TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1
Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. - Galatians 5:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
Jim grew up listening to country & western music. His life’s dream was to perform center stage at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. After he trusted in Christ, however, he became convicted that his dream had become an idol. Because of this, Jim made a vow never to play country & western music again. His Sunday school teacher, however, felt that Jim’s commitment was legalistic and often tried to persuade him to break his “vow.” Who was right?

The difference between a “stumbling block” and a matter of personal taste is sometimes hard to tell. One believer likes to listen to “oldies” on the local rock station while another only listens to Christian radio. Some feel free to visit a restaurant after the morning church service while others do not. The key question is not just whether we enjoy such things but ultimately whether they edify us or not. Not everything that is “permissible” is beneficial (v. 23).

As a general rule, the principle of liberty should govern our actions. We do not need to allow the personal tastes of others to determine our actions. Even in those cases where the conscience of another does not permit them to engage in something we have liberty to practice, we are not automatically obligated to limit our own behavior. If, however, our actions cause another person to violate their conscience or our own conscience troubles us, we are obligated to refrain.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Although the circumstances may differ, we must also learn to discern when something should be a matter of personal conviction or a universal standard. Imagine that another believer has asked you to do something that you feel is wrong. How would you respond? How would you handle the situation differently if the person who asked was an unbeliever? When would you feel that it was your responsibility to try to convince them of the sinful nature of the activity? Under what circumstances would you conclude that it was a matter of personal choice?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. - Genesis 1:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
Views about the role of women in our culture have changed dramatically in the past fifty years. It used to be common to hear, “A woman’s place is in the home.” In the 1970s, a popular bumper sticker retorted, “A woman’s place is in the House . . . and the Senate!”

Some have looked at Paul’s instructions in today’s passage as proof that women are inferior to men. Others view these directives as a cultural oddity, completely out of step with modern social reality. What do head coverings have to do with worship in the twenty-first century?

In the Corinthian context Paul saw the two as especially related. Women who prayed and exercised the gift of prophecy in the assembly were to do so with their heads “covered” as a “sign of authority” (v. 10). Men were to pray and prophesy with their heads uncovered. Although Paul does not describe the exact nature of these coverings, the theological principle is very clear: God has established complementary gender roles in the church that have an effect on the way the church worships.

Men and women have equal worth and dignity before God. Both have been created in the image of God. The fact that the woman was created second does not imply inferiority but correspondence. In all of creation she was the only one suitable for Adam (Gen. 2:18). Both men and women exist in a relationship of interdependency. More than this, they need each other, both in society and in ministry. Although both are equal before God, they do not exercise the same roles in the church (cf. 1 Tim. 2:12-13).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What should these principles look like today? In some churches, women do wear designated head coverings, while in others hats may be just a fashion statement.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” - Luke 22:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
The story is told of the Scottish minister who was serving communion to his congregation. He noticed a man reach for the elements and then draw his hand back. He could tell that he wanted to participate but was uncertain of his worthiness. The pastor smiled and gently said, “Take it, lad. It’s for sinners.”

The compassion and the concern of this story are both reflected in the teaching of today’s passage regarding the observance of the Lord’s Supper. On the one hand, Paul wanted his readers to understand the message conveyed by the elements. Each represents an important aspect of Christ’s offering of Himself. The bread represents Christ’s body given on behalf of the church. The cup represents Christ’s shed blood that opened the way for a new relationship with God for all who believe (vv. 24–25). Jesus instituted the communion service on the night before His crucifixion and commanded His disciples to observe it in “remembrance” of Him (cf. Luke 22:19).

Paul wanted the Corinthians to understand that the Lord’s Supper was more than a ritual. He was deeply disturbed by the way they had desecrated it through their selfishness. The communion service was observed in the context of a large meal, perhaps similar to the “potluck” suppers many churches have today. In this case, people brought food but did not share. Those who had much went home full and those who had little went home hungry. Some even got drunk during the pot-luck. This “every man for himself” mentality did more than ruin the communion service; it resulted in divine chastening.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The Lord’s Supper gives the church an opportunity to take a spiritual “check-up” and restore broken relationships. Those who participate should prepare themselves individually and corporately.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. - Ephesians 4:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
Parents with more than one child will sometimes give each one the same gift at Christmas. They do this because of the jealousy that arises between siblings. The gift that a parent gives to one child seems to be perfectly fine–until that child sees that a sister or brother has received something else. Once children realize the difference, they begin to want what the other child has. Or they might have the opposite response, gloating over what they have received as if their gift were the better of the two.

This same childish perspective was reflected in the Corinthians’ view of spiritual gifts. Some who had received greater gifts gloated over them and adopted a superior attitude. Others who had been given lesser gifts suffered from a spiritual inferiority complex. Both attitudes caused the Corinthians to forget that God had given the manifestation of the Holy Spirit for the common good (v. 7).

It is wrong to view the list of gifts mentioned in this chapter as a kind of menu from which we can select those gifts that seem most attractive. It is not a ranking that measures the value of one believer compared to another. Indeed, it is not even an exhaustive list of the spiritual gifts given to believers. Other lists include many of the same gifts but in different order (Rom. 12:6–8; Eph. 4:11; 1 Peter 4:11). Some of the gifts mentioned in this chapter (most notably healing, miracles, and tongues) are missing from the other lists. The implication is clear. God never intended every believer to possess the same spiritual gift. Nor does it seem likely that any single church will possess all the gifts. It is the Holy Spirit who gives to each one “just as he determines” (v. 11).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you know what your spiritual gifts are? A few key questions may help you to discern them. First, in what contexts do you enjoy serving the Lord most? Usually, we feel most energized when we are ministering in our area of giftedness. Second, where have you seen evidence of the Holy Spirit working through you?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:12-20
But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” - Exodus 3:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
Moses must have seemed like an unlikely candidate for an inferiority complex. Raised in privilege as an adopted son in Pharaoh’s household, he “was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action” (Acts 7:22). He even believed at one point that he was destined to be Israel’s deliverer. Yet when Moses tried to deliver Israel by his own strength and strategy the outcome was murder, rejection, and exile (Ex. 2:11–15). It is not surprising that when God finally commanded Moses to return to Egypt and rescue his fellow Israelites, he balked and asked: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

Moses is not an isolated case. The Bible contains many examples of those who initially questioned their own ability and yet were used mightily by God. Gideon didn’t think he could be used by God because he was the least member of Manasseh’s weakest clan (Judg. 6:15). Jeremiah complained that he was too young and unskilled in speech to serve as God’s prophet to the nations (Jer. 1:6). Esther was afraid that she might be put to death if she attempted to intervene on Israel’s behalf (Est. 4:11). Simon Peter believed he was too sinful to be used by God (Luke 5:. None of these believers overstated their own weakness or the obstacles they faced. The challenges were as great as they imagined. God’s power, however, was far greater.

It is this same power that is at work in the life of every believer. Because of this, none of us can say that we play an insignificant role in the body of Christ. If every believer has been given the Holy Spirit and the body is a unit, then every believer plays a vital role. Some may have a more prominent place, but as is the case with the human body, those parts that are unseen are just as necessary as those which are visible.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Read through Exodus 3:1–4:12, Judges 6:1–7:25; Jeremiah 1:6–10, Esther 1:1–10:3, and Luke 5:1–11. Which of these examples seems most like you? What fears and anxieties do you share with Moses, Gideon, Jeremiah, Esther, and Peter? How did God help them to look beyond their weakness and see their potential in serving Him? Weakness, failure, and even past sin are no match for the grace of God or the power of the Holy Spirit. You may not be a “hand” or an “eye” in the body of Christ, but your role is just as vital!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:21-31
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment. - Romans 12:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
It has been said, “An inferiority complex could be a blessing if the right ones had it.” Paul might have made the same observation about some in the church of Corinth. Along with those who believed that they did not have an important part to play in the body of Christ because they did not possess one of the more spectacular gifts were others who had the opposite problem. They suffered from a superiority complex. These believers regarded the weaker members of the church as less valuable than themselves.

The members of the body of Christ are not in competition with one another. The Christian life is not a beauty contest in which those who have received more spectacular gifts have more value in God’s sight than those who have less spectacular gifts. If God determines how spiritual gifts are distributed, there can be no room for boasting. Instead, Paul explains, “those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable” (v. 22). The Greek word translated “weaker” in this verse does not necessarily refer to physical weakness. The same term is used in 2 Corinthians 10:10 as a part of the Corinthi-ans’ description of Paul. They complained that, although his letters were powerful, he was “unimpressive” in person.

Attitudes of inferiority and superiority are equally out of place in the Christian life because they fail to recognize God’s role in composing the body of Christ as He sees fit.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Find a hymnal with the words to “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” and sing or read it. When you have finished, use the hymn as a guide for prayer. For example, the first stanza speaks of “the fellowship of kindred minds.” In view of this, you might want to pray for your church and its leaders asking God to help them to: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). You might also pray for specific conflicts in your church or for friends who have relationships that need reconciliation.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. - John 13:35
TODAY IN THE WORD
D. L. Moody described love as “the dome of the temple of the graces” and as “the crown of crowns worn by the triune God.” “We cannot work for God without love,” he observed. “It is the only tree that can produce fruit on this sin-cursed earth, that is acceptable to God. If I have no love for God nor for my fellow man, then I cannot work acceptably.”

Few qualities are as misunderstood today as love. The newlywed couple that has vowed to be faithful until death and the adulterer both claim that their choices are motivated by love. People speak of “falling” in love as if it were an accident.

In today’s passage, however, Paul describes love as something intentional. We don’t “fall” in love, we choose to love. He also characterizes it as an action rather than an emotion. Love is not merely reflected in how we feel about others but in how we treat them. Love is more concerned with others than it is with itself. It is not self-centered. Love is willing to forgive. It refuses to hold a grudge. Unlike the spiritual gifts, which are certainly important but have only temporary value, love will last for eternity.

The love that Paul describes in this chapter is not human but divine. This does not, however, relieve us of the obligation to show love. God is both the example and the source of the love that He requires from us. Our experience of God’s love compels us to love God. “We love,” the apostle John explains, “because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In his book entitled The Church at the End of the 20th Century, Francis Schaeffer described the apologetic value of love before a watching world. “Jesus is giving a right to the world,” he wrote. “Upon his authority he gives the world a right to judge whether you and I are born-again Christians on the basis of our observable love toward all Christians.” What opportunities lie before you today to show love to those around you? Make plans to show God’s love in a concrete way to someone.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 14:1-25
With foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people. - Isaiah 28:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
Of all the spiritual gifts listed in the book of 1 Corinthians, few have received as much attention in our day as the gift of tongues. This gift was also a focus of concern in Paul’s day. Problems had arisen as a result of the manner in which the Corinthians exercised the gift of tongues. Their use of this gift confused those who were already believers and alienated many who had not yet trusted in Christ. The Corinthians seemed to have placed more emphasis on tongues than on any other gift. They were so eager to speak in tongues that they used it at times when no one was able to interpret what was said. Because of this, Paul set limits on the number of people who could speak in tongues and on the conditions in which this gift could be used.

Although prophecy and tongues were both spiritual gifts, there were notable differences between them. According to Paul, the one who spoke in tongues spoke to God. The one who exercised the gift of prophecy spoke for God. In Corinth those who spoke in tongues did not understand what they were saying. When the gift of prophecy was used everyone understood.

Perhaps the most important difference of all had to do with the aim of each gift. The believer who spoke in tongues edified himself. The goal of the one who possessed the gift of prophecy was to edify the church as a whole.

Both spiritual gifts had value, but the gift of prophecy was superior to the gift of tongues because the entire congregation benefited when prophecy was exercised. The gift of tongues edified the congregation only when an interpreter was present.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul’s warning to the Corinthians is a needed reminder in an age of renewed interest in spiritual gifts. God’s most important gift to the church is His Word. We need to be on guard not to allow other things to squeeze God’s Word out of its place of priority.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 14:26-40
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. - James 3:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
“God’s gifts are to be used,” writes John Stott in his book Baptism & Fullness: The Work of the Holy Spirit Today. “The organs of the human body are functional. Similarly, the members of Christ’s body are to exercise their gifts. We are 'stewards of God’s varied grace’, and are commanded to be good stewards (1 Peter 4:10). 'Having gifts,’ wrote Paul, 'let us use them’ (Rom. 12:6). But how should we use them?”

Paul answers this question in 1 Corinthians 14 and notes that all ministry practices should be evaluated based on the impact they have on the overall health of the church (v. 26). The problems in Corinth regarding spiritual gifts provide a sobering reminder that the possession of a spiritual gift does not automatically guarantee that it will be used in the best interest of the church. There is as much potential for the abuse of one’s gifts as there is for proper use.

We abuse the gifts and ministries of the church when our primary focus in exercising them is self-centered. The church’s gifts and ministries only serve their proper function when they are exercised in a way that builds up believers. Corinthian worship was so self-centered it created a carnival-like atmosphere. Each was so eager to exercise his or her particular gift or ministry that the result was a chaotic free-for-all. Before one member had finished speaking, another interrupted. This was the same kind of “me-first” spirit reflected in the way the Corinthians observed the Lord’s Supper (see Aug. 20).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Where gifts and ministry are concerned, attitude is as important as ability. Many would base their evaluation of whether worship is “fitting and orderly” upon personal preference. Do we like the music? Was the speaker interesting? Unfortunately, this can lead to the same kind of “me-first” attitude that is more concerned with its own personal tastes than with the spiritual well-being of others. How can you to base your evaluation on the needs of others and respect for the directives of God’s Word?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:1-19
Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. - 1 Peter 1:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
If you were searching for a new church to attend, what would you look for? There are probably as many answers to this question as there are personal tastes. One person looks for a beautiful building with high vaulted ceilings and stained glass. Another is mainly interested in the kind of programs that are offered for the family. Still another is interested in the preaching style of the church’s pastor. While all of these have their place, the Bible labels them as secondary. The most important aspect of the church’s ministry is not its building or its programs or even the oratorical skill of its pastor. Most important is its message.

If this is true, what should the church be saying from week to week? What is its message when it is boiled down to its bare essence? The answer, as it is given in today’s passage, is a very simple one. The church’s cardinal message is the message of the gospel–the declaration that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day. William Wilberforce declared: “The main distinction between real Christianity and the system of the bulk of nominal Christians chiefly consists in the differing place given to the gospel. To the latter, the truths of the gospel are like distant stars that twinkle with a vain and idle luster. But to the real Christian these distinctive doctrines constitute the center in which he gravitates like the sun of his system and the source of his light, warmth, and life.”
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Imagine that you are explaining the gospel to someone who has never heard it before. How would you use the arguments in this chapter to prove the validity of the resurrection and explain the significance of Christ’s death?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:20-34
Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. - John 14:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
While Mark Twain was visiting England, the New York Journal heard a rumor that the great American humorist was near death. It immediately sent a cable to its London correspondent that read, “If Mark Twain dying in poverty in London send 500 words.” A short time later it sent another cable that read, “If Mark Twain has died in poverty send 1000 words.” When Twain was made aware of the cables, he sent one in reply that read: “Report of my death greatly exaggerated.”

The same might be said of the believer who experiences death. Because Christ has been raised from the dead, none who die in Christ truly die. When Martha grieved over the death of her brother Lazarus, Jesus promised, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25–26). It was through His death and resurrection that Jesus was able to “free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Heb. 2:15).

This does not necessarily mean that we enjoy the prospect of dying. Nor does it mean that it is wrong to feel grief over the death of someone we love. When Epaphroditus was so ill that he nearly died, Paul described his recovery as an act of God’s mercy and said that his death would have given him “sorrow upon sorrow” (Phil. 2:27).

Paul viewed the prospect of his own death somewhat differently. The possibility of living was attractive because it meant that Paul could be of further use to Christ. At the same time, Paul knew that if he died he would “depart and be with Christ, which is better by far” (Phil. 1:23). Either way Paul’s prospects were good. If he lived, he would continue to serve Christ and the church would benefit. If he died he could look forward to an eternity with Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Read Philippians 1:19–26 and rewrite it in your own words. When you are finished, use your version as the basis for a prayer.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58
And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. - Job 19:26
TODAY IN THE WORD
After John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States, suffered a stroke in 1846, a friend asked him about his health. Adams replied, “I inhabit a weak, frail, decayed tenement; battered by the winds and broken in upon by the storms, and from all I can learn, the landlord does not intend to repair.”

Adams was only half-right. Although the believer’s body may be a tenement that God does not intend to repair, it is a dwelling place that He plans to rebuild. At the resurrection the believer will receive an entirely reconstructed body.

The Corinthians were skeptical about the possibility of resurrection and wondered what kind of body could be reconstituted out of a rotting corpse. To some extent, their skepticism was warranted. The doctrine of the resurrection would make little sense if the believer’s body remained the same. The resurrected body will be radically different than the one the believer possessed at death. Paul uses words like “imperishable,” “glory,” and “power” to describe it (vv. 42–43). It will be a real body but will be “spiritual” in nature (v. 44)–suited for the spiritual, eternal realm. Although we often think of something spiritual as being antithetical to what is physical, in this case Paul is describing something whose physical nature is also spiritual. In verses 45–50 Paul explains what he means by “spiritual.” The believer’s resurrected body will be a body that reflects the life of Christ, the second Adam. It will be a body that has been freed from the curse of sin and the struggle caused by the sinful nature–that aspect of human nature that is sometimes referred to as the “flesh” (cf. Rom. 8:12-13; 13:14). This transformation will occur when Christ returns for the Church.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Three foundational doctrines are emphasized in today’s passage: the bodily resurrection of Christ, Christ’s return, and the resurrection of the believer.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 16:1-10
Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. - 2 Corinthians 8:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
Cowboy humorist Will Rogers once overpaid his income taxes by $40,000 but was unable to get the government to issue a refund. He sent many letters that went unanswered and finally decided on a different approach–the next year Rogers claimed the amount as a deduction. When he listed his deductions on his income tax return, Rogers wrote, “Bad debt, U.S. Government–$40,000.” Many see even legitimate taxes in the same light. Someone has defined taxation as “a method used by the government to artificially induce the rainy day everybody has been saving for” and a taxpayer as “one who does not have to pass a civil service exam to work for the government.”

Some believers regard the church’s collection plate with the same lack of enthusiasm that others feel toward taxes. In fact, they actually give the government more money, because the government has the force of law behind it. Other believers have an almost “magical” view of the church’s collection. When they give, it is in the hope that they will get more in return. They talk about “seed faith” and claim that whatever the believer gives, God is obligated to return a hundred-fold. Neither of these perspectives accurately reflects the Bible’s teaching on this subject.

When Paul instructed the Corinthians to take an offering for the poor believers in Jerusalem, he directed them to make giving an integral part of the church’s corporate life. They were to take a collection on the first day of the week (Sunday) when the church gathered for worship (v. 2).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today’s passage provides several helpful guidelines for our giving. First, it shows that giving should be intentional, planned in advance, and based upon our regular income. Second, giving should be scheduled. Once we know the amount, we should plan the timing of our giving. Third, giving should be universal. Paul expected each of the Corinthians to give.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 16:11-24
Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. - Titus 3:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
When Chris began raising missionary support, he expected to be on the field in a few months. He finally left for language school three years later, still short of full support by $70 a month. During those years he worked in a factory during the week and shuttled his family from place to place on the weekends, hoping to be added to the missionary budgets of the churches he visited. Before he left for the field he confessed to a friend, “If I had known all that would be involved in raising support, I’m not sure we would have become missionaries.”

What does the church owe to those who minister on its behalf? We usually look at this question from the opposite perspective. We know what we expect of them. But we don’t always recognize that they have a right to expect something from us. We have an obligation to support those who serve the church in ministry.

This support takes two forms. One is financial in nature; this is especially true in the area of missions. Paul did not think that it was unreasonable to expect the Corinthians to help Timothy complete his missionary journey. They were to send him “on his way” (v. 11). Paul expected the same courtesy for himself (v. 6). The picture behind the language in these verses is drawn from the ancient custom of a host who, when seeing a traveler off, would go with him on his journey a certain distance (cf. Gen. 18:16).

The other form of support that the church owes its servants is emotional in nature. Paul commanded the Corinthians to send Timothy on his way “in peace” (v. 11). He also urged them to show appreciation for people like Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus who had provided both financial and emotional support to Paul (v. 17).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Draw three columns on a sheet of paper. In the first column make list of all the people you personally know who minister on behalf of the church. When you are finished, add the names of those who are connected with your church. Write the letter “E” at the top the second column and the letter “F” at the top of the third column. Next to each name write at least one practical way you can show either emotional or financial support for each person you have identified. Post the list on your refrigerator as a reminder.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Judges 19:1-30
They have sunk deep into corruption, as in the days of Gibeah. - Hosea 9:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
Elie Wiesel, the author of Night, is a survivor of the Holocaust. He has dedicated his life to making sure that people do not forget the atrocities committed. We may be tempted to think, “Why read a book on the Holocaust? It's so awful, so depressing.” But Wiesel and others argue that if we do not remember, we imply that those lives lost were meaningless, and we miss something important that we must learn about ourselves and human nature.

We may have similar thoughts about Judges 19. It's so dark, so horrific. Wouldn't our time be better spent reading a few nice verses? If we skip over this chapter, though, we will miss something crucial to our understanding of God and our relationship to Him.

The chapter opens in a familiar way, “In those days Israel had no king.” The rest of the chapter will illustrate the second part of this refrain echoed throughout this final section of Judges: everyone did what was right in his own eyes. We must understand the geography if we are to grasp the significance of this story. As the Levite and his entourage leave Bethlehem, they consider stopping at Jebus. You'll remember that all the way back in 1:21 we learned that the Benjamites never drove out the original inhabitants of the land. The Levite did not want to take chances with non-Israelite people. You can almost hear him saying, “Who knows what might happen to us there?” Instead, they went to the Benjamite city of Gibeah.

The events in Gibeah echo the familiar story of Sodom (see Gen. 19). As we struggle to get through the horror upon horror recounted here, the message that we are to grasp grows louder. This is worse than Sodom. And it's happening in an Israelite city. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes: we have seen a breakdown of family, religion, and morality. Finally, note the place of women in this story. The concubine is abused as property, a bargaining chip, and an object lesson. We are a long way from the accounts of Deborah and Acsah.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When we do what is right in our own eyes, we will unleash destruction on ourselves, our family, our community, and our church. The following songs can be a prayer to the Lord, acknowledging that we need His eyes to find the path of righteousness: “Open My Eyes, That I May See” and “Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord.” You may want to read these lyrics, either online or in a hymnbook, or sing one of these songs as a way to ask God for His perspective.