The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 18 June 2020 – Right But Wrong!
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TOPIC: Right But Wrong!
READ: JUDGES 19:1-9 (NKJV)
- And it came to pass in those days, when [there was] no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite staying in the remote mountains of Ephraim. He took for himself a concubine from Bethlehem in him to her father’s house at Bethlehem in Judah, and was there four whole months.
- Then her husband arose and went after her, to speak kindly to her [and] bring her back, having his servant and a couple of donkeys with him. So she brought him into her father’s house; and when the father of the young woman saw him, he was glad to meet him.
- Now his father-in-law, the young woman’s father, detained him; and he stayed with him three days. So they ate and drank and lodged there.
- Then it came to pass on the fourth day that they arose early in the morning, and he stood to depart; but the young woman’s father said to his son-in-law, “Refresh your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.”
- So they sat down, and the two of them ate and drank together. Then the young woman’s father said to the man, “Please be content to stay all night, and let your heart be merry.”
- And when the man stood to depart, his father-in-law urged him; so he lodged there again.
- Then he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart, but the young woman’s father said, “Please refresh your heart.” So they delayed until afternoon; and both of them ate.
- And when the man stood to depart — he and his concubine and his servant — his father-in-law, the young woman’s father, said to him, “Look, the day is now drawing toward evening; please spend the night. See, the day is coming to an end; lodge here, that your heart may be merry. Tomorrow go your way early, so that you may get home.”
THE MESSAGE:
A concubine was unfaithful to her husband and fled to Bethlehem to continue in her prostitution. While she was missing, her husband went after her and found her in Bethlehem, forgave her, and they reconciled. We did not see any record of this man calling his wife to repentance but he took her to her father’s house. He and his father-in-law enjoyed each other’s company and spent five days eating, drinking, and making merry. Throughout the 5-day party, we have no record that the father in-law rebuked her daughter for her marital unfaithfulness. It was only eating and drinking – making light the heavy issue of adultery.
There is nothing wrong with having love that holds no record of sin or showing sincere hospitality. However, to exchange moral values for pleasure is a serious error! The attitude of the man and his in-law is a reflection of our society today: Pleasure is fast taking over morality. This is a wake-up call for us. Let us look within and around us, and using the word of God and holy living, seek to restore moral values currently being eroded by pleasure.
PRAYER: Lord, help me live as the light of the world today and henceforth, Amen!
