While they were enjoying themselves, a crowd of troublemakers from the town surrounded the house. They began beating at the door and shouting to the old man, “Bring out the man who is staying with you so we can have sex with him.” [Judges 19.22]
I cannot even begin to describe here my emotion regarding this event in Bible history. If it were not quite enough that there were men in the town of Gibeah so morally depraved as to advance upon the traveling Levite as they did, we also must somehow reconcile with the idea of the accosted men literally offering women in their stead:
The old man stepped outside to talk to them. “No, my brothers, don’t do such an evil thing. For this man is a guest in my house, and such a thing would be shameful. Here, take my virgin daughter and this man’s concubine. I will bring them out to you, and you can abuse them and do whatever you like. But don’t do such a shameful thing to this man.” [Judges 19.23-24]
So, according to the old host man, it was "evil" and "shameful" for the troublemakers of the town to want to have sex with his traveling male guest. While it is at once refreshing to see this man take a stand against sin, it is then deeply troubling that he would then offer his virgin daughter and the traveler's concubine as if abusing them would be a lesser offense, (if not okay altogether)!
I simply cannot imagine a scenario where it would be okay for the Levite to push his concubine out the door to the perverted troublemakers of Gibeah. And yet, he did just that. Was not the basis of this story that this man had traveled to Bethlehem to retrieve this concubine - as if he desired her for himself? Having retrieved this woman from her father's house was the only reason they were traveling and passing through Gibeah!
I have to re-group my thoughts however to remember that the point of this story is not necessarily this particular event. I must remember that this particular event is indicative of the overall moral condition of the nation of Israel - they were without leadership (Judges 19.1a) and everyone was literally doing 'whatever' (Judges 21.25).
This story does not show me that the men of Gibeah were evil and the Levite was righteous, but rather it shows me that everyone in Israel was messed up! The entire nation needed direction and leadership!
To seek and find Christ in this Old Testament story is difficult. But as the world faces so much similar perverted sexual deviation today, it is obvious to me that the world needs leadership and direction (that is obviously missing as much today as it was in the time of this Bible story). We need leadership and justice to take us away from our seeming default depravity when left alone. If Christ is not our focal point and reason to change, then there simply is no justice.
Father, this story and a typical current evening news broadcast are not so different. In the time of this story, there was no leadership. In current modern times, although there are "leaders" there remains an overwhelming and undeniable lack of "leadership." God help us. Send revival. Raise up leaders who actually lead in true righteousness and justice!
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