Judges 21: One Tribe Lacking
Verse of the Day: (21:3) 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?
1. One (21:1-4)
And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore; (21:2)
The tribe of Benjamin was nearly wiped out after Israel defeated them for siding with the wicked people of Gibeah, and they swore never to have their women married to them. However, God must have spoken to them and pricked their conscience as they worshipped Him in His sanctuary. They became guilty and repented of their sins and wept before Him. They then thought of ways as to how they could preserve the tribe of their youngest brother from extinction. Let us therefore forgive and love one another as our God is forgiving and loving so that we shall be His one big family. (Ephesians 4:1-32)
2. Oath (21:5-24)
And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death. (21:5)
God led Israel in preserving the Benjamites by destroying the people of Jabesh-gilead who earlier failed to honour their oath when they did not show up at Mizpeh for the fight against the Benjamites who had sided with the wicked men of Gibeah. Israel fought and defeated the people of Jabesh-gilead and brought their women to the Benjamites so that they could marry them, and thus preserve themselves from extinction. Beside the women of Jabesh-gilead, God through Israel also commanded the Benjamites to capture and marry the women of Shiloh, and the tribe of Benjamin was preserved. Indeed, God never failed Israel even though they failed Him many times. Till today, God still keeps His oath, as He not only preserved the Benjamites, but the entire nation of Israel. Let us therefore believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and we shall never perish in fiery hell, but shall be preserved through all eternity with Him in glorious heaven. (Deuteronomy 7:7-10)
3. Own (21:25)
In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Israel failed God time and again, because they did what was right in their own eyes, and there was no king to lead and guide them. However, they should have look to God as their King, and trusted and obeyed Him. Indeed, let us trust and obey God with our hearts, and acknowledge Him as our King, and never be wise in our own eyes. (Proverbs 3:5-7)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to fully trust You, and be not wise in my own eyes.
