A Levite's concubine was raped and murdered by the

Benjamites in Gibeah.

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Chopping her body into 12 pieces, and sending one

piece to each of the tribes.

Judges 20 1 Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the Lord in Mizpeh. 2 And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.

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3 (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.)

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The Benjamites receivedreceived a piece of the woman, and heardheard about the gathering at Mizpeh,

But they did not comeBut they did not come.

They were shamefullyshamefully standing with their sinning brothers.

3b Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness? 4

And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.

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5 And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead. 6 And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.

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Brief and Brief and to the pointto the point.He He left outleft out one thing: one thing: hehe threw her to them. threw her to them.

7 Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel. 8 And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn into his house. 9 But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it;

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Like most people, they were indignantindignant about the vile sinvile sin of others,

While excusingexcusing themselves in their own sin.

10 And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel.

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One tenth of the army would gather suppliesgather supplies for those who would fight the battle.

Napoleon said, "An army marches on its stomach."

An army can only be as good as its supplies.

11 So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit togetherknit together as one man.

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To accomplish anything good requiresrequires a commoncommon purpose and plan.

We are one body in Christ.We are one body in Christ.

We must fitfit together and workwork together as oneas one.

That is God's WillGod's Will for the churchchurch:

That we be knit togetherknit together as one man.

EsteemEsteem one another; lovelove one another.

12 And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you? 13 Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benja-But the children of Benja-min min would not hearkenwould not hearken to the voice of their to the voice of their brethren the children of Israelbrethren the children of Israel:

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The tribe of Benjamin stood bystood by their sinning brotherssinning brothers at Gibeah.

They would notnot repent!

14 But the children of Benjamin gathered them-selves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel. 15 And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousandtwenty and six thousand men that drew sworddrew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundredseven hundred chosen men.

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26,700 Benjamite soldiers

That's a smallsmall army, compared to the eleven tribes with 400,000 warriors400,000 warriors.

16 Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men left-handedleft-handed; every one could slingsling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.

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Tom Glavine

They would not miss a target the widthwidth of a

single hairsingle hair.

17 And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand menfour hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.

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400,000 man army againstagainst 26,700 Benjamites.

This should beshould be an easy victory for the eleven tribes.

But remember, all of Israel was steeped in sinsteeped in sin;

Just not as vileas vile as the men of Gibeah.

18 And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the Lord said, Judah shall go up firstJudah shall go up first.

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Genesis 29 35 And she (Leah) conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praisepraise the Lord: therefore she called his name JudahJudah; and left bearing.

Judah means praise or celebrate.

And the Lord said, "Judah shall go up first."

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It takes little faithlittle faith to give thanks and praise afterafter the battle is won; afterafter the prayer is answered.

To give God praise in time of troubletime of trouble is an act of faithact of faith and obedienceobedience.

Psalms 100 1-5 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come come before His Presencebefore His Presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. EnterEnter into His gates with thanks-giving, and into His courts with praise: be thankfulbe thankful unto Him, and blessbless His Name. For the Lord is Good; His Mercy is everlasting; and His Truth endureth to all generations.

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Send Judah first!

Praise will take ustake us into the Presence of Presence of GodGod.

Psalms 69 30-31 I will praise the Name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord betterbetter than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.

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God gave usGod gave us our emotions that we might enjoy Him.

We are absolutely not meantnot meant to be emotionless.

IndifferenceIndifference is not the marknot the mark of God's children.

God loves our praise and thanksgiving moremore than our sacrifices.

Cry outCry out to God in time of trouble.

RejoiceRejoice in His Goodness.

I often say that our emotions are a poor compass on the road of life,

and this is trueand this is true.

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Roadmap

Who would you rather ride with?

Who would you rather travel with?

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