The Desertion of the Levite Concubine

Judges 19:1–10
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Restraint

When religious restraints are removed, we find the moral conditions of a country going down. This fact just shows the basic wickedness of man when he is apart from God. Here we find a religious leader of Israel whose life should have been a shining example of purity taking to himself a concubine (v. 1). In ancient Israel, a concubine was a wife of low estate and a practice that was never divinely approved. He allowed his lust to exceed his loyalty to God! Soon his concubine became angry with him, and she ran home to her father who lived in Bethlehem of Judah (v. 2). Four months later wanting to persuade her to return he traveled to Judah where he stayed with her father several days feasting and drinking (v. 3).

He was gladly welcomed by her father who apparently was seeking to establish good treatment of his daughter in the future (v. 4). A three-day visit would have been normal but when the Levite attempted to return home on the fourth day the father insisted that he stay an extra two days (vv. 5-9 In fact he wanted him to stay another night but in the middle of the afternoon of the fifth day the Levite decided he could stay no longer. He took his servant, his two donkeys and his concubine and traveled north to Jerusalem (v. 10).

Application

What religious restraints can I think of that have been removed from our society today and what are some of the results? For example, Bible reading and prayer in the public schools. Discuss this with my family the seriousness of removing Godly principles from our lives.

Judges 19:1-10 (English Standard Version)

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