Judges 19:11

Judges 19:11 says, And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.  As the Levite and his wife were traveling on the way home, it was getting dark, and his servant said they should turn in to the city of Jebus for the night.  Since their travel was slow and there weren't that many places near by, this was a sensible suggestion.  Verse twelve adds, And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah.  Since Jebus was not an Israelite city, but was a city of strangers, or Gentiles, the Levite refused to go there, saying instead they would go on to Gibeah.  We as Christians today are not to refuse to have anything to do with the lost people of the world, but are told that we are to be in the world, but not of the world.  Verse thirteen continues, And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah.  The Levite told his servant that they would continue on to Gibeah or Ramah to lodge for the night.  These were cities of Israel where God's people were commanded by Him to help those in need.  This I believe was what influenced the Levite to travel on.  He expected the people in these cities to live by God's law.  We today should expect the same of those who are called by God's name, but to often it doesn't happen.  Verse fourteen states, And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.  The Levite and his group went on until they came to the city of Gibeah, in the tribe of Benjamin, who were a part of God's chosen people.  This would have seemed to be a safer place for them to stop.  Verse fifteen adds, And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.  When they got into the city, no one took them in, so they remained in the street.  Gibeah may have been a city of God's chosen people by name, but it wasn't by action.  We as the church today must make certain that our actions are consistent with God's teachings, welcoming all who come to us, especially those in need.  Verse sixteen says, And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites.  After finishing his work in the field, an old man who was of the tribe of Ephraim but who was temporarily living in Gibeah came along.  This man still retained the virtue of one who followed God.  Not everyone who professes to be a Christian today lives by the virtues that God instills, but if we are truly a follower of Christ we must.  Verse seventeen adds, And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?  When the old man saw the Levite and his group in the street, he asked them where they were going and where thay were from.  I don't believe that he was just being nosy, but that he was genuinely concerned for them, which by even asking them showed more concern than anyone else in the city had shown.  We need to pray that we as God's people never become so lacking in compassion that we ignore those in need, especially our fellow believers.  Verse eighteen continues, And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.  The Levite told him where he came from and where he was returning to, and said that he was going to the house of the LORD there.  He then said that no one invited him into their house that night.  We need to pray that we are more like the old man than like the rest of the people of Gibeah.  Verse nineteen states, Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing.  The Levite said that he had found provisions for all his needs except lodging.  He did not complain about his situation, but only said that they lacked lodging.  We should always be joyous about what we have instead of complaining about what we don't have as Christians.  Verse twenty adds, And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.  The old man told them to be at peace and let him provide for all their needs.  Had he just told them to be at peace, he would not have helped them at all.  If we just offer platitudes to people in need today, we are doing them no good.  We, like the old man, need to be willing to offer people in need real help.  Verse twenty-one continues, So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.  The old man brought them into his house and offered them real hospitality, as was expected of God's people.  We need to be willing to do the same thing today as followers of Christ.