Justin Houtz

Judges 21, Acts 25, Jeremiah 35, Psalms 7–8

DateVersionReading Plan
@August 7, 2024ESV (2016)M’Cheyne Plan 2024

Judges 21

Judges 21:16–21 (ESV) 16 Then the elders of the congregation said, “What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?” 17 And they said, “There must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, that a tribe not be blotted out from Israel. 18 Yet we cannot give them wives from our daughters.” For the people of Israel had sworn, “Cursed be he who gives a wife to Benjamin.” 19 So they said, “Behold, there is the yearly feast of the LORD at Shiloh, which is north of Bethel, on the east of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah.” 20 And they commanded the people of Benjamin, saying, “Go and lie in ambush in the vineyards 21 and watch. If the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come out of the vineyards and snatch each man his wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.

The elders of the congregation decreed that there must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, whose wives were destroyed in the attacks against them. However, the tribe of Benjamin could not be given wives due to a vow that had been taken. Therefore, the elders said that the Benjaminites were to be commanded to snatch the daughters of Shiloh at the yearly feast of the LORD at Shiloh. As the CSB Notes states, “This strategy, which resulted in women being taken against their will or the will of their parents, technically absolved the Israelites of breaking their vow not to give their daughters to the Benjaminites.” While this solution prevented the tribe of Benjamin from being blotted, it still involved violence against women. As Matthew Henry states, “They would have acted better if they had repented of their rash oaths, brought sin-offerings, and sought forgiveness in the appointed way, rather than attempt to avoid the guilt of perjury by actions quite as wrong.”

Acts 25

Acts 25:22 (ESV) 22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.”

Having committed no wrong and not seeking to escape death, Paul appealed to Caesar. Festus, the Roman procurator at the time, agreed and made arrangements for Paul to meet king Agrippa. When Festus spoke of Paul’s case before Agrippa, the king sought an opportunity to hear from Paul himself. It is amazing to see the sovereign hand of God at work in these events, that these discussions would lead to Paul being given a royal audience to give testimony of Jesus and share the gospel.

Jeremiah 35

Jeremiah 35:16–17 (ESV) 16 The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have kept the command that their father gave them, but this people has not obeyed me. 17 Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have not answered.”

The Rechabites were faithful to the command they had been given by their father and thus Jonadab, the son of Rechab, would never lack a man to stand before the Lord. However, the people of Judah had not obeyed the Lord and would be punished. The stark contrast of outcome between the Rechabites and Israelites gives weight to the exhortation of Matthew Henry to “Let us follow the counsels of our pious forefathers, and we shall find good in so doing.”

Psalms 7–8

Psalm 7:3–5 (ESV) 3 O LORD my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands, 4 if I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause, 5 let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it, and let him trample my life to the ground and lay my glory in the dust. Selah

In profound humility, David proclaims his willingness for his soul to be pursued and overtaken, his life trampled to the ground, and glory laid in the dust if there be any wrong in his hands. How powerful are David’s words, both in seeing the virtuous manner of life to which we are to strive and to humbly recognize our accountability.

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