Judges 20

Services

Sunday Morning Worship: 9:15 am & 11:00 am, Christian Ed: 9:15 & 11 am | Wednesday Night: Girls Ministry and Royal Rangers: 6:15 pm, Wednesday Prayer Service, NC Students Service 6:30 pm l Thursday The Summit (Y/A) Service: 7:00 pm

by: Debbie Galyen

10/09/2025

0

“Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening ...” (v26). All Israel gathered to fight the Benjamites, who were protecting the rapists and murderers of Gibeah (v12-14). Even though Israel “inquired” of God before the war, they still lost many men in the first battles. Finally, they wept and fasted, repenting and acknowledging that civil war represented failure for all sides (v27-28). 

“Tell us, how did this evil happen?” (v3). The Levite’s story was really the story of all Israel: everyone did “what was right in their own eyes” (17:6). When sin goes unchecked among God’s people, everyone suffers.

Blog comments will be sent to the moderator

“Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening ...” (v26). All Israel gathered to fight the Benjamites, who were protecting the rapists and murderers of Gibeah (v12-14). Even though Israel “inquired” of God before the war, they still lost many men in the first battles. Finally, they wept and fasted, repenting and acknowledging that civil war represented failure for all sides (v27-28). 

“Tell us, how did this evil happen?” (v3). The Levite’s story was really the story of all Israel: everyone did “what was right in their own eyes” (17:6). When sin goes unchecked among God’s people, everyone suffers.

cancel save