Judges 20:1–2

The chapters that follow (Judges 17-21) are not part of the historical order of this book. They lift the veil to show some incidents of the inner life of this people whom the patience of God bore with so long... If the state of God's people as a whole gives rise to sins that need discipline, the whole people share in the chastisement that follows. The effect is to make them take their condition to heart. That condition had stopped them from putting down evil, or from punishing it as soon as it happened. But God sets the people in His presence. He judges the whole matter, and all the people must have to do with it.

Very little seemed to be lacking in this united protest against evil. There was zeal to look into the evil and to purify themselves from it, and also a sense of Israel's corporate responsibility... They recognised the centre of the people's unity, for it was "to the LORD" that they gathered at Mizpah. What then was lacking in Israel? One thing, "the first love"... They had listened, discussed, decided, and then consulted God (v. 18). Instead of starting with the word of God they had left it to the last. Not that it was left out, but it no longer held the first place.

On the surface the eleven tribes looked nearly as united as when Israel purged themselves of Achan's sin and were restored at Ai. Still, it was no longer God's unity. It was no use that the people "were gathered together as one man" (v. 1), or "arose as one man" (v. 8), or were "knit together as one man" (v. 11), against Gibeah. God could not recognise the unity of Israel while Benjamin was missing.

And the summons was not in vain. Israel gather, by their representatives, from Dan to Beersheba, apart only from the tribe involved, and the Levite at Mizpeh tells the whole terrible story — naturally saying little about his own part in it.

From Dan to Beersheba into the land of Gilead they gathered at Mizpah to hear the story of the Levite. Benjamin refused to give up the wicked men. Instead of humbling themselves, admitting the dreadful guilt and bringing the guilty ones to judgment, they gathered together to fight their own brothers... What a contrast with the beginning of the book! There they were to fight against the common enemy; here against their own brothers.

All the tribes were united in insisting that judgment must be carried out against those who were guilty of criminal abuse and murder. They did not have the same zeal for God's glory in judging the idolatry of Dan. In fact, Dan was included in the stand against this moral wickedness. Dan wanted to cast out the speck in his brother's eye while ignoring the plank in his own eye! (Matt. 7:4)

I am afraid the people of God too often see it that way. The feeling that rules here is simply indignation against the offenders. Yet in reality the whole matter goes much deeper. We may take it as an unchanging principle: every such shocking exposure among the people of God should bring us all to our knees in sober, real self-judgment. That must come before we take any part in judging the evil... The sin was Israel's sin, and it showed a corrupt inner state that also required judgment.

They merely ask who is to go up first. Jehovah points out Judah, but Judah is defeated. They expected an easy victory, but they lost twice. Humbled and in tears, the people turn to Jehovah again... Gibeah well deserved this discipline. But to carry it out, Israel itself needed discipline.

Only one thing brings the people together and holds them together. Evil has been committed, and until that evil is judged, not a man of them will go to his home. Do you read of the Feast of Tabernacles drawing the whole nation together with joy? Year after year God quietly invited them to come up and keep the feast, and to enjoy the holy fellowship of His things. But they had preferred to live among the surrounding nations... Only this unspeakable corruption shocks them out of their sleep and makes them flow together. They are drawn not by grace, not by the attractiveness of love and goodness... An evil has been committed, and it stirs them for the time being into remarkable faithfulness to God.

If the state of God's people as a whole gives rise to sins that need discipline, the whole people share in the chastening that follows. Its effect is to make them take their condition to heart. That condition had stopped the sin from being checked, or punished at once when it happened. But God sets the people in His presence. He judges the whole matter, and all the people must have to do with it.

Very little seemed lacking in this unanimous protest against evil. They were eager to look into it and to purify themselves from it, and they felt that all Israel shared the responsibility... Above all, the gathering, the actions and the feelings of the eleven tribes made a fair show of unity. Only one tribe was absent — the smallest, and a guilty one at that. They acknowledged the centre of the people's unity, for they gathered "to Jehovah" at Mizpah. What then was lacking in Israel? One thing, "the first love."... Toward God, this love had grown cold. They had listened, discussed and decided, and only then consulted God. Instead of starting with the word of God, they left it to the last.

To all appearance, the eleven tribes presented a nearly perfect unity. Yet it was no longer God's unity. The people "were gathered together as one man." They "arose as one man." They were "knit together as one man" against Gibeah. It was all in vain: God could not recognise the unity of Israel while Benjamin was missing.

But to be fit to be used by God to deal with evil involves much more than being willing to be His instrument. They are too ready, as we see in the result. Their anger is too quick, too unrelenting, too merciless. Theirs is the reckless haste of vengeance, and not the solemn discernment of divine judgment. They do not remember their own sins, they bring no sin-offering to God, no tears of repentance. They build on their numbers; no doubt on the justice of their cause also, but in self-righteousness and without any suspicion of themselves. So they go up to strike, and instead they are struck heavily and disastrously.

Here is an unchanging principle. Every such shocking exposure among the people of God should bring us all to our knees in sober, real self-judgment. That comes before we take any part in judging the evil... Israel could not rightly regard itself as clear of evil when it had to act in this solemn case. The sin was Israel's sin, and it showed a corrupt inward state that also needed judgment. The nation must come to feel it as the guilt of the whole nation, not just of the offenders.