Judges 20:1-7: a reflection

1Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, to the LORD at Mizpah. 2The chiefs 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 who drew sword. 3(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) The children of Israel said, “Tell us, how did this wickedness happen?” 4The Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered, “I came into Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night. 5The men of Gibeah rose against me, and surrounded the house by night. They intended to kill me and they raped my concubine, and she is dead. 6I 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. 7Behold, you children of Israel, all of you, give here your advice and counsel.”

A grave and terrible evil had been done in Israel, a wickedness so vile that when word of it spread, the whole nation was stirred. All the children of Israel came out and assembled as one, from Dan to Beersheba, gathering before the LORD to deal with the evil that had been done among them. They did not ignore the atrocity, or let it pass unaddressed; the whole community came together to confront the grave wickedness in their midst and to call it to account.

Notice that Israel did not ignore the grave evil, but assembled as one to confront it. A terrible wickedness had been done; and rather than let it pass, or treat it as no concern of theirs, the whole nation came together to address it. They recognized that grave evil in their midst could not simply be overlooked; it had to be confronted and dealt with. The community took responsibility to face the wickedness among them, rather than turning away from it.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can be tempted to ignore grave evil, to look away from serious wickedness rather than confront it. When something truly evil is done, whether among us or in the wider world, the easier course can be to look away, to treat it as none of our concern, to let it pass; but Israel assembled as one to confront the evil in their midst. There are wrongs so grave that they must not be ignored, but confronted and dealt with. Do not simply look away from grave evil, treating it as no concern of yours; there are times when wickedness must be faced and addressed, not overlooked, as Israel came together to confront the evil done among them. Take seriously the grave wrongs that call for confronting, rather than turning away from them for the sake of ease, as Israel refused to ignore the wickedness in their midst but assembled as one to deal with it.

Lord, a grave and terrible evil had been done in Israel, a wickedness so vile that when word of it spread, the whole nation was stirred. All the children of Israel came out and assembled as one, from Dan to Beersheba, gathering before you to deal with the evil that had been done among them. They did not ignore the atrocity, or let it pass unaddressed; the whole community came together to confront the grave wickedness in their midst. Show me that Israel did not ignore the grave evil, but assembled as one to confront it. Rather than let it pass, or treat it as no concern of theirs, the whole nation came together to address it. They recognized that grave evil in their midst could not simply be overlooked; it had to be confronted. The community took responsibility to face the wickedness among them. Take that to my heart, for I can be tempted to ignore grave evil, to look away from serious wickedness rather than confront it. When something truly evil is done, the easier course can be to look away, to treat it as none of my concern; but Israel assembled as one to confront the evil in their midst. There are wrongs so grave that they must not be ignored. Keep me from simply looking away from grave evil, treating it as no concern of mine; help me take seriously the grave wrongs that call for confronting, Lord, rather than turning away from them for the sake of ease, as Israel refused to ignore the wickedness in their midst.