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. During this time, when there was no king in Israel, a Levite took a woman from Bethlehemjudah as his concubine. Matthew says she was considered a concubine because the priest couldn't afford to pay a dowry to marry her. Verse two adds, 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. We are told told the woman played the whore to the Levi, and returned to her father’s house. Whether she was actually unfaithful and then returned to her father’s house or if she was just unfaithful by returning to her father’s house isn't totally clear, but either way, she betrayed her loyalty to her husband. Any time we let anyone come between our spouse and us, we are really betraying them, because we are to forsake all others and hold only to them. Verse three continues, 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 went after her, and spoke friendly to her. He did not come berating her or condemning her, and he brought his servant and a couple of donkeys with him. The woman then brought the Levite to her father’s house, and her father was glad to see him. Even if someone has harmed or betrayed us, as followers of Christ we should reach out to them with the love of God under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. 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 stayed with the woman and her father for three days while her father provided for him. They were now on good terms. It is always better if we can be on good terms with our in-laws. Verse five adds, 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, when the Levite was ready to leave, his father-in-law started to tempt him to stay. As Christians, if our children are called away from us to serve God elsewhere, we should never attempt to get them to stay. Verse six continues, 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. His father-in-law then asked the Levite to stay another night and let his heart be merry. Though tempted by something that we might enjoy, we should never let anything keep us from doing what God has called us to do. Verse seven says, And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again. The Levite got up to leave, but allowed his father-in-law to talk him in to staying another night. I believe that the Levite truly believed that he should be on his way, but allowed the fact that he was having a good time and the desire to please his father-in-law to keep him from doing what he believed he should do. Once we know what God wants usxto do, we should not allow anything to keep us from doing it, nor even delay us from doing it. 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 was ready to depart, his father-in-law once again asked him to wait at least until the afternoon to depart. His father-in-law was still attempting to keep them there. Verse nine continues, 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. When the Levite got up to leave that afternoon, his father-in-law attempted once again to get him to stay, now saying it would be better to leave early in the morning, after just keeping him from doing that. Sometimes, the arguments people make against us following God's will may seem to oppose earlier arguments, but we need to pray that we never use any argument to keep those closest to us from being about doing what God has called them to do. Verse ten concludes, But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him. The Levite would no longer be convinced to stay, but took his wife and two donkeys and left. It wasn't the best time of the day to do so, but I believe the Levite just felt he had to get underway, before his father-in-law once again attempted to get him to delay his departure. As Christians, we should never do things that make it more difficult for others to do what God has called them to do.
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