Hospitality and Intention

Prayer and/or Praise Report

Opening Prayer

Hospitality & Intention

Recap

In our last discussion we learned that the events in chapters 17-21 of Judges more than likely occured in the earlier years of the conquest. This lets us know that the action of Israel in Judges 19-21 is not what they became over time, but who they’ve been all along; they are no different than the other 7 Canaanite nations they were to drive out. The main thing that made them distinct [or holy] was the God they served and the Law they were to follow.

Next we learned that the time period of the Judges was a time of no central authority and no central focus of worship. This brought Israel to follow after their own desires and do as they pleased in their own eyes.

Lastly we did a character study on the Levite & Concubine. The Levite represents the one who should know and hold the standard; they handle the holy things of God and stand in the threshold. When someone sees a Levite they should see the standard of the Lord. The concubine represented the powerless and voiceless whose life depends on those in authority honoring the word of the Lord.

Now that we’ve gotten our foundation laid let us enter into our discussion on the topic of hospitality. Let us begin.

Opening Question

Do you think modern day society is lacking in hospitality?

In our modern day culture of privacy and a much smaller nuclear family, how can good hospitality be expressed?

Main Passage

Judges 19:1–10 ESV

In those days, when there was no king in Israel, a certain Levite was sojourning in the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim, who took to himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. And his concubine was unfaithful to him, and she went away from him to her father’s house at Bethlehem in Judah, and was there some four months. Then her husband arose and went after her, to speak kindly to her and bring her back. He had with him his servant and a couple of donkeys. And she brought him into her father’s house. And when the girl’s father saw him, he came with joy to meet him. And his father-in-law, the girl’s father, made him stay, and he remained with him three days. So they ate and drank and spent the night there. And on the fourth day they arose early in the morning, and he prepared to go, but the girl’s father said to his son-in-law, “Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and after that you may go.” So the two of them sat and ate and drank together. And the girl’s father said to the man, “Be pleased to spend the night, and let your heart be merry.” And when the man rose up to go, his father-in-law pressed him, till he spent the night there again. And on the fifth day he arose early in the morning to depart. And the girl’s father said, “Strengthen your heart and wait until the day declines.” So they ate, both of them. And when the man and his concubine and his servant rose up to depart, his father-in-law, the girl’s father, said to him, “Behold, now the day has waned toward evening. Please, spend the night. Behold, the day draws to its close. Lodge here and let your heart be merry, and tomorrow you shall arise early in the morning for your journey, and go home.” But the man would not spend the night. He rose up and departed and arrived opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). He had with him a couple of saddled donkeys, and his concubine was with him.

Discussion

The Unfaithful Concubine

Judges 19:2–3 “And his concubine was unfaithful to him, and she went away from him to her father’s house at Bethlehem in Judah, and was there some four months. Then her husband arose and went after her, to speak kindly to her and bring her back. He had with him his servant and a couple of donkeys. And she brought him into her father’s house. And when the girl’s father saw him, he came with joy to meet him.”

Unfaithfulness is a painful thing within a relationship. Several people have dealt with it and many have yet to recover. Reasons for unfaithfulness may vary but the conclusion is always the same; people left hurt, broken, and scarred.

But there is a even greater mountain we find very hard to climb, and that is reconciliation after unfaithfulness. Enter the Levite who, after four months, travels to Bethlehem in an effort to speak to her kindly and bring her back.

What could lead to unfaithfulness in a relationship?

Why do you think the concubine left to go back home to her father?

Why do you think the Levite waited four months before going after his concubine?

What causes us to not be faithful to God?

The description of the home life with the Levite and his concubine is perhaps the first introduction of hospitality within this account. While hospitality is for visitors, does our hospitality to strangers differ from how we treat those within the closed doors of our home. How a spouse treats their significant other and their children can either draw them closer or push them away.

Reflection Point: Take a moment to reflect on if your hospitality to visitors and/strangers is more welcoming and has more love, grace, and mercy than the what is shown towards your own house?

Teacher Notes:

Although the word for unfaithful in this text in Hebrew means fornication, unfaithfulness actions aren’t always of a sexual nature.

What are other ways we can be unfaithful in our relationships?

What are ways we can be unfaithful to God?

The Hebrew word for unfaithful means fornication in this passage. However, there are bible commentaries that state the full passage doesn’t support the idea that the concubine was unfaithful through fornication but seems as if she left due to, probably, harsh treatment from the Levite; her husband. This could be supported by the Levite not perusing her till four months had passed; but also Judges 19:2 says that the Levite went “to speak kindly to her” in order to bring her back.

Quick Question: Do you find apologizing hard to do? Why

If we take the position that the concubine committed fornication then according to the law she should have been put to death.

If we take the position that the Levite was harsh towards her she should have been freed.

While we might not be able to grasp the cultural aspect of women being concubines in our modern day society; the reality is there is still a contractual agreement between the two parties. For the concubine to fornicate is breaking of that contract. For the the Levite to find her displeasing, instead of treating her harshly, according the law he was to let her go.

Reflection Questions:

Can you recall the last time, due to harsh treatment, you broke your word and fled from your responsibilities?

Can you recall the last time you was unfaithful to your word, do to your own desires, and you fled from your responsibilities?

Regardless of your position on if the concubine committed fornication or not something occured that caused her to flee from her husband. Either her heart turned from him or his heart turned from her.

Deeper Questions:

When was the last time you thought the Lord was to harsh toward you and/or unfair to you?

When was the last time you was unfaithful to the words of your own prayers that you spoke to the Lord?

Reflection Point: How can we show hospitality to the Lord? How can we not show hospitality to the Lord?

The Hospitality of the Father-in-Law

Judges 19:3–10 “Then her husband arose and went after her, to speak kindly to her and bring her back. He had with him his servant and a couple of donkeys. And she brought him into her father’s house. And when the girl’s father saw him, he came with joy to meet him. And his father-in-law, the girl’s father, made him stay, and he remained with him three days. So they ate and drank and spent the night there. And on the fourth day they arose early in the morning, and he prepared to go, but the girl’s father said to his son-in-law, “Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and after that you may go.” So the two of them sat and ate and drank together. And the girl’s father said to the man, “Be pleased to spend the night, and let your heart be merry.” And when the man rose up to go, his father-in-law pressed him, till he spent the night there again. And on the fifth day he arose early in the morning to depart. And the girl’s father said, “Strengthen your heart and wait until the day declines.” So they…”

What are your first impressions and thoughts on the father-in-laws hospitality.

Hospitality is an age-old custom found in many cultures, but in scripture it has a special importance. In fact, Hebrews 13:2 “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” comes to mind. It puts into words an outlook common to, and expected from, the people of this time. Hospitality to visitors, which is the mainspring of the present story, is very closely associated with personal morality. Although the father-in-law knows his son-in-law [the Levite] it still behooves the father-in-law to submit to the custom of hospitality as we see within the verses. However…

Let Your Heart Be Merry

Judges 19:5–6 “And on the fourth day they arose early in the morning, and he prepared to go, but the girl’s father said to his son-in-law, “Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and after that you may go.” So the two of them sat and ate and drank together. And the girl’s father said to the man, “Be pleased to spend the night, and let your heart be merry.””

It seems the proposition from the father -in-law for the Levite to remain to “Strengthen” his heart was not intended to prepare him for his travel back home; but instead it was offered with the intention to extend the stay of the Levite for as long as possible.

Why do you think the Levite would want to postpone as long as possible the Levites departure?

The father-in-law offered a “morsel of bread” which is common. But it behooves us to keep in mind that it only takes a morsel of something to hold us back from leaving a situation, a lifestyle, or a sin. Just because it’s hospitable doesn’t mean it’s beneficial to you.

Reflection Point: What morsel of something has held you back from growing in your relationship with God? [past and/or present]

What are some other ways that our hospitality even with good intention have a negative affect on others? [personal lives and as a congregation]

Pray & Apply

The heart of this particular lesson is not necessarily about whether or not you’re a hospitable person; but more so the question of do you “think more highly of others than yourself” [ Phil 2:3-8 ]. One can show hospitality with inhospitable intentions. One can roll the red carpet out for strangers while treating wives, husbands, sons, and daughters with a black cold heart. Even the church can be just as two-faced in our showmanship of hospitality towards one and a foot-stole to another.

The Levite might not have set this standard in his home but Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, has set the bare at a height that only can be reached through the Holy Spirit. He emptied himself and became a servant that extended hospitality in a way that made the Jewish leaders show their true cruel intentions;“This man eats with sinners”. But this man “eats with sinners” because this man eats with the intention to give them the gift of eternal life.

What is the morsel of opportunity you are hoping for through hospitality. Metaphorically speaking have you given up your daughter in the effort to pay off your debt but leaving what should be precious to you in the hands of cruelty. Or is the table of hospitality open so that you can have a least a morsel of an opportunity to serve a full course meal of the Gospel of Jesus.

Take the time now to pause and pray to the Lord. Ask him to examine your heart when it comes to hospitality and show you the areas where you need to have a heart that thinks more highly of others.