To this point, what we have learned of Israel is that it is a really messed up nation. It clearly doesn't see this fact either. Not unlike America today. I'm sure there are a few that realize it but not enough to make an forceful difference at the human level. A totally apostate and backslidden nation. What makes this scenario even more sad is it is God’s chosen people. We painstakingly enter the Chapters of Judges 19-21. All of these chapters center around the Tribe of Benjamin. They were involved in gross immorality that inevitably leads to an Israelite civil war.
Chapter 19:
1. Personal or individual moral bankruptcy.
2. A Levite (priestly lineage marrying a harlot)
3. They travel and end up stopping at Gilbeah a city of Benjamites
4. People of the city demand the man for homosexual gratification
5. His concubine is substituted instead, she's subsequently abused/raped to death
6. The rest of Israel reacts in outrage.
Chapter 20-21:
1. Political anarchy and national moral bankruptcy
2. Benjamites offered chance to turn over offenders, Benjamites instead declare war.
3. The other 11 tribes fought the single Benjamite tribe
4. Stubbornness beyond reason or common sense. We see here a group of people given over to reprobate minds mentioned in Romans 1 here.
5. Benjamites are nearly destroyed. So much so that the other tribes weep at the near eradication of the tribe of Benjamin.
6. So too the backslidden nature of the other tribes is now exposed. There is a failure to consult God on what to do and end up killing Jabesh-gilead people because of failure to participate.
7. All tribes agree that kidnapping woman for the remaining Benjamites is the proper way to get them wives. Say what?!?!
Synopsis:
Israel is broken and spiritually destitute as is evidenced by their total and complete failure to acknowledge God in any way shape or form. They rely on their own discernment and motives which lead to complete disaster because their reasoning and discernment is flawed. What a mess they were. Sadly, we think the extreme and sordid details of this narrative are sick and disturbing. We think, “oh, that’s the Old Testament, they were backwards then, we’re more advanced now”. Really? Not according to the news that I read online and in the news. They…are us, only a few thousand years removed. The parallels to modern day are striking and if God poured out His wrath in those situations back then who are we to think that we will escape unscathed. Murdering the unborn in the womb. Legalizing prostitution. Legalizing illicit drugs that profoundly affect peoples judgement and more often than not leads to abuse or neglect of children. God has been removed from our institutions of learning, society, our culture.
As much as our culture wants to believe that we have moved on from old myths and as Nietzsche once claimed, "God is dead", they are just being foolishly arrogant and bold. The longer God holds back His wrath the more people believe that he either won't act or He doesn't even exist. By doing this they are building up even more wrath. A self-perpetuating cycle of disobedience and incurring of pending judgement from the Lord. It is not a matter of if it is a matter of when. We are already seeing the punishment begin in the form of God giving people over to their reprobate minds. If this has already happened, punishment is already upon us. It means God has already given man over to a mind or mindset without absolute truth, without sound reasoning...without Him. The last I checked, true punishment like that described about Hell is when man is seperated from God.
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