Judges 20:29-48

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Tribe of Benjamin is Defeated

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. God's assistance is not necessarily a sign of God's approval.

  2. God can suddenly change the course of events.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Can we say, "Better dead than depraved?"

QUESTIONS

  1. What did the Levite do when his concubine was violated?

  2. Because of this act, how did Israel respond?

  3. How was the story of Lot and Sodom and Gomorrah comparable to this story? What was different?

  4. Was Israel faultless in this incident?

  5. Why did the Lord allow Israel to be defeated twice before the victory?

ANSWERS

  1. He cut her body into twelve pieces and sent a piece to each of the tribes in Israel.

  2. Israel was outraged when they heard the story, so that they went to war in order to discipline Benjamin for allowing such events to happen.

  3. Both involved the sin of homosexuality. The difference was that the men of Sodom and Gomorrah were not God's people, whereas the men of Gibeah were God's people.

  4. No, because it took such horrendous deeds to finally cause moral outrage in Israel.

  5. To make Israel realize that they had to get right before the Lord before they could have victory.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. God assisted Israel in winning the war over Benjamin, but He certainly didn’t approve of all that they did. Can you recall cases where Christians and even churches are successful, but God would not approve of their practices and ethics? The Israelites were harsh to the extreme in disciplining Benjamin. Can discipline be carried too far in a Christian home?

  2. The tribe of Benjamin thought they were getting away with their defiant attitude defending the sinful city of Gibeah. But God suddenly changed the course of events. Have you witnessed similar situations, whether on a large or small scale, in your life or in the world around you?

CHALLENGE

  1. During the time of the Judges everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes. But from God’s point of view, there was sin and depravity. The tribe of Benjamin was desensitized to sin, perhaps thinking of homosexuality as simply sexual preference. Does this sound familiar? What will it take to awaken people to God’s holiness?

  2. Beware of viewing success as a sign of God's blessing.

KEY VERSES

  • "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

  • "The Lord defeated Benjamin before Israel." Judges 20:35

Judges, Old Testament, TalksRon ReidJUDGES 20:29-48