Day 84 of the podcast, reading Judges 20-21 NET, read along at:
https://netbible.org/bible/Judges+20-21/
This is day 84 of our journey.
As a result of the terrible acts of the people of Gibeah (in the tribe of Benjamin), the 11 other tribes of Israel unite for the first time in generations to make war with them. The Benjaminites refuse to turn over the city of Gibeah and, instead, rally their own army to defend their murderous brothers. Benjamin wins a couple of battles, killing 40,000 Israelites, but are finally destroyed in the third and final battle. The Israelites kill 25,000 Benjaminites and then proceed to destroy all the Benjaminite cities and towns as well. In the end, only 600 Benjaminite men remain, a whole tribe has nearly been wiped away. The Israelites grieve for the loss of the tribe and work hard to preserve them by devising a plot to get wives for them.
Judges ends with that same mournful phrase: "In those days Israel had no king. Everyone did what he considered to be right." It’s a TERRIBLE ending...but a fitting one. Those simple yet painful words are really what the book of Judges is all about. It’s the story of what happens when a nation gives up on God. It's the story of what happens when YOU or I choose to serve our own desires instead of serving the Lord. It is also a beautiful story of God's faithfulness. As we finish the book of Judges, we look back to see that God keeps his promises, God’s Word stands despite man’s unfaithfulness, and that, in the worst of times, God's story isn't finished yet.
Join me in Judges 20-21 to see how low the nation of Israel has fallen and to worship the Lord for his indescribable faithfulness.
Key verses:
Judges 20:26
So all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel. They wept and sat there before the Lord; they did not eat anything that day until evening. They offered up burnt sacrifices and tokens of peace to the Lord.
Judges 21:25
In those days Israel had no king. Each man did what he considered to be right.
All Scriptures are from the NET.