The Results of Sexual Perversion
February 24, 2022
Commentary
While the people were enjoying themselves inside, the wicked men of Gibeah surrounded the house and demanded the old man send out the Levite to satisfy their homosexual desires (v. 22). It is unthinkable but the old man was willing to sacrifice his daughter and the Levite’s concubine by offering them to the men rather than allowing harm to come to the Levite (vv. 23-24). His suggestion however fell on deaf ears, so the Levite with a callous disregard for the one he professed to love and with a greater concern for his own skin forced his concubine to go out to the men (v. 25). They took her and sexually abused her throughout the night. At daybreak she was released and came back to the house where she fell on the doorstep and died (v. 26).
The next morning when the Levite stepped out of the door to continue on his way (apparently not to look for his concubine) he discovered her laying on the step (v. 27). He does not appear to be upset until he realized that she was dead. Then he puts her on his donkey and sets out for home (v. 28). The next thing the Levite does is an unbelievable act of cruelty by cutting up his concubine into 12 parts and sends a part to each tribe of Israel (vv. 29-30). As we can see it was not only the action of the men of Gibeah which revealed the low moral standards of the day but the action of the Levite who was a so-called religious man. This whole shocking incident made a lasting impression on Israel and was referred to by the prophet Hosea as one of the greatest examples of depravity (Hosea. 9:9; 10:9).
Application
As a Christian in this modern world, I must never take lightly the evil results of sexual perversion and homosexuality. These terrible acts of violence and sadism go hand in hand with these same forms of immorality in our day. I must review with my family how that if we ignore God, shun his will, and reject His Son we are headed for eventual personal chaos, and spiritual disaster.
Judges 19:22– 30 (NET)
22 They were having a good time, when suddenly some men of the city, some good-for-nothings, surrounded the house and kept beating on the door. They said to the old man who owned the house, “Send out the man who came to visit you so we can take carnal knowledge of him.” 23 The man who owned the house went outside and said to them, “No, my brothers! Don’t do this wicked thing! After all, this man is a guest in my house. Don’t do such a disgraceful thing! 24 Here are my virgin daughter and my guest’s concubine. I will send them out and you can abuse them and do to them whatever you like. But don’t do such a disgraceful thing to this man!” 25 The men refused to listen to him, so the Levite grabbed his concubine and made her go outside. They raped her and abused her all night long until morning. They let her go at dawn. 26 The woman arrived back at daybreak and was sprawled out on the doorstep of the house where her master was staying until it became light. 27 When her master got up in the morning, opened the doors of the house, and went outside to start on his journey, there was the woman, his concubine, sprawled out on the doorstep of the house with her hands on the threshold. 28 He said to her, “Get up, let’s leave.” But there was no response. He put her on the donkey and went home. 29 When he got home, he took a knife, grasped his concubine, and carved her up into twelve pieces. Then he sent the pieces throughout Israel. 30 Everyone who saw the sight said, “Nothing like this has happened or been witnessed during the entire time since the Israelites left the land of Egypt! Take careful note of it! Discuss it and speak!”