Judges 20: The Danger of Unrecognized Heart Issues

Welcome to Chapter by Chapter, a Welcome to Chapter by Chapter, a four-year journey through the greatest four-year journey through the greatest four-year journey through the greatest book given to the human race, the word book given to the human race, the word book given to the human race, the word of God, the Bible. We get to go through of God, the Bible. We get to go through of God, the Bible. We get to go through it chapter by chapter, 7 minutes a day it chapter by chapter, 7 minutes a day it chapter by chapter, 7 minutes a day and 7 days a week. Join us each day and and 7 days a week. Join us each day and and 7 days a week. Join us each day and share it with others so they can join share it with others so they can join share it with others so they can join this journey that will be life-changing. this journey that will be life-changing. this journey that will be life-changing. We will stop at unexpected places on the We will stop at unexpected places on the We will stop at unexpected places on the journey and be challenged. Some verses journey and be challenged. Some verses journey and be challenged. Some verses will create awe and wonder. We'll have will create awe and wonder. We'll have will create awe and wonder. We'll have chapters that will be instructive and in chapters that will be instructive and in chapters that will be instructive and in others we will find joy and comfort. We others we will find joy and comfort. We others we will find joy and comfort. We will occasionally be convicted and want will occasionally be convicted and want will occasionally be convicted and want to change, but all in all the journey to change, but all in all the journey to change, but all in all the journey will be worth it. Once in a while we may will be worth it. Once in a while we may will be worth it. Once in a while we may take a detour on the journey and hear take a detour on the journey and hear take a detour on the journey and hear from some of God's servants on their from some of God's servants on their from some of God's servants on their favorite passages from a chapter of favorite passages from a chapter of favorite passages from a chapter of scripture and let them give you their scripture and let them give you their scripture and let them give you their insight. Every journey needs a small insight. Every journey needs a small insight. Every journey needs a small detour occasionally. The best way to get detour occasionally. The best way to get detour occasionally. The best way to get the most from this podcast is read the the most from this podcast is read the the most from this podcast is read the chapter we're discussing before or chapter we're discussing before or chapter we're discussing before or after. It's his word that transforms. after. It's his word that transforms. after. It's his word that transforms. You'll find more and see more than I can You'll find more and see more than I can You'll find more and see more than I can ever articulate. Welcome to Chapter by ever articulate. Welcome to Chapter by ever articulate. Welcome to Chapter by Chapter and today's chapter is Judges Chapter and today's chapter is Judges Chapter and today's chapter is Judges 20, the danger of unrecognized heart 20, the danger of unrecognized heart 20, the danger of unrecognized heart issues. issues. issues. Kofi Annan was a Ghanaian diplomat who Kofi Annan was a Ghanaian diplomat who Kofi Annan was a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General served as the seventh Secretary-General served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006.

of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006. of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006. As the UN leader, the Secretary-General As the UN leader, the Secretary-General As the UN leader, the Secretary-General traveled the world visiting areas of traveled the world visiting areas of traveled the world visiting areas of some of the worst violence and cruelty some of the worst violence and cruelty some of the worst violence and cruelty in human history. Few men have the in human history. Few men have the in human history. Few men have the responsibility to face such evil responsibility to face such evil responsibility to face such evil worldwide. Fewer still must attempt to worldwide. Fewer still must attempt to worldwide. Fewer still must attempt to find a solution to such complex and find a solution to such complex and find a solution to such complex and insurmountable problems. When Annan insurmountable problems. When Annan insurmountable problems. When Annan prays, he often wonders about man's prays, he often wonders about man's prays, he often wonders about man's cruelty to man. "I'm still struggling cruelty to man. "I'm still struggling cruelty to man. "I'm still struggling with evil," he says. "I still don't with evil," he says. "I still don't with evil," he says. "I still don't understand how there can be so much understand how there can be so much understand how there can be so much evil. You look at the impact and you see evil. You look at the impact and you see evil. You look at the impact and you see young people with no hope." young people with no hope." young people with no hope." Annan is most puzzled when he comes face Annan is most puzzled when he comes face Annan is most puzzled when he comes face to face with evil. to face with evil. to face with evil. The meeting that haunts Annan was his The meeting that haunts Annan was his The meeting that haunts Annan was his meeting with former Serbian leader and meeting with former Serbian leader and meeting with former Serbian leader and indicted war criminal Slobodan indicted war criminal Slobodan indicted war criminal Slobodan Milosevic, the man who was directing a Milosevic, the man who was directing a Milosevic, the man who was directing a genocide in Serbia where thousands of genocide in Serbia where thousands of genocide in Serbia where thousands of Bosnians were systematically killed by Bosnians were systematically killed by Bosnians were systematically killed by his orders. Annan said these words, his orders. Annan said these words, his orders. Annan said these words, "Milosevic will talk about the days when "Milosevic will talk about the days when "Milosevic will talk about the days when he was a banker here in New York City.

he was a banker here in New York City. he was a banker here in New York City. He speaks English, sounds like a He speaks English, sounds like a He speaks English, sounds like a rational, reasonable person, and yet he rational, reasonable person, and yet he rational, reasonable person, and yet he is capable of all sorts of acts. How do is capable of all sorts of acts. How do is capable of all sorts of acts. How do they do it? How does someone behave like they do it? How does someone behave like they do it? How does someone behave like such a normal human being and suddenly such a normal human being and suddenly such a normal human being and suddenly turn evil? Suddenly the moral instinct turn evil? Suddenly the moral instinct turn evil? Suddenly the moral instinct alone does not answer. alone does not answer. alone does not answer. You are on your own trying to find a You are on your own trying to find a You are on your own trying to find a direction in a world which there is no direction in a world which there is no direction in a world which there is no marked paths and you're sitting across marked paths and you're sitting across marked paths and you're sitting across from pure evil. What do you do now?" from pure evil. What do you do now?" from pure evil. What do you do now?" You see, without God as king, no one has You see, without God as king, no one has You see, without God as king, no one has a moral compass. Judges 20 is facing a a moral compass. Judges 20 is facing a a moral compass. Judges 20 is facing a national crisis of evil from a horrific national crisis of evil from a horrific national crisis of evil from a horrific situation and they have no moral situation and they have no moral situation and they have no moral compass. compass. compass. We left Judges 19 with the repugnant We left Judges 19 with the repugnant We left Judges 19 with the repugnant scene of a rape victim's body cut up in scene of a rape victim's body cut up in scene of a rape victim's body cut up in 12 parts and sent to the 12 tribes of 12 parts and sent to the 12 tribes of 12 parts and sent to the 12 tribes of Israel. A husband was asking for Israel. A husband was asking for Israel. A husband was asking for something to be done about this and something to be done about this and something to be done about this and would do so through the shocking would do so through the shocking would do so through the shocking dismembered body parts of his wife.

dismembered body parts of his wife. dismembered body parts of his wife. What's inconceivable What's inconceivable What's inconceivable is that this man never did anything to is that this man never did anything to is that this man never did anything to prevent the rape, but is relying on the prevent the rape, but is relying on the prevent the rape, but is relying on the government of Israel to handle his government of Israel to handle his government of Israel to handle his apathy. apathy. apathy. The widower tells a slanted story to The widower tells a slanted story to The widower tells a slanted story to Israel's leaders of the situation. Israel's leaders of the situation. Israel's leaders of the situation. Listen to Judges 20:4. Listen to Judges 20:4. Listen to Judges 20:4. So, the Levite, the husband of the woman So, the Levite, the husband of the woman So, the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, "I who was murdered, answered and said, "I who was murdered, answered and said, "I came with my concubine to spend the came with my concubine to spend the came with my concubine to spend the night at Gibeah, which belongs to night at Gibeah, which belongs to night at Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin. But the men of Gibeah rose up Benjamin. But the men of Gibeah rose up Benjamin. But the men of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded the house at against me and surrounded the house at against me and surrounded the house at night because of me. They intended to night because of me. They intended to night because of me. They intended to kill me. Instead, they ravaged my kill me. Instead, they ravaged my kill me. Instead, they ravaged my concubine so that she died. And I took concubine so that she died. And I took concubine so that she died. And I took hold of my concubine, cut her in pieces, hold of my concubine, cut her in pieces, hold of my concubine, cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout the land of and sent her throughout the land of and sent her throughout the land of Israel's inheritance, for they have Israel's inheritance, for they have Israel's inheritance, for they have committed a lewd disgraceful act in committed a lewd disgraceful act in committed a lewd disgraceful act in Israel. This is not entirely true. When Israel. This is not entirely true. When Israel. This is not entirely true. When the worthless men of Gibeah came and the worthless men of Gibeah came and the worthless men of Gibeah came and knocked on the door where the husband knocked on the door where the husband knocked on the door where the husband was feasting, they took his wife and was feasting, they took his wife and was feasting, they took his wife and ravaged her without one protest from ravaged her without one protest from ravaged her without one protest from this man. He not only agreed with his this man. He not only agreed with his this man. He not only agreed with his host to give his wife, but the owner of host to give his wife, but the owner of host to give his wife, but the owner of the house's virgin daughter also. This the house's virgin daughter also. This the house's virgin daughter also. This is incredible and dark. Two drinking men is incredible and dark. Two drinking men is incredible and dark. Two drinking men so evilly deceived that they give their so evilly deceived that they give their so evilly deceived that they give their daughter and wife to rapists so their daughter and wife to rapists so their daughter and wife to rapists so their evening can go uninterrupted.

evening can go uninterrupted. evening can go uninterrupted. But now all of a sudden this man is But now all of a sudden this man is But now all of a sudden this man is wanting to skirt his sin issue and his wanting to skirt his sin issue and his wanting to skirt his sin issue and his gross negligence by fixing all of this gross negligence by fixing all of this gross negligence by fixing all of this through the nation's government. He has through the nation's government. He has through the nation's government. He has doctored up the story that just isn't doctored up the story that just isn't doctored up the story that just isn't true. He looks like a victim, but really true. He looks like a victim, but really true. He looks like a victim, but really he is a perpetrator in this murder. Can he is a perpetrator in this murder. Can he is a perpetrator in this murder. Can anything be more descriptive of a anything be more descriptive of a anything be more descriptive of a godless culture and even the time we are godless culture and even the time we are godless culture and even the time we are living in. We want to live the way we living in. We want to live the way we living in. We want to live the way we want to and then ask the government to want to and then ask the government to want to and then ask the government to handle our consequences. We want to be handle our consequences. We want to be handle our consequences. We want to be called victims and never be called called victims and never be called called victims and never be called culprits. We want to live without a king culprits. We want to live without a king culprits. We want to live without a king and establish our own morality. The King and establish our own morality. The King and establish our own morality. The King of Kings, for example, says that sex of Kings, for example, says that sex of Kings, for example, says that sex inside the boundaries of the covenant of inside the boundaries of the covenant of inside the boundaries of the covenant of marriage is my design for my people, and marriage is my design for my people, and marriage is my design for my people, and yet we choose our way for sexual yet we choose our way for sexual yet we choose our way for sexual relations and then ask our country to relations and then ask our country to relations and then ask our country to fix our immoral lifestyle when we are fix our immoral lifestyle when we are fix our immoral lifestyle when we are pregnant. Abortion is what the immoral pregnant. Abortion is what the immoral pregnant. Abortion is what the immoral asks for because you did not want to asks for because you did not want to asks for because you did not want to live a life that the king prescribed but live a life that the king prescribed but live a life that the king prescribed but live a life with you as king.

live a life with you as king. live a life with you as king. Are you as shocked as I am when I read Are you as shocked as I am when I read Are you as shocked as I am when I read that an estimated 73 million induced that an estimated 73 million induced that an estimated 73 million induced abortions take place worldwide abortions take place worldwide abortions take place worldwide each year according to the data from the each year according to the data from the each year according to the data from the World Health Organization World Health Organization World Health Organization and the Guttmacher Institute? This total and the Guttmacher Institute? This total and the Guttmacher Institute? This total means that about three out of every 10 means that about three out of every 10 means that about three out of every 10 pregnancies or 29% end in an induced pregnancies or 29% end in an induced pregnancies or 29% end in an induced abortion globally. Our world is living abortion globally. Our world is living abortion globally. Our world is living out the book of Judges that constantly out the book of Judges that constantly out the book of Judges that constantly tells us that there was no king in the tells us that there was no king in the tells us that there was no king in the land. Man has become king and inevitably land. Man has become king and inevitably land. Man has become king and inevitably gives us little K for king answers. gives us little K for king answers. gives us little K for king answers. 73 million abortions fixes the problem 73 million abortions fixes the problem 73 million abortions fixes the problem so people can continue to live without a so people can continue to live without a so people can continue to live without a king. king. king. And in Judges 20, we will see that And in Judges 20, we will see that And in Judges 20, we will see that 25,000 25,000 25,000 deaths will be their answer to a man's deaths will be their answer to a man's deaths will be their answer to a man's criminal treatment of his wife. The criminal treatment of his wife. The criminal treatment of his wife. The nation goes to war with Benjamin as nation goes to war with Benjamin as nation goes to war with Benjamin as their answer to the 12 body parts. their answer to the 12 body parts. their answer to the 12 body parts. Literally a civil war started due to the Literally a civil war started due to the Literally a civil war started due to the fabricated story of a reckless husband fabricated story of a reckless husband fabricated story of a reckless husband that puts his wife in harm's way. That that puts his wife in harm's way. That that puts his wife in harm's way. That husband has 25,000 husband has 25,000 husband has 25,000 deaths on his head.

deaths on his head. deaths on his head. It says this in Judges 20 verse 43. They It says this in Judges 20 verse 43. They It says this in Judges 20 verse 43. They surrounded Benjamin, pursued them surrounded Benjamin, pursued them surrounded Benjamin, pursued them without rest, trod them down opposite without rest, trod them down opposite without rest, trod them down opposite Gibeah toward the east. Thus 18,000 men Gibeah toward the east. Thus 18,000 men Gibeah toward the east. Thus 18,000 men of Benjamin fell. All these were valiant of Benjamin fell. All these were valiant of Benjamin fell. All these were valiant warriors. The rest turned and fled warriors. The rest turned and fled warriors. The rest turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of toward the wilderness to the rock of toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon. But they caught 5,000 of them on Rimmon. But they caught 5,000 of them on Rimmon. But they caught 5,000 of them on the highways and overtook them at Gidom the highways and overtook them at Gidom the highways and overtook them at Gidom and killed 2,000 of them. So all of and killed 2,000 of them. So all of and killed 2,000 of them. So all of Benjamin who fell that day were 25,000 Benjamin who fell that day were 25,000 Benjamin who fell that day were 25,000 men who drew the sword. All these were men who drew the sword. All these were men who drew the sword. All these were valiant warriors. American theologian valiant warriors. American theologian valiant warriors. American theologian Cornelius Plantinga said this about sin. Cornelius Plantinga said this about sin. Cornelius Plantinga said this about sin. The awareness of sin used to be our The awareness of sin used to be our The awareness of sin used to be our shadow. shadow. shadow. Christians hated sin, feared it, grieved Christians hated sin, feared it, grieved Christians hated sin, feared it, grieved over it. over it. over it. Some of our grandparents agonized over Some of our grandparents agonized over Some of our grandparents agonized over their sins. A man who lost his temper their sins. A man who lost his temper their sins. A man who lost his temper might wonder whether he could still go might wonder whether he could still go might wonder whether he could still go to Holy Communion. A woman who for years to Holy Communion. A woman who for years to Holy Communion. A woman who for years envied her more attractive and envied her more attractive and envied her more attractive and intelligent sister might worry that this intelligent sister might worry that this intelligent sister might worry that this sin threatened her very salvation. But sin threatened her very salvation. But sin threatened her very salvation. But in today's group confessionals, it's in today's group confessionals, it's in today's group confessionals, it's hard to tell.

hard to tell. hard to tell. The newer language of Zion fudges and The newer language of Zion fudges and The newer language of Zion fudges and says, "Let us confess our problems." says, "Let us confess our problems." says, "Let us confess our problems." Today, Today, Today, where sin is concerned, people just where sin is concerned, people just where sin is concerned, people just mumble now. mumble now. mumble now. We lost the clarity of sin We lost the clarity of sin We lost the clarity of sin because we live like Israel in Judges because we live like Israel in Judges because we live like Israel in Judges without a king. America without a king. America without a king. America just mumbles now. just mumbles now. just mumbles now. In his recent book, Timothy Jennings In his recent book, Timothy Jennings In his recent book, Timothy Jennings writes of the dangers of unrecognized writes of the dangers of unrecognized writes of the dangers of unrecognized heart issues. heart issues. heart issues. He says, "Hypertension, high blood He says, "Hypertension, high blood He says, "Hypertension, high blood pressure, has been called the silent pressure, has been called the silent pressure, has been called the silent killer." He said, "For a long time, killer." He said, "For a long time, killer." He said, "For a long time, medical professionals didn't always medical professionals didn't always medical professionals didn't always realize this. Undetected heart issues realize this. Undetected heart issues realize this. Undetected heart issues are dangerous because they allow silent are dangerous because they allow silent are dangerous because they allow silent damage to progress without treatment, damage to progress without treatment, damage to progress without treatment, leading to severe complications like leading to severe complications like leading to severe complications like heart failure." heart failure." heart failure." This is not only true physically, but This is not only true physically, but This is not only true physically, but spiritually. Israel in the book of spiritually. Israel in the book of spiritually. Israel in the book of Judges Judges Judges has had progressive heart problems for has had progressive heart problems for has had progressive heart problems for 300 years.

300 years. 300 years. And now we are seeing the results in the And now we are seeing the results in the And now we are seeing the results in the book of Judges. book of Judges. book of Judges. When this heartbreaking story is brought When this heartbreaking story is brought When this heartbreaking story is brought to the leaders of a nation, can you to the leaders of a nation, can you to the leaders of a nation, can you imagine what would have happened if they imagine what would have happened if they imagine what would have happened if they fell to their knees and cried to God, fell to their knees and cried to God, fell to their knees and cried to God, "We've sinned, heal our land and change "We've sinned, heal our land and change "We've sinned, heal our land and change our hearts. our hearts. our hearts. That would have been immediate That would have been immediate That would have been immediate open-heart spiritual surgery and a open-heart spiritual surgery and a open-heart spiritual surgery and a nation rescued and 25,000 lives would nation rescued and 25,000 lives would nation rescued and 25,000 lives would have been saved that day. have been saved that day. have been saved that day. Thank you for joining Chapter by Thank you for joining Chapter by Thank you for joining Chapter by Chapter. Every chapter from the greatest Chapter. Every chapter from the greatest Chapter. Every chapter from the greatest book, the Bible, the word of God, 7 book, the Bible, the word of God, 7 book, the Bible, the word of God, 7 minutes a day, 7 days a week. We'll see minutes a day, 7 days a week. We'll see minutes a day, 7 days a week. We'll see you tomorrow.