5. Q.-Why did God allow the Benjamites to destroy in one battle twenty-two thousand Israelites, and in another eighteen thousand, seeing that they were judging a great sin committed by the Benjamites, and seeing, also, that the Israelites had first asked counsel of God as to whether they should go to battle against their brethren? (Judg. 20:1;2-48.) J. w.
A.-The first thing to. notice, in this solemn and instructive episode in Israel's history, is the general state of the nation before God, of which this particular sin of Benjamin's was but one sad fruit. It was quite in accordance with God's mind that Benjamin's terrible sin should be judged, and all Israel had to do this, but the state of the nation as a whole, in connection with this particular sin, had to be judged too, and this was done by God Himself in allowing the first two defeats, which show us that the power of evil cannot be dealt with unless God Himself be with His people. Now, this He cannot 'be if His people be in a state unsuited to His presence. To.secure His presence, a true estimate of their own condition before Him, in weakness and failure, is requisite; moreover, if collectively the condition of His people give rise to.sin, that brings chastisement from God, the whole people fall under this chastisement, in order that their hearts and consciences may be reached by it, and that they may judge their condition and own it before Him.
Now, the state of Israel at this time was very bad, as we read, " In those days there was no king in Israel: every man,did that which was right in his own eyes." God, and what was due to Him, had no place in their thoughts, and the nation, as a whole, was morally far from Him. Benjamin's sin) shocked their natural consciences, and aroused their indignation at first in simply a fleshly way; nor did they at the beginning take any counsel of God, as to how, or when, they should deal with the evil. They had arranged all this before they went to Him, and then it was merely to inquire who should " go up first." The Lord indicated Judah, and on them the heaviest blow fell. Perhaps Judah had already taken the lead in the matter without God, for God is just in all His judgments. On the second occasion the inquiry was whether they should go up again against Benjamin, but before doing, this they " encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array, in the place where they put themselves in array the first day they again make all their arrangements before going to the Lord. Beaten a second time, when they more than before expected victory, they cease altogether from themselves and their own plans; and now we read, "Then all the children of Israel, and all the people went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the Lord, and fasted that day till even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord." The lesson was learned, and Israel truly humbled and broken before God, and taking ground before Him in connection with His altar, inquire again, and they get the answer that leads to victory. God could be with them now, and He says, " Go up, for to-morrow I will deliver them into thine hand." The judgment inflicted on Benjamin was terrible and complete; for though the men of Gibeah alone had committed the sin, all the Benjamites had taken sides with those who were guilty of it, and God judged the associates with the guilty as severely as He did those directly guilty.
All these ways of God in government are deeply instructive, and surely have a special voice for the people of God. at this moment. C. w.
" God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him." (Psa. 89:7.) " Thy testimonies are very sure; holiness becometh thine house, 0 Lord, forever." (Psa. 94:5.)