Judges & Ruth

We opened our Missionary Conference last night and my oh my what a time we had!  Great singing, a great crowd of people, wonderful presentations about the missions field, a great challenge about giving to missions, and a dear spirit among God's people.  Someone said:  "I don't want to go home."  Yes, it was that good!  Today I'm in Judges and Ruth.  Here is a thought or two: 1) FIGHTING FOR WRONG- In Judges 20:14, we find these words:  "But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel."  What caused this to happen?  It is so sad, so tragic, so sick.  A certain Levite was traveling with his concubine -19:1 (it starts sad, a levite (priest, should have a wife, not a concubine), his concubine ran off to be unfaithful 19:2 (sadder still), he retreaves her at the home of his father-in-law 19:4 (apparently some marriage took place), as he travels back home, he goes through the city of the Jebusites and lodges in Gibeah, which belongs to the tribe of Benjamin- 19:11,14,15.  The levite is traveling to the house of the LORD 19:18, and an old man sees him in the street and brings him into his house to get him off of the streets. 19:20.  Now, men of the city, certain sons of Belial-vs.22, say:  "Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know (have sex with) him."  (how vile!)  The old man offers his daughter and the concubine of the levite to them, but they are not interested vs. 24,25 (how sad that the "good men" in this story are still morally bankrupt!  The men later take the levites concubine (maybe wife by now) and "abuse her all the night until the morning:" and in the morning, she was found dead.  Now the levite does something so strange... he cuts her up in twelve pieces and sends those pieces throughout Israel and says "speak your minds".  vs. 29, 30.  Now, Israel gathers to deal out vengence and justice, but ..... the tribe of Benjamin defends their actions and fights on the side of these wicked men!!   NOW... just pray tell me what people are doing in America when it comes to the rights of sodomites in our land... they are fighting for their rights and if we do not agree then we are the old men of the city who need to be fought against!  Pray tell me do you not see our society fighting for every type of perversion under heaven?  Now here is the only good news in this whole perverted story.... God brings about justice and in 20:23, God said:  "Go up against him."   Now God used this to weed out the wicked in Israel, and wipe out the wicked in Benjamin.  (read chapter 20)  Today, perhaps God is weeding out the churches.... in preparation for a rapture to then wipe out the wicked!   Choose your side.... 2) CAN YOU LEARN FROM OTHERS?  In Ruth 3:5, Ruth said to Naomi, "All that thou sayest unto me, I will do."  How many Christians are there who are so teachable that they hunger to learn and say to the LORD, all that you speak to me from your Word, I will do.  Wow.  Help us to be that kind of Christian! Well, time is gone.  Have a great day!   Pastor Mike Mutchler