But she was unfaithful to him. She left him and went back to her parents’ home in Bethlehem, Judah. After she had been there four months, her husband went to her to persuade her to return. – Judges 19:2-3
Evil follows where God’s authority and leadership are not acknowledged. | WATCH ON YOUTUBE
There was no king in Israel. That sets the stage for this terrible story in the following chapters. No king meant more than the absence of a political monarch. It meant that they refused to recognize God’s leadership over them.
This story of the Levite and his concubine is one of the most grotesque and distasteful events recorded in the Bible. It reveals the depths of depravity to which humans can sink apart from the grace of God.
This is the account of a Levite and his concubine who had run away. There are two distinct problems with this situation. The Levite of the priestly tribe of Levi was not to have a concubine. And then there is the problem of the woman being sexually involved with someone else. The Levite travels to bring his concubine back.
The Levite is an example of how an offended spouse should behave in the event of adultery. The woman had broken the bond between them. But he worked hard to bring the relationship back together. Jesus says that divorce is never commanded even when there is adultery (Matthew 19:8). If a partner in marriage is sinned against by adultery, they should still work to make the marriage work and bring healing, to the best of their ability. And yet, apart from the grace of God, it is not an easy task.
How would you help someone who you know, rely on the grace of God, to bring healing and forgiveness?
Lord, help me be your agent of healing and restoration, I pray.
Extended Reading — Judges 19-21
Read through the Bible in One Year: CLICK HERE
Links to Related Resources
Bible Gateway | Enduring Word | Bible Study Fellowship | FRMS YouVersion Plans
0 Comments