Judges 19:1

Judges 19:1 says, And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.  Matthew Henry says this probably occurred shortly after the death of Joshua since Israel was still without a real leader, and a Levite, a man of the priestly tribe, took for himself a concubine.  Verse two states, And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father’s house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months.  She was unfaithful to him, though likely only in her attitude about being his wife, and left him and went back to her father's house for four months.  Verse three says, And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father’s house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.  The Levite did not put her away, or divorce her, but went after her, to attempt to reconcile with her.  He had with him his servant and two asses.  Matthew Henry says she was called a concubine and not a wife because the Levite could not afford to pay a dowry for her and not because he had other wives.  Her father was glad to see the Levite when he got there.  Verse four states, And his father in law, the damsel’s father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.  The Levite was at his father-in-law's house for three days where he was fed and slept.  We are not told that the Levite said anything bad about his wife or her father.  Matthew Henry says that he evidently had forgiven her as God forgives us and expects us to do with others.  I believe that we too often act out of an attitude of hurt seeking revenge as followers of Christ if we feel that someone has somehow wronged us, instead of out of an attitude of forgiveness and reconciliation.  Verse five declares, And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel’s father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.  On the fourth day, the father-in-law told the Levite to have a little breakfast and then to be on his way.  Then verse six adds, And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel’s father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry.  Then, after they ate, the father-in-law asked the Levite to stay another night and enjoy himself.  The Levite was evidently ready to be on his way, but he was being treated nicely and being asked to stay longer.  We are not told how God was working in this situation and whether or not the Levite was being led by God to leave and go back home, but we need to realize that even if we are being treated nicely in the world today that we must make sure that we  are where God wants us to be.  If we aren't, we should never delay in returning to where God wants us to be.  Verse seven says, And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.  The Levite remained.  Verse eight adds, And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart: and the damsel’s father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them.  The next day, when the Levite arose early, he was once again asked to stay awhile longer.  The Levite had planned to leave early to get back home, but the kindness of the father-in-law was now becoming a burden to the Levite.  Sometimes, the kindness of others may make us hesitate to do what God has called us to do, but if it does, then it will ultimately prove to be a burden to us.  Verse nine adds, And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel’s father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.  The father-in-law then said it was late and that the Levite should stay overnight again.  He had started by asking the Levite to stay until the afternoon, but his plan seems to have been to use the lateness of the start to convince the Levite to stay another day.  We should never allow the kindness of the people of the world to keep us from being about what we need to do as followers of Christ.