Yesterday I wrote a Bible Study on the “20 Characteristics of a Good Man.” Today, I found #21.

Show me a man who…

21. Tells the truth, Exodus 20:16; Leviticus 19:11; Proverbs 12:22; Colossians 3:9. Notice when they asked the Levite to tell them what happened, he embellished his story.

Judges 20:5, 6, “The the leaders of Gibeah rose up against me. At night they surrounded the house where I was staying. They wanted to kill me; instead they ravished my concubine so that she died. I seized my concubine…” Modern English Version

His version of the events sounded like they tried to kill him and he got away. Unfortunately, his concubine did not escape and they raped and killed her. “I seized my concubine” sounds like he got her back from them, but it was too late.

We know from reading Judges 19:25-28, that he seized his concubine and offered her to the men, then he went to bed! If her husband had brought her in when she reached the door at daybreak, she might have lived!

He left her lying there until he was ready to leave. He told her to “Get up.” He didn’t touch her or pick her up until he realized she was dead. Then he threw her body on the donkey and went home!

He made himself look like he had no other alternative. Fortunately, there were at least 3 witnesses: 1) The old man, Judges 19:16-28; 2) The virgin daughter, Judges 19:24; and 3) His servant, Judges 19:3, 9, 11, 13, 19.

I’m sure the old man’s virgin daughter did not sleep, hearing the concubines screams and cries of pain. She knew that almost happened to her!

The old man tossed all night, too. As a guest in his house, he was to fight to the death for her. He would have carried a horrible weight of guilt, not only for her death but for suggesting his virgin daughter be given the same fate!

Servants got up before daybreak. They washed, dressed and ate hours before their master woke up. He saw her come back to the door of the man’s house and fall down. He may have even woke his master up to go help her. But the selfish master wanted to sleep. He decided she could wait and she died.

They would have interviewed all the witnesses. The servant’s version of the events is what we read in Judges 19.

Remember, no matter where you go, what you do, or what you say, there are always witnesses! A man who lies cannot be trusted.

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