It is very important for you to take note of who the Levites were; the following information is an excerpt from the Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary: “Levites were descendants of Levi who served as assistants to the priests in the worship system of the Nation of Israel.  As Levites, Aaron and his sons and their descendants were charged with the responsibility of the priesthood offering burnt offerings and leading the people in worship and confession.  But all the other Levites who were not descended directly from Aaron were to serve as priestly assistants, taking care of the tabernacle and the temple and performing other menial duties (Numbers 8:6).  The choice of the Levites as a people who would perform special service for God goes back to the days of Exodus when the children of Israel were camped at Mt. Sinai.  The people grew restless while they waited for Moses to return from talking with the Lord on the mountain.  Breaking their covenant with God, they made a golden calf and began to worship it.  The Levites were no less guilty than the other tribes.  But when Moses returned and called for those on the Lord’s side to come forward, the descendants of Levi were the only ones who voluntarily rallied to his side; showing zeal for God’s honor (Exodus 32:26-28).”  Let us read from the book of Judges 19:1-2 what a certain Levite did when there was no King in Israel; (1)”And it came to pass in those days, when there was no King in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Beth’-le-hem-judah.”  During those days it was not unusual for Levites to live in their own cities; however, it is important to understand that the Levites partook of the Holy things of Yahweh and lived consecrated lives.  Yet this particular Levite spoken of earlier went and got for himself a concubine and became torn between two loves.  Let’s pick up exactly what happened from (2)”And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father’s house to Beth’-le-hem-judah, and was there four whole months.”  (3)”And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father’s house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.”  This Levite instead of chasing after God and performing his priestly duties, he found himself torn between two loves.  For he loved God too; yet he had a deeper passion for his concubine even though she was stepping out on him so to speak; he still wanted very much to be with her.  As it turns out the Levite stayed at his concubine father’s house for five days at his insistence; however on the fifth day during the afternoon he departed with his concubine.  Being aware that the journey home would be a treacherous one in the city Gibeah where he chose to spend the night; for the sun had gone done on them and they were still far from home.  Sadly in Gibeah, no one would take them in for the night.  So they sat in the square of this city.  Do you know that in spite of their dilemma, Abba Father still showed to them His favour; read (16)”Just then an old man in from his work in the field at evening, who also was from the mountains of Ephraim; he was staying in Gibeah, whereas (17)”And when he raised his eyes, he saw the traveler in the square of the city, and the old man said, where are you going, and where do you come from?” Let’s read (21)”So he brought him into his house, and gave folder to the donkeys.  And they washed their feet, and ate and drank.”  (22)”As they were enjoying themselves, suddenly certain men of the city, perverted men surrounded the house and beat on the door.  They spoke to the master of the house, the old man saying; bring out the man who came to your house that we may know him carnally!”  (23)”But the man, the master of the house, went out to them, no, my brethren! I beg you, do not act so wickedly!  Seeing this man has come into my house; do not commit this outrage.”  (24)”Look, here is my virgin daughter and the man’s concubine, let me bring them out now.  Humble them, and do with them as you please, but to this man do not do such a vile thing!”  Now take note of what the Levite himself did in (25)”But the men would not heed him.  So the man took his concubine and brought her out to them.  And they knew her and abused her all night until the morning, and when the day began to break, they let her go.” (26)”Then the woman came as the day was dawning, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her master was till it was light.”  (27)”When her master arose in the morning, and opened the doors of the house and went out to go his way, there was his concubine, fallen at the door of the house with her hands on the threshold.”  (28)”And he said to her, get up and let us be going.  But there was no answer.  So the man lifted her onto the donkey; and the man got up and went to his place.”  This Levite was torn between two loves so much so it seemed as if he had forgotten the God whom he served.  He did not pray.  Read what he did as soon as he arrived to his home.  (29)”When he entered his house he took a knife, laid hold of his concubine, and divided her into twelve pieces, limb by limb, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel.”    This act shook up all of Israel.  Read of their response to seeing such a gruesome sight.  (30)”And so it was that all who saw it said, no such deed has been done or seen from the day that the children of Israel came up from the land of Egypt until this day.”  Consider it, confer it, and speak up!  Question is – are you and I as men and women of Yahweh, the God who has redeemed us partaking in the Holy things of God and at the same time being torn between two loves?  For the Levite, it was his concubine who caused him not to seek after the God he served and loved.  It seemed he did not pray and ask for any help with directions during his time of crisis.  What is even worse, he never repented before the LORD.  In fact when the old man, who had taken him into his house, asked him where he was going, he told him he was doing to the house of the LORD.  Read it for yourself from (11)”Now I am going to the house of the LORD.  But there is no one who will take me into his house.”  Take a deep breath in, breathe out!  Calmly think about this (me too) are you torn between two loves?  Who or what is causing you not to hunger and thirst after Yahweh like you used to do?  Not fasting before Him?  Not getting involved in Church Ministry anymore?  Torn between two loves?  Are you spending time in the secret place of His presence like you used to do?  Prayer?  What about prayer, you may ask? Do you remember when you used to tarry before Him all night?  If truth be known, now days you are slumbering upon your bed and missing those vital appointments with Him! Men and women of Yahweh you may not have a concubine (sweetheart), women of Yahweh, you may not be stepping out on your husbands – yet I hear it resounding, torn between two loves.  You and must take inventory of our lives, for God is very displeased.  What is it that is causing you to be torn between two loves?  The alarm is buzzing relentlessly.  The watch towers all across the globe are being left unattended, the prayer warriors and intercessors have fallen into a deep sleep.  The gates of the cities are swinging wide open, and the gate keepers are nowhere to be found and the enemy has crept in unawares wreaking havoc all over the world.

Let us not be like the Levite, who took matters into his own hands seeking revenge for the death of his concubine. Instead let’s repent in Godly sorrow and put to death carnality and the works of the flesh and seek Abba Father’s forgiveness to become true and faithful to Him.  Let us not permit ourselves to become torn between two loves ever again!

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