Ekev (As a Result) opens with the covenant faithfulness of God. The Lord promises to love, bless, multiply, and bring Israel into the fullness of its inheritance as the people listen to His judgments and walk faithfully with Him. That covenant love provides the frame for Tu B'Av (15th of Av), a celebration of love connected with marriage, commitment, reconciliation, and the continuing life of the tribe of Benjamin.
The closing chapters of Judges reveal what happens when Israel no longer lives as though the Lord is King. Personal complacency leads to double-mindedness and becomes household idolatry, household idolatry spreads through a tribe, and outrage over the terrible events at Gibeah grows into civil war. Israel assembles as one man, yet it is unity formed around grievance and retribution rather than submission to the King. The concubine's divided body becomes a prophetic picture of a divided Bride: a divided Bride cannot live.
Messiah Yeshua addresses the heart from which that destruction grows. Violation, contempt, rash words, and vows formed in our own understanding carries a cost throughout the body. The answer is not to ask God to confirm a battle we have already chosen, but to seek Him first, leave room for Him to say cease, and pursue reconciliation with our brother or sister. There is a King in Israel. He is faithful to His Bride, and He calls His people to speak with integrity, walk in covenant love, and allow Him to redeem division unto reconciliation.
Takeaways
God's covenant love is faithful and fruitful. He does not treat His people as disposable or merely useful; He loves His Bride and desires to bring her into the fullness of her inheritance.
Spiritual idolatry that begins in one household can spread into a tribe and finally wound the entire nation.
United outrage gathers people together unto destruction without making them truly one. Israel assembled as one man, but grievance and retribution carried them into deeper division.
Seeking the Lord after deciding what we will do is not the same as seeking Him first. True submission asks not only, 'How should we proceed?' but also, 'Should we proceed?'
Contempt for a brother or sister can end in violence. A divided Bride cannot live.
In the kingdom, our words should carry integrity: yes should be yes, and no should be no.
The Lord is able to redeem what His people have broken. Tu B'Av points toward restored relationship, continuing life, and reconciliation after division.
Prayer Points
Thank the Lord for His chesed, His faithful covenant love toward His people.
Ask the King to reveal every place where we have already chosen our course and only afterward asked Him to confirm it.
Pray for freedom from anger, contempt, and the need to gather others around an offense.
Ask the Lord to heal division within His Bride and teach us to seek reconciliation before it brings further separation.
Pray that our words, commitments, and vows will reflect the faithfulness of the One who has called us His Bride.
Ask Messiah Yeshua to lead us out of the schemes of human strength and into the simplicity of His way.
Study Questions
How does Deuteronomy 7:12-15 describe the Lord's covenant faithfulness and His desire for Israel's fruitfulness?
What progression do Judges 17-21 show from a rash vow of cursing which lead to division throughout the whole nation?
Why is Israel's first question in Judges 20:18 different from asking whether they should go to battle at all?
How does Matthew 5:21-26 reveal the heart of violence and division seen in Judges?
What is the difference between unity formed around outrage and unity formed through devotion to the King?
How do the rash vows in Judges and Yeshua's words in Matthew 5:33-37 convict us prior to speaking and/or making commitments?
Living Out Love
Live out your faith by showing love to the brother or sister with whom there is tension, disappointment, or offense. Before gathering agreement around what happened, bring the matter honestly before the King. Ask Him not only how you should respond, but whether the battle you are preparing to fight is one He has already won.
This week, read Judges 19-21 and Matthew 5:21-26, 33-37 slowly. Notice the cost of contempt, predetermined judgment, and rash words. Then reach out to someone where reconciliation is needed. Speak truthfully and tenderly, listen without preparing your defense, and leave room for the Lord to heal and restore what division has wounded.
Supporting Mosaic Ministries
If this message has blessed you, prayerfully consider freely sowing into the work of Mosaic Ministries as we continue sharing the love of God revealed in Scripture, so that others may also be blessed. You can learn more and give at mercygathered.com/give
