GOD’S DIFFICULT REFINING PROCESS – Judges 20:1-48

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on November 18, 2015 under AM Bible Study |

AM Bible Study Group; November 18, 2015 from Judges 20:1-48

Theme: This chapter illustrates how God refined His disobedient people through a process of trial.

(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).

In our last study, we saw how deep into sin and depravity God’s covenant people had fallen. We read of how the people in Gibeah of the tribe of Benjamin had committed a crime of great perversity. And now, the people of the rest of the land of Israel needed to respond.

The terrible response was necessary—commanded in God’s law (Deuteronomy 13:12-18). To fail to respond would bring even further judgment from God. But what stands out in this passage is that, in the process of obediently responding, God refined His people through difficult trial; and He made them more dependent upon Himself. This gives us a picture of how He may refine us through trying times.

I. A REVIEW OF THE SITUATION (vv. 1-7).

A. The children of Israel gathered “from Dan to Beersheba” to deal with this matter (v. 1). This would be like saying that they came from the top of the land to the bottom—a whole gathering. They met at Mizpah; which had been an important meeting-place in times past (see Judges 10:17), and would be so in the future (see 1 Samuel 7:5). Note the vast number that is reported to have gathered—400,000 foot soldiers (v. 2). This was much larger than the armies of Benjamin; but this large number underscores the fact that we must never trust in the power of men but in the power of God.

B. The leaders of the people inquired into the circumstances of this great sin on the part of Gibeah (v. 3); and the Levite whose concubine was killed reported the event (v. 4-7). Note that he didn’t tell everything. He failed to report that he handed his concubine over to the men of Gibeah for them to abuse. Nevertheless, he accurately reported the “lewdness and outrage” that they committed (v. 6). After giving a report, he called for them to give their “advice and counsel here and now” (v. 7).

II. A CONFRONTATION OF THE SIN (vv. 8-17).

A. After hearing the report, the men of Israel agreed that none of them wold go back home until this matter was dealt with (v. 8). They agreed that they would select a tenth of their number by lot to make provisions for the rest; and that the remaining would repay the tribe of Benjamin for this matter (vv. 9-10). Note that the men of Israel were “united together as one man” (v. 11). How sad, though, that—with all the disunity that had gone on before—it was this event that had brought them together!

B. Note that, when the is collected force went together to Benjamin, they began by asking what this was that had happened and by demanding that the “perverted men” who did this be delivered up “that we may put them to death and remove the evil from Israel” (vv. 12-13). But sadly, Benjamin wouldn’t listen (v. 14). Instead, they gathered a formidable force of 26,700 men who drew the sword—with 700 of them being men who were left-handed marksmen; “every one could sling a stone at a hair’s breadth and not miss” (vv. 15-16). Apparently, the men of Benjamin had a reputation for their left-handed skills (Judges 3:15) and for their marksmanship (1 Chronicles 12:2). Again, we’re reminded that this was a small army compared to the combine forces of Israel. The coalition forces had roughly a 15 to 1 advantage. But as the people of Israel were about to discover:

No king is saved by the multitude of an army;

A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.

A horse is a vain hope for safety;

Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,

On those who hope in His mercy,

To deliver their soul from death,

And to keep them alive in famine” (Psalm 33: 16-19).

III. A PROCESS OF HUMBLING (vv. 18-28).

A. The first phase of the humbling was one in which the people of Israel were characterized by a confidence in the flesh. They inquired of the Lord before going to battle; but it almost seems as if it were a mere formality (v. 18a). God indeed communicated to them that Judah was to go first against Benjamin (vv. 18b-20). But the result was that Benjamin soundly defeated them; and they lost 22,000 of their men—almost the number of the armies of Benjamin (v. 21).

B. The second phase involved a sort of false encouragement. We’re told that the people of Israel—after this terrible defeat—“encouraged themselves” and again formed battle lines as on the day before (v. 22). They “wept” before the Lord (although it still did not seem heart-felt enough); and inquired once again if they should go against Benjamin. God again said to go (v. 23); and again, Israel suffered a great defeat—losing another 18,000 men who drew the sword (vv. 24-25). Their losses were now significantly greater than the numbers of soldiers Benjamin had in its army; 40,000, which would have been a tenth of their force. This was a staggering defeat—one that seems to have come from the hand of the very God who had told them to go and fight!

C. The third phase is one that is characterized by true humility. There was no false ‘encouragement’ or trust in the flesh. We’re told that the people of Israel “went up and came to the house of God and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord” (v. 26). Note that they had advantages over Benjamin that were spiritual in nature (vv. 27-28); but they needed to trust in God. God has a remarkable way of humbling His people to the point that He can use them—breaking them of their trust in the flesh, taking away every false hope, and causing them to cry out to Him for help. And when the people did this in the way that God wanted, God responded. The people again inquired of God; and He told them, “Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand” (v. 28). What an important spiritual lesson!

IV. A DELIVERANCE GRANTED BY GOD (vv. 29-48).

A. It’s a story of deliverance; but it’s a very sad one. Verses 29-35 tell us the story of how the people of Israel set an ambush against Benjamin—much in the same way that Joshua did against the people of Ai in Joshua 8. 10,000 men were used in this ambush; and as a result, Benjamin suffered an almost complete loss of its entire army; losing 25,100 men of valor.

B. A fuller and more detailed story is told in verses 36-48. The story tells of the over-confidence of Benjamin against the backdrop of the God-given humility of the coalition army of Israel. We’re told of how the defeat of Benjamin was brought about in three stages (much like the coalition suffered humiliation in three stages)—18,000 men of valor at the ambush (vv. 43-44), then 5,000 more as they fled to the rock of Rimmon (v. 45a), then another 2,000 in relentless pursuit (v. 45b)–giving the round total of 25,000 (v. 46). 600 men of Benjamin escaped to hide in the wilderness for four months—the only remnant of Benjamin that was left (v. 47); and the coalition force of Israel ‘turned back against the children of Benjamin’—slaying both men and beast, and setting fire to the cities (v. 48). The defeat was so stunning and complete that the next chapter involves a pathetic attempt to restore what was left of Benjamin—so that an entire tribe of Israel would not be lost.

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This passage is dreadful. It speaks of sin and its consequences. But it also illustrates to us the lesson Paul learned in his own trials:

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).