“All who saw it said, ‘Nothing like this has ever happened or been seen… Consider it, take counsel and speak up!’” (Judges 19:1-30, NASB)

Today’s reading addresses the question of who is at fault in many of the issues in human society. When people read today’s headlines of mass shootings, rape, murder, homelessness, and the fentanyl epidemic, they become quick to point the blame on someone or something. In today’s passage, I want to pose a question: “Who killed the concubine? Who is to blame for her rape and murder?” A Levite during the time of the Judges had a falling out with his concubine, but wanted to reconcile with her when she ran away to her father’s home. After much discussion, they reconciled and decided to return home. However, they started out their journey late in the day due to his father-in-law’s urging him to stay longer and dine, and leave. As night approached, the Levite and his companions were unable to reach home, so they spent the night in a city along their route. A kind old man shows hospitality to them by opening his home, but the wicked men of that city had different plans for the strangers. They wanted to engage in a sexual encounter with the Levite. Unable to reason with the men, the Levite hands over his concubine so that they rape her, and she ends up dying. Then the Levite takes her corpses and returns home, chops her up into twelve pieces, and sends them to the other tribes with a message. The news travels fast, and all the people gather around the Levite with great anger. Verses 26-30 say,

“As the day began to dawn, the woman came and fell down at the doorway of the man’s house where her master was, until full daylight. When her master arose in the morning and opened the doors of the house and went out to go on his way, then behold, his concubine was lying at the doorway of the house, with her hands on the threshold. And he said to her, ‘Get up and let us go,’ but there was no answer. Then he placed her on the donkey; and the man arose and went to his home. When he entered his house, he took a knife and laid hold of his concubine and cut her in twelve pieces, limb by limb, and sent her throughout the territory of Israel. And it came about that all who saw it said, ‘Nothing like this has ever happened or been seen from the day when the sons of Israel came up from the land of Egypt to this day. Consider it, take counsel and speak up!’”

So, here is a question to you: Who killed the concubine? The headlines in Israel’s papers read, “Nothing like this has ever happened or been seen from the day when the sons of Israel came up from the land of Egypt to this day. Consider it, take counsel, and speak up!” This true story stirs up an ethical dilemma that challenges our consciences. It’s because similar stories are seen in our news pretty much every day. It challenges us to consider, take counsel, and speak up. Everyone who heard about the story of what happened to the Levite’s concubine in Gibeah became shocked and infuriated. Read the whole shocking story in chapter 19 for yourself and consider, take counsel, and speak up.

Who killed the woman? Was it the wicked Benjamites who raped and abused her all night? Was it the cowardly Levite who handed her over to the wicked men? Was it the old man who first suggested the idea in the first place? Did the concubine’s father contribute to her predicament by selling his daughter as a slave-maid to the Levite, and then sending her back after she ran away? Was it the indifferent believers in the city who just stood by and allowed such things to happen because they did not want to get involved? Consider it, take counsel, and speak up. Who killed the concubine?

While we are on the subject, here are more questions to consider from today’s headlines. Who was responsible for the death of Iryna Zarutska? Who killed Charlie Kirk? Who is responsible for the homeless and fentanyl users in our cities? Who is responsible for the gang violence in our cities? Who is responsible for teens committing suicide because they are being bullied at school? Consider it, take counsel, and speak up. With the rise of social media, we have no shortage of people sharing their opinions. However, speaking up without thinking or counsel leads us to judge things inaccurately or only partially correct. There are deeper issues at work here, and God put this story in the book of Judges for a reason.

To me, the question of who killed the concubine should be answered in view of the question, “Who killed Jesus?” Was it the Jewish leaders? How about the Jewish believers who were apathetic, indifferent, unconcerned, detached, aloof, and nonchalant? Are they guilty? Was it the Roman soldiers who nailed Jesus or the Roman government behind them? I believe that we are all guilty of killing Jesus. We are all sinners at heart, and therefore we are all guilty! For this reason, God became a man, lived among us, and died on the cross for us. Jesus willingly went to the cross to save sinners, and he hung on the cross because of us. In other words, the nails didn’t hold him on the cross, but our sins! The Jews and the Romans didn’t kill Jesus, but all of us who are sinners for whom he died. If you are a sinner, then your sin nailed him on the cross. We live in a broken world, and we cannot save ourselves. This is the reason why Christ came: to save sinners from their sin. This is the gospel of God, and more than ever, we need to submit to it.

The headline that says, “Nothing like this has ever happened,” is not new. Humanity has seen such things before, and we will see more of them in the future. How can our world become a better world when it’s full of sinners whose hearts are led by pride, anger, lust, and greed? No new policies, governors, or presidents can change it. Neither the Republican nor the Democratic party can save us. America can’t save us. If they are able, then it’s only a temporary solution. The only way we can save ourselves from such evil is to come to the cross and be converted, and persuade the rest of the world to do the same. The only thing that can deliver our world is through the changing of our hearts through the gospel of Christ, and it won’t be fully realized until he returns and rules as our King. The conversion of our world through Christ and his cross is the only way that will be lasting and permanent. Jesus will come again, and when he does, he will establish God’s kingdom, and every other kingdom will perish, including the United States (Dan.2:44-45). Until then, he has tasked us with preaching the gospel that can save our souls from sin, as well as the evils of men that result from it. Instead of asking, “Who killed the concubine?” may I suggest we try to answer first, “Who killed Jesus?” The finger pointing will point to ourselves first, and hopefully lead us one by one to kneel before his cross.

• In your opinion, who is most responsible for the death of the concubine? Who is least responsible?
• How can Christians today consider, take counsel, and speak up on these matters?