 32 The sons of Benjamin said, “They are defeated before us, as at the first.” But the sons of Israel said, “Let us flee that we may draw them away from the city to the highways.” 33 Then all the men of Israel arose from their place and arrayed themselves at Baal-tamar; and the men of Israel in ambush burst forth of their place, even out of Maareh-geba. 34 Then 10,000 choice men from all Israel came against Gibeah, and the battle became heavy; but Benjamin did not know that calamity was about to reach them. 35 Then Yahweh defeated Benjamin before Israel, so that the sons of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that day, all who drew the sword.

Takeaway: The best war fighter can be caught in an ambush - be aware

VII. Benjamin Nearly Annihilated v36-48

36 So the sons of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. Now the men of Israel had given ground to Benjamin because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah. 37 So the men in ambush hurried and rushed against Gibeah. Then the men in ambush deployed and struck all the city with the edge of the sword. 38 Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was that they would make a great cloud of smoke rise from the city. 39 So the men of Israel had turned around in the battle, and Benjamin had begun to strike and slay about thirty men of Israel, for they said, “Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle.” 40 But the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, and Benjamin turned behind them; and behold, the whole city was going up in smoke to heaven. 41 Then the men of Israel turned around again, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed; for they saw that calamity had reached them. 42 Therefore, they turned their backs before the men of Israel toward the direction of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them, and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in the midst of them. 43 They surrounded Benjamin, pursued them without rest, and trod them down opposite Gibeah to the east toward the sunrise. 44 Thus 18,000 men of Benjamin fell; all these were valiant men. 45 And the rest turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, but they caught 5,000 of them on the highways and overtook them at Gidom and struck down 2,000 of them. 46 So all of Benjamin who fell that day were 25,000 men who drew the sword; all these were valiant men. 47 But 600 men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and they remained at the rock of Rimmon four months. 48 Now the men of Israel returned to the sons of Benjamin and struck them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city with the cattle and all that they found; they also set on fire all the cities which they found.

Takeaway: The only thing brutal criminals understand is force - the unjust were punished by Yahweh

What Does This Text Say About:

God: The Father, Son, Spirit | People: Believers/Unbelievers

My attitude or behavior - What is the Holy Spirit convicting me about

What is one change that I can make | What is a consequence of not making the change

Who can I teach?

Stephen E. v___ A:_______________△:_______________▽:_______________T:_________

Tom H. v___ A:_______________△:_______________▽:_______________T:___________

Lonnie L. v___ A:_______________△:_______________▽:_______________T:_________

Lyle L. v___ A:_______________△:_______________▽:_______________T:___________

Keith M. v___ A:______________△:_______________▽:_______________T:___________

Mike M. v___ A:_______________△:_______________▽:_______________T:___________

Mark O. v___ A:_______________△:_______________▽:_______________T:__________