Judges 20:1

 Judges 20:1 says, Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.  The people of Israel were united as one after hearing about what had happened to the Levite's concubine.  No one authority called them together, but they came out of common decency, gathering at Mizpeh under the LORD.  Verse two adds, And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.  There were four hundred thousand men who could draw a sword there.  When we as followers of Christ encounter great evil in the world today, we need to come together to combat it, especially if that evil is occurring within the church, who are supposed to be God's people.  Verse three adds, (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness?  The people of the tribe of Benjamin heard about the assembly at Mizpeh, but evidently hadn't felt compelled to gather with them.  When God's people gather today to fight against evil in the world, don't be surprised if some people who profess to be Christians remain on the sidelines.  Those gathered asked the Levite to tell them about this wickedness.  They went to the source to find the truth, and so should we at all times, but especially when we hear about some great evil event that has occurred.  Verse four states, And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.  The Levite, who is referred to as the husband of the woman, began to tell them what happened in Gibeah, a city of those who were a part of God's chosen people, when he and his concubine went there for help.  Verse five adds, And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead.  The Levite told them how the men there had assailed the house where they were staying so that they feared for their lives and had taken his concubine, and abused her until she died.  He didn't explain how they had gotten her and not him.  I believe that if we have somehow caused others to be harmed so that we can be protected we need to admit our responsibility.  Verse six continues,  And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.  The Levite then told how he had cut the body of his concubine into pieces and sent a piece to all the tribes.  This definitely got their attention.  Verse seven concludes, Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel.  The Levite, one of the priests of God's people, said they were all a part of God's people and asked them for their advice and counsel.  Today preachers should not assume that they have the answer in every situation, but should rely on the counsel of other Christians, since we are all a part of the priesthood of believers.