Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him. And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly. Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing. But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go. Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light. (Jdg 19:22-26)
One of the harsher and more vile and wicked accounts in the book of Judges. Before the time of the kings, and when there was no judge to deliver the people in Gibeah of the tribe of Benjamen, a traveler is invited into the house of one of the townfolk, rather than lodging outside. Following this, some of the wicked men of the town came calling, not as ambassadors or to extend good will to this visitor, but to rape and abuse him, which they end up doing to his concubine. She ends up dying from her ordeal, and the traveler sends a twelfth part of her to each tribe as a message and a warning, of the sin and wickedness which took place by these Benjamites.
This great sin and wickedness before GOD and within the land of Israel could not stand. Sin must always be dealt with, confessed to GOD, forsaken, and reconciliation with those we have sinned against sought. GOD wants us to forgive others, even as He forgives us. In fact, how we forgive those that trespass against us, can affect how GOD forgives us. Our fellowship with our Saviour, but not our relationship if we are truly in Christ through repentance and faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, can be hampered by our unwillingness to forgive others. He wants brethren to dwell together in unity, to keep the bond of perfectness through the Spirit, as we are family and members one of another.
GOD must punish sIn, for He is Holy, and all sIn is an affront to and great wickedness and rebellion against Him. We may grade on a curve, but He has one standard of Holiness, which no one born of Adam can measure up to, that is why we need the Saviour, Jesus Christ, the mediator between GOD and men. GOD has called His Church, His children, and His servants to live lives of holiness and righteousness in Him as we do His will and accomplish His work in this broken and sinful world. He has called us to Holiness as we represent His Kingdom, His ambassadors, with the Word of reconciliation to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, that they may see Jesus in us, the hope of Glory. GOD has commanded us to love one another, even as He loved us and gave Himself for us. He has commissioned us to His service as witnesses of Him, taking the Gospel as we go, and sharing His Good News of forgiveness and reconciliation with all who will hear, that they might repent and believe in Him and in believing have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
This great sin and wickedness before GOD and within the land of Israel could not stand. Sin must always be dealt with, confessed to GOD, forsaken, and reconciliation with those we have sinned against sought. GOD wants us to forgive others, even as He forgives us. In fact, how we forgive those that trespass against us, can affect how GOD forgives us. Our fellowship with our Saviour, but not our relationship if we are truly in Christ through repentance and faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, can be hampered by our unwillingness to forgive others. He wants brethren to dwell together in unity, to keep the bond of perfectness through the Spirit, as we are family and members one of another.
GOD must punish sIn, for He is Holy, and all sIn is an affront to and great wickedness and rebellion against Him. We may grade on a curve, but He has one standard of Holiness, which no one born of Adam can measure up to, that is why we need the Saviour, Jesus Christ, the mediator between GOD and men. GOD has called His Church, His children, and His servants to live lives of holiness and righteousness in Him as we do His will and accomplish His work in this broken and sinful world. He has called us to Holiness as we represent His Kingdom, His ambassadors, with the Word of reconciliation to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, that they may see Jesus in us, the hope of Glory. GOD has commanded us to love one another, even as He loved us and gave Himself for us. He has commissioned us to His service as witnesses of Him, taking the Gospel as we go, and sharing His Good News of forgiveness and reconciliation with all who will hear, that they might repent and believe in Him and in believing have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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