GOD’S WORD FOR YOU
JUDGES 19:16-21
16 At last, as the sun set, an old man came in from his work in the field. He was from the hill country of Ephraim, but he was living in Gibeah (the people there were Benjaminites). 17 When he looked up and saw the traveler in the city square, the old man asked, “Where are you going, and where did you come from? ”
Of all the people living there in Gibeah, who finally spoke with the Levite? A stranger. As it turned out, he was also from Ephraim like the Levite, and the old man gives us a better example of hospitality and kindness than any of the Israelites from the tribe of Benjamin who lived there.
18 He answered him, “We’re going from Bethlehem in Judah to a remote place in the hill country of Ephraim, where I live. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, and now I’m going to the house of the LORD. No one has taken me into his home. 19 We have straw and feed for the donkeys, and I have bread and wine for me, my concubine, and the servant with us. There is nothing we lack.” 20 “Peace to you! ” said the old man. “Let me take care of everything you need. Only don’t spend the night in the square.” 21 So he brought him into his house and fed his donkeys. After they washed their feet, they ate and drank.
The Levite does not mention the reason for his trip to Bethlehem. He could have pointed out that his wife had been unfaithful, that she had run away and deserted him, and that they were nearing the end of a trip that may not have been very long in miles but which was probably exhausting emotionally. But her had her back, and they were heading home. So the Levite says frankly and honestly that they have food for the animals and food for themselves, and that there is nothing they lack.
When we read David’s great shepherd Psalm, we say, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be ‘in want’” (Psalm 23:1). David and this old man use the same word, haser ‘to be in need; to lack.” To have nothing lacking was part of God’s assurance about the Promised Land (“you will lack nothing,” Deuteronomy 8:9). To be content with what we have is the way we keep the sixth, seventh, ninth and tenth commandments.
The ninth commandment in particular deserves quite a bit more attention by all of us today. We live in a culture where people think that they are entitled to a great many things, when they should really be content with what they have. People take what they do not need and demand what someone else cannot afford to part with, and they are so used to this state of affairs that their consciences don’t even bat an eyelash.
Luther said, “Here it is forbidden to entice anything away from your neighbor, even though in the eyes of the world you could do it honorably, without accusation or blame for fraudulent dealing. Such is [sinful human] nature that we all begrudge another’s having as much as we have. Yet we all pretend to be upright. We know how to put up a fine front to conceal our rascality. We think up artful dodges and sly tricks (better and better ones are being devised daily) under the guise of justice. We brazenly dare to boast of it, and insist that this should be called not rascality but shrewdness and business acumen.” (Large Catechism, Ninth Commandment, par. 296-298).
So, what so many people lack today is not the great stockpile of God’s gifts, but rather perspective and good judgment. But God in his wisdom calls out to all those who lack judgment: “Come here!” (Proverbs 9:4). “Eat my food and drink my wine” (the forgiveness of sins and all of the benefits and merits of Christ) “and walk in the way of understanding” (Proverbs 9:5-6).
Consider everything God has given you, and thank him for it all. Thank him even for the hard times, the troubles, the injuries and diseases, and the family crises that have made you cling more firmly to the cross. Let your Savior know that you lack nothing, and that you want to seek him with all your heart (Psalm 119:2). Let Paul be your model, who said, “I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). Remember that God has blessed you richly, lavishly, and thoroughly. If you need something, ask God for it. In Christ, you lack nothing.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
Archives by Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel: http://www.wlchapel.org/worship/daily-devotion/
Pastor Smith serves St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, New Ulm, Minnesota