The last part of Judges is intended to show just how debased the people of Israel became once they allowed themselves to be led astray by the Canaanites. Chapters 17-18 show us how a little compromise led to the multi-generational demise of a tribe. Chapter 19 then gives us a picture of how deeply corrupted another tribe became. The events described here remind us of the actions of the men of Sodom described in Genesis 19. And that is most probably why the writer of Judges chose this particular story. Sodom was, for the Israelites, a city that symbolised the epitome of evil and her judgement was an important sign of what such people had coming to them. The point here is that Israel had become just like Sodom. They had sunk that low. This chapter is quite a shocking chapter to read, but that is the point. This is where their compromise had led them. As I said yesterday, a little compromise leads to major downfall. The process of Israel’s demise described in the book of Judges begins not so much with them doing things that they shouldn’t have, but with them not doing what God told them to do. This then led to them being tempted to do things they should not have, and from here things gradually got worse and worse until, in chapter 19, we see a tribe sinking as low as Sodom. It is an important warning for us. A little compromise leads to major downfall.
Ask God to show you where you have compromised and ask him to help you to live more devotedly for him.
Read Judges 19
