King James Daily Bible Study: A Season
Date: Wednesday March 30, 2011
Chapters: Judges 20-21
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-march-30
Details of Today's Reading: The civil war between Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, the tribe of Benjamin nearly destroyed, the Israelites weep for the tribe if Benjamin.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
When you hear about all the wars and natural disasters going on around the world today one can not help, but weep, if you are human, you must have some kind of compassion for those who are suffering, especially when they really have no idea what is going on. Even Jesus cries and prays for His people, He may place judgment upon all, but He does not wish any to end up in hell. The Bible says:

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

Through one man's sin elevated a civil war between the entire nation of Israel against one tribe, the Benjamites. Why? It was the Benjamites who allowed the children of Belial, who were sodomites, to dwell in their land.

“And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge. And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead. And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel. Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel...So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.” - Judges 20:4-7,11.

The Levite wanted vengeance for the tragic death of his concubine. While we are all responsible for our own actions, God will use circumstances like these to His advantage. The war was not only an act of judgment upon all of Israel, it was an act of repentance and a reminder that we are all children of God. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” - Romans 8:16-18.

The first two times that Israel finally began seeking God's counsel He allowed the Benjamites to defeat them. “And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men. And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day. (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.) And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day. And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.” - Judges 20:21-25.

Truthfully, Israel was right to go up against the Benjamites, their disobedience to God was enough to cause God to place judgment upon them. However, God allowed the Benjamites to defeat Israel for one reason and one reason only. To get them to repent as well.

“Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.” - Judges 20:26-28.

What comes to mind here is, no sin goes unpunished, one might think that they have gotten away with something, but it all catches up to them eventually. And until they repent, there is no peace. “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;” - Romans 2:9-12.

God lead Israel to destroy nearly all the Benjamites, but after the war they cried, had compassion on their brother, and helped them get things back in order.

“And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore; And said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel? And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings...And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance. In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” - Judges 21:2-4,24,25.

We are all brothers and sisters in Christ, yes, we are going to suffer affliction through others sin, we are going to fight, but just like Jesus loves all, gave His life for all, and forgave them, we too are to show love and compassion to all who have wronged us. Once again, we learn that there was no king in Israel, which means if they had set their eyes on God they would have known that He was their king. “Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.” - Psalm 72:11-14.

There is a time and season for all things to come to pass, while justice may or may not be what we think is fair, it's all God's call. He is in control, He is King of all and He takes care of His own, whether it be through rewards, trials, or chastisement. All things that we go through are for our own good, one day we will see the blessings through them. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the Deliverer (20:26-28). Jesus is our deliverer. “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:” - II Peter 2:9.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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