“In time, at nightfall, an old man came from his work in the field. He was from the Efrayim hills and was staying in Giv‘ah, although the residents were of Binyamin. The old man looked up, saw the traveler in the city’s open space and said, ‘Where are you going, and where are you coming from?'”-Judges 19:16-17
While the Levite, his concubine and servant were sitting in the town’s central square and resigned to the fact that they’d probably have to spend the night there, all of a sudden an old man comes up to them.
Interestingly (or perhaps by divine coincidence?) this old man happened to be from the same region as the Levite.
He wasn’t a resident of Gibeah.
And he wasn’t a member of the tribe of Benjamin.
Unlike everybody else in the town who coldly passed by the Levite and his companions, this old man decided to do the right thing.
He offered to take the Levite, his concubine and servant into his home for the night.
But before that, he had some questions.
“Where are you going? Where did you come from?” the old man asked.
The Levite answered honestly:
“We are on our way from Bethlehem in Judah to a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim where I live. I have been to Bethlehem in Judah and now I am going to the house of the Lord. No one has taken me in for the night. We have both straw and fodder for our donkeys and bread and wine for ourselves your servants—me, the woman and the young man with us. We don’t need anything.”
That part about “going to the house of the Lord” is a bit confusing.
What was that all about?
What the Levite probably meant was that on the way home he was going to stop at Shiloh…
Because that’s where the Wilderness Tabernacle was located.
It would make all the sense in the world for this Levite to pay a visit to the official home of the priesthood which was the Tabernacle and make a sacrifice there.
This brings us to another interesting point the Hebrew sages bring up.
This Levite was most likely recognized as a Levite by members of the other tribes.
How so?
First, because he was dressed differently…
Or he wore some sort of ritual object that set him apart from your average Hebrew.
Second, and I find this fascinating, the Levites had within a short span of time developed a unique accent or dialect.
So as soon as they opened their mouths, it was a dead giveaway they were Levites.
This tells us why none of the residents of Gibeah offered them hospitality.
They didn’t wanna have anything to do with the Lord’s chosen Priestly Tribe.
They may have been fellow Hebrews.
But their hearts were far from God.
Onward.
The Levite tells the man that since he has his own provisions, he won’t be a burden.
The old man responds by inviting the Levite to stay at his home…
And stresses under no circumstances are they to stay out in the town square at night.
In those days, it would have been normal and safe to camp out in a city’s central square.
But the old man insisted NO!
This had nothing to do with his concern for the Levite and his companions’ comfort.
This was a stern warning from a person who probably had first-hand experience with the people of this town.
He had a heart to help and wanted to protect the Levite, his concubine and his servant.
This brings us to a profound spiritual lesson.
This Levite is like the lost in this world who are just wandering about without a spiritual home to go to for rest and protection.
And this old man is like a believer who sees a person lost and has a sincere desire to want to help him.
So that’s your takeaway for today.
Whenever we see a lost stranger wandering around aimlessly without a place to stay, should we not go up to them and ask “Where are you going?” and “Where are you from?” like this old man did.
And then, should we not invite them to come into God’s home to receive His comfort and blessings?
I mean as believers, is that not our purpose?
Over and out.
Excellent takeaway!