 The title of our sermon this evening is a lewdness and outrage in Israel lewdness and outrage in Israel It's from the the Levites words himself in describing what had happened to the benjamites In chapter 20 where he said that he took hold of his concubine cutter and pieces sent her out throughout all the territory of the inheritance of Israel because they committed lewdness and outrage in Israel We're struck by the lewdness That's committed here in Israel and as tonight as we arrive at chapter 19 in our study of the book of judges We descend as it were one of the darkest staircases Enter into one of the darkest rooms and what is one of the darkest corners in the basement of redemptive history? Far away from the light of truth or reason there are dark things that are done there Things done by them in secret that are too shameful even to speak about Dark things done by men who have become futile in their thoughts as Paul would later say their foolish hearts being darkened Professing to be wise they've become fools. We've seen at this point throughout the book of judges How they have continued to exchange the glory of the incorruptible God for an image made like corruptible man Forsaking the law of God multiplying their household idols the covenant people of God now ensnared By the pagan practices of the Canaanites and the Lord had warned them He was careful to warn them about the darkness lurking in that basement You remember from chapter 2 verse 2 the Lord said you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land You shall tear down their altars in other words What fellowship does light have with darkness what accord has Christ with Belial? What part has a believer with an unbeliever right make no covenant covenants with the inhabitants of this land tear down their altars But the Lord said tragically and you have not obeyed my voice. Why have you done this? Therefore I also said I will not drive them out from before you But they shall be thorns in your side and their gods shall be a snare to you And we see that coming to full fruition here at the end of the book of judges There is a consequence isn't there for dabbling in darkness There is a consequence to our sin in progressively Increasing judgment for their sin. We see in this last section of the book of judges not a people merely Given over to external enemies like the Philistines or like the Midianites We now see a people given over to uncleanness We see a people now given up to vile Passions and this is the consequence of their sin. This is the consequence of their depravity We see a people given up to a darkness that dwells within their own heart and we see the extent the pervasiveness of that depravity expressed by Paul in Romans 1 as Men leaving the natural use of the woman burning in their lust for what is shameful receiving within themselves the penalty or the judgment of their error, which was due right receiving within themselves The judgment or the penalty of their error, which was due and we see it manifest now in the actions of these men in Ghibbiah Even as these in Israel during the period of the judges did not like to retain God in their knowledge God has given them over to a debased mind to do those things which are not fitting Being filled with all unrighteousness being filled with sexual immorality wickedness covetousness Maliciousness full of envy murder strife deceit evil-mindedness, right in the righteous judgment of God Not only those who practice such things are deserving of death But those also who approve of those who practice them And what we see now in this last section of the book of Judges as we begin chapter 19 tonight Is a consequence it's not just their External conduct. It's a consequence. It's a judgment the judgment of God Upon Israel's apostasy. It's the judgment of God upon their sin What we see in their conduct is the judgment of God upon them That apostasy that turning away from God Is described by the familiar refrain here at the end of the book in those days. There was no king in Israel Everyone did what was right in his own eyes We see a nod to that refrain given to us in Judges chapter 19 verse 1 look at verse 1 with me And it came to pass in those days when there was no king in Israel That there was a certain Levite staying in the remote mountains of Ephraim That statement that she see there in verse 1 in those days when there was no king in Israel That statement is meant to remind us that the account that we are about to hear is One in which everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes It's not unlike what we see in our own country today. Is it Not unlike what we see in the professing church at large in our country today Everyone's seeming to be doing what is right in their own eyes Not following the word of God And what they do here what they do in Judges chapter 19 is reprehensible across the board as we'll see But what they do isn't quite the issue It's the standard they apply In doing it that should arrest our attention, right? What is the standard that they apply what they do is what they think Or what they believe is right to do they're doing what is right in their own eyes And the account that follows now is a scathing indictment on what happens when you live that way When you live doing what is right according to your own eyes This is the end which results in death. This is the end of that road, right? This is the end which results in destruction It's a scathing indictment on men's wisdom a scathing indictment on what men do that is right in their own eyes The period of the judges Is a 400 year period a 400 year demonstration that we need a king A king that would restrain the wicked conduct of his people But not just any king not just any king The nation of israel would reject god as king in first Samuel chapter 8 And the period of the monarchy then is a 1000 year demonstration That we don't just need any king. We need a righteous king A righteous king that would restrain the wicked conduct of his people In immeasurable grace In immeasurable mercy and covenant loving kindness God would then send a righteous king with me The scepter of his kingdom is the scepter of righteousness Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end It would be ordered and established with judgment and justice from that time forward even forever And what do the fallen sinful depraved covenant people of god then do They do what is right in their own eyes And they murder that righteous king that the lord has sent They mock him They scourge him and they hang him on a roman cross to die And what we realize is that the problem of our depravity Won't be solved by mere external restraints to our behavior The problem of man's depravity will not be solved will not be curbed By mere external restraints on their depravity on their conduct What we need is the internal transformation of our very nature We need a new heart We need transformation. We need a new heart that heaps contempt On what I would have seen as right in my own eyes It heaps contempt On what I would deem to be right A heart that longs for what is right in the king's eyes A heart that longs that hungers and thirsts for righteousness Our remaining corruption Rebels against the rule and reign of that king Who works all things together for our good And our rebellion think with me Our rebellion brothers and sisters Our rebellion whether in big ways Or whether in what we may think are small ways Our rebellion is best expressed by that very same statement that characterized These gibbonites these benjamites in israel in judges chapter 19 We have rejected christ as king when we live that way and we are doing what is right in our own eyes And that sin That sin of rebellion doing what is right in our own eyes Living according to our own wisdom That sin is directly attached by a string of heart motive To the wickedness that we see on display in these chapters In the book of judges It's attached by heart motive in the same way that lord jesus christ came in mathieu chapter five Saying you've heard it said you're not to commit murder, but I say to you right You've heard it said that you should not commit adultery But I say to you whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her in his heart has already committed adultery with her in his heart The same standard applies here That very same statement can be applied to us in our rebellion when we are doing what is right in our own eyes And that sin is directly attached by a string of heart motive to the wickedness that we see now on display in judges chapter 19 It doesn't always show up does it it doesn't always manifest itself or end up in the dark perversity of homosexuality or of rape or of murder But it often shows up doesn't it in the sanitized Outwardly clean cup of hypocrisy It shows up often in Well, a quote unquote respectable sins of pride or apathy Or indifference or discontentment Or complaining it shows up when we complain doesn't it it shows up when we make excuses shows up when we ignore his word That sin lies at the door and it's desirous for you and judges chapter 19 is a A demonstrable an overtly wicked Display of the ends of that sin of the ends of that path to cause you and I brothers and sisters To fear that path to fear the lord to turn from it and to follow after him Not doing what is right in our own eyes, but doing what is right in his eyes The section of the book divides well according to the chapters in chapter 19 We're going to see the depravity of benjamin And we'll begin that tonight and finish next week in chapter 20 We'll see the defeat of benjamin and in chapter 21 We'll see the dilemma of benjamin the depravity of benjamin the defeat of benjamin the dilemma of benjamin That'll take us to the end of the book And through it all through it all as we look through these chapters We'll see an absolutely amazing technicolor splendor the absolute Implacable unflappable persistent consistent insistent faithfulness of almighty god to his promises In the face of what is horrendous and grievous sin among his people God is faithful even when we are faithless God keeps his word Well, let's begin in chapter 19 with the depravity of benjamin the depravity of benjamin look at verse one with me It came to pass in those days When there was no king in israel that there was a certain levite staying in the remote mountains of effrium Now don't forget don't forget that the spiritual collapse of chapter 17 The spiritual collapse of chapter 18 that we've already looked at together Involved an unnamed levite, didn't it and involved an unnamed levite Here the ensuing moral collapse of the country also involves an unnamed levite in other words The wickedness that we're about to encounter here in judges chapter 19 is not an outlier It's impacting the levites, right? This isn't a fringe problem an outlier problem This represents A spiritual rottenness in the heart of israel that is infected the heart of the nation It's a spiritual gangrene that is spread through the body It's infected the heart of israel's worship It's infected the heart of israel's covenant relationship to her god And in verse one this unnamed levite took for himself an unnamed concubine from bethlehem in juda That's interesting to me in thinking about that That the lack of names given For the main historical figure figures in the account It gives you the sense that this could have been any levite in israel, doesn't it? The fact that there's no name given it gives you the sense that it could have been any levite It could have been any concubine It could have been any woman could have been any woman who has given herself as a concubine to a man Anyone could have been involved in this scenario any levite could have been caught acting in these ways as we'll see any woman Any woman could have been the victim of rape Or murder or dismemberment at this period at this point in israel's history anyone A willing participant in the circumstances of this gross apostasy Among god's covenant people Jeremiah Would later say that from the prophet even to the priest Everyone deals falsely everyone's doing what is right in his own eyes Including this unnamed levite in his concubine now A concubine is more property than wife more slave than spouse But what was the levite's concubine like look at verse two? But his concubine played the harlot against him And went away from him to her father's house at bethlehem and juda and were was there for whole months and as horrendous As the events are that surround this woman We have to remember that her demise began with harlotry in verse two The concubine the concubine played the harlot against him in verse two Went away from him to her father's house. So verse three Then her husband arose and went after her to speak kindly to her and to bring her back Having his servant and a couple of donkeys with him So she brought him into her father's house and when the father of the young woman saw him He was glad to meet him Now his father-in-law the young woman's father Detained him and he stayed with him three days. And so they ate and drank and lodged there All seems to be peaceful at the outset doesn't it all seems to be peaceful It's like the calm before the storm so to speak But even in the circumstances there seems to be an underlying tension That's sitting there that all things are not as they should be Here in israel the text says that they refresh themselves. They make themselves marry But it appears even at the outset. Maybe it's because we know what how the story goes But it appears here that the there's a shallow piece That they enjoy there's a misplaced sense of calm. There's a misplaced sense of security But the young woman's father is very hospitable to the levite shows great hospital hospitality in verse four Her father detains him verse five refresh your heart. He says afterward go your way Verse six be content to stay all night. Let your heart be merry verse eight Refresh your heart verse nine lodge here that your heart may be merry right her father showing great hospitality to this Levite But the whole story reminds me a little bit of christian and hopeful As they were walking through the enchanted ground you remember that Fighting to stay awake fighting to stay alert as they walk through enchanted enchanted ground growing sleepy Here this levite should be watchful There's something coming. He should be sober minded They're refreshing their hearts drinking making merry But there's no reason in this country at this time with the sin Abounding as it is where they should be refreshing their heart making merry They should be watching they should be sober they are oblivious to the fact that that very night The soul of the concubine will be required of her And the nation will be placed on the brink of civil war It's interesting. Isn't it how we can go seemingly at peace Seemingly as though everything were completely fine not realizing the danger that lurks And here their continuous delay Leads to a fateful decision a bad decision the levite takes those with him and leaves When the day is half spent In other words, this levite lacks wisdom He doesn't leave when he should leave and then he does leave when he shouldn't leave It's gonna end him up in some hot water verse 10 however This man was not willing to spend the night So he arose departed and came opposite Jebus. That is Jerusalem. This was before Jerusalem was taken by david The Jebusites lived there Now with him with the man were two saddled donkeys his concubine Was also with him. They were near Jebus and the day was far Spent and the servant said to his master come please and let us turn aside into this city of the Jebusites and lodge in it But his master said to him we will not turn aside here into a city of foreigners who are not of the children of Israel We will go on to gibbia So he said to his servant come let us draw near to one of these places and spend the night in gibbia or in rama Now in this the levite is logical, isn't he? But the logic of the levite will soon be exposed as an uns as unsubstantiated among his own people They passed by they went their way in verse 14 the sun went down on them near gibbia Which belongs to benjamin and they turned aside there to go into lodge in gibbia And when it and when he went in he sat down in the open square of the city For no one would take them into his house to spend the night Now think about that in great contrast to the woman's father the concubine's father and how hospitable he was here they go into uh gibbia And even amongst their own people no one would take them into their house to spend the night So it's one of the primary reasons why they spent or went the additional four miles north of jerusalem to turn aside into a town inhabited by israelites And yet turning into that town they show him no hospitality. It's in great contrast to the woman's father They wind up in a place Where they had every reason to believe that there they should be shown some hospitality They wind up in a place where they had every reason to believe that there they should be safe That they're that there they should be secure a place inhabited by god's people And yet they're shown no hospitality until the old man comes along No one would take them into their house to spend the night This would have been shocking to a jewish reader right the jews would have been shocked the children of israel have become as we've seen canonized Doing what is right in their own eyes has made them inhospitable Well the old man of verse 16 comes to the rescue of the gibbianite reputation the benjamite reputation So the old man of verse 16 who happens to be from the same area as the levite Does his part to solely or to salvage their sully reputation and he actually shows some hospitality and however hospitable his actions What comes next will render their shocking lack of hospitality A distant concern a lack of hospital hospitality is the least of the concern It's like complaining about bad breath on a serial killer The bad breath is not the problem. The serial killer is beginning in verse 20 We'll see an urgent appeal A perverted attack A heartless deal and then a devastating outcome First follow along with me the urgent appeal verse 20 the old man said peace be with you However, let all your needs be my responsibility Only do not spend the night in the open square seems like the old man knew something right He brought him into his house verse 21 gave fodder to the donkeys and they washed their feet and ate and drank There seems to be a sense of urgency on the part of this older man in verse 20 He seems to know that something isn't right that older man Certainly would have known what the citizens of gibbia would have been like The travelers may have been safer along the roadways And now that they are in the city square this man seems to know that this is the case The urgent appeal looks secondly at a perverted attack the perverted attack verse 22 As they were enjoying themselves suddenly Certain men of the city perverted men Surrounded the house and beat on the door They spoke to the master of the house the old man saying Bring out the man who came to your house that we may know him Carnally Well so much for hospitality in gibbia, right perverted men Translated there by the new king james verse 22 literally Men of the sons of belial Men of the sons of the devil It's an indictment on the entire male population here in gibbia Their lust their depravity seen in the description of these men beating on the door beating on the door You can't read this record. Can you without thinking of another story in the bible? Do you remember? It's the account of Sodom in genesis chapter 19 There's striking similarities here aren't there striking similarities There's certainly different outcomes But the similarities are intentional Think with me the intentional the circumstances the similarities are intentional On the part of the writer and the similarities are striking The grammar is similar the word choice is similar often the same phrases are repeated even the word count is similar Our author here intends for us to see a connection And why would that be? Well, this is the way in which our author shames gibbia for her depravity By connecting gibbia By connecting benjamin to the sin of Sodom To that city On which god rained down fire from heaven Gibbia becomes future Sodom. Do you see it's a way in which our author cast shade heaps shame upon benjamin upon gibbia Have you noticed throughout this account to this point? Who is in the account That appears strangely silent while all this is going on we haven't heard yet from god. Have we Seems to this point that god is strangely silent Why is that it's as if god is giving them enough rope to hang themselves While they do what is right in their own eyes. They're making decisions on their own We'll look at the conclusion of the matter next week. We'll see how the people respond We're to see in gibbia the canonization of the israelites. We're to see in benjamin Sodom future Sodom We're to see their Sin connected to the depravity of Sodom that drew the judgment of god And we draw thread don't we to anything that resembles that sin in our day There are not many In the pews of churches today Who would not express outrage Outrage over the lewdness of gibbia. They'd read this account and they'd be outraged over the sin of benjamin outraged over what happens to this woman outraged over the perversity of those men outraged over the depravity of man's heart outraged over the offense that it is against our god outraged over their depravity, right? Not many in the pews of any church who would express outrage over this lewdness Who themselves are a party to perversity As they sit at their computer on a saturday night prior to sitting in worship on a sunday morning, right? Just a click away From that same perversity Just a a click away From that same depravity The seeds of Sodom Lying within the soil of their own heart And what we're to do brothers and sisters in reading an account like this is not to think to ourselves that we're so Distant from that right we're so far away from that That is so wicked and and and Whitewash the outside of our cup When within the heart of man that sin Lies at the door and its desire is for you. Do you see? We're not to keep a sanitized distance from the sin of Sodom We're not to keep a sanitized distance from this perversity that we see in gibbia This is the depravity of man The heart is deceitful desperately wicked And brothers and sisters we need to fear God And clean to Jesus christ in faith we need to turn from our sin heap contempt heap shame Upon our own depravity upon our own hearts And clean to jesus christ in faith for forgiveness for cleansing, right? You read a story like this and you just want clean Fresh air in your lungs clean fresh water, right? You just want righteousness to rain And in large part because we see the same perversity so Pervasive in our own country Let it not be so named among us amen Let's pray Father in heaven lord we with Those who would read the story lord are shocked By what we read here shocked by what we see on the in the pages of scripture Shocked by what sinful fallen Man is capable of And we praise you For having made provision for our sin Praise you lord for having by your spirit Caused us to be born again and have made us new creations in christ Or that you have set us free from bondage to our sin And we praise you and thank you lord that we in the power of the spirit Have the blessed joy lord now to Turn from sin To live for you to love you as we should To devote ourselves to you to obey you as we should to follow after you Not doing what is right in our own eyes not Leaning on our own understanding But leaning depending upon you we thank you lord for saving our wretched souls Thank you god for saving us from sin saving us from your wrath Lord, please Help us to take warning from these texts in scripture To cling tightly to you in faith Help us lord to take warning From these passages in scripture And to avoid that path like the plague And to cling to you. Thank you for this time together tonight lord. Thank you for your word Thank you for these examples in scripture I pray lord that we would live for your glory in jesus name. Amen