Day 76 - Judges 19-21, Psalm 76

These final chapters of the book of Judges paint a tragic and disturbing picture of Israel in a time of spiritual and moral decay.

In chapter 19, a Levite from Ephraim takes back his runaway concubine. That night, while staying the night in Gibeah, wicked men surround their host’s house, demanding to violate the Levite. To save himself, he gives them his concubine, who is brutally abused and dies. The next morning, he finds her lifeless body, takes her home, and dismembers her into twelve pieces, sending them across Israel as a call for justice. No one wants to read this type of darkness in the Bible. We come to these sacred texts looking for peace and hope. Chapter 19, despite being beyond heartbreaking, gives us just that. Peace in knowing that the lessons learned have meaning and purpose. Hope in knowing that even in a world that seems chaotic, we can have peace by living according to God’s truth.

In chapter 20, after receiving a piece of a dismembered body as a cry for justice, the Israelites demand justice from the tribe Benjamin. The tribe refuses to surrender the guilty men. This leads to a devastating civil war, where Benjamin gets the upper hand at the beginning. However, Israel ultimately defeats them, nearly wiping out the tribe.

Judges chapter 21 ends with the haunting phrase: In those days, there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (Judges 21:25)

Psalm 76 is a powerful declaration of God’s strength and sovereignty, celebrating His victories and affirming that He alone is worthy of our worship.