What can we learn about compassion from "grieved for their brothers" in Judges 21:6? Setting the Scene Israel had disciplined Benjamin for its outrageous sin (Judges 19–20). After the judgment fell, “the Israelites grieved for their brothers, the Benjamites. ‘Today a tribe of Israel has been cut off,’ they said” (Judges 21:6). Their heartfelt sorrow, even after righteous judgment, paints a vivid picture of godly compassion. Observations from the Text • The phrase “grieved for their brothers” shows deep emotional pain, not mere regret. • “Brothers” underscores covenant family identity—even wayward kin remain kin. • Their lament comes after Benjamin’s defeat, proving compassion is not opposed to justice. • The grief is corporate (“the Israelites”), demonstrating shared responsibility. Dimensions of Compassion Revealed 1. Compassion remembers relationship • “Brothers” anchors empathy in shared origin (cf. Deuteronomy 15:7–11). • Psalm 133:1: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!”. 2. Compassion sorrows with sufferers • Romans 12:15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep”. • 1 Corinthians 12:26: When “one member suffers, all the members suffer with it”. 3. Compassion can follow righteous correction • Hebrews 12:11 compares discipline to a painful process that later “yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness”. • Justice meted out does not cancel pity; both flow from God’s character (Psalm 89:14). 4. Compassion moves toward restoration • Judges 21:13: “The whole congregation sent a message of peace to the Benjamites”. • Galatians 6:1 calls believers to restore the fallen “in a spirit of gentleness”. 5. Compassion mourns loss, even when self-inflicted • Luke 19:41: Jesus wept over Jerusalem’s coming judgment. • Ezekiel 18:32: God takes “no pleasure in anyone’s death” and calls for repentance. Lessons for Today • True compassion refuses to write off failing believers; it recalls shared identity in Christ. • Feeling another’s pain is not weakness but obedience to the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). • After confronting sin, keep your heart tender; correction should aim toward healing, not humiliation. • Corporate grief teaches churches to respond together, not leave restoration to a few. • Lament over the ruined—from prodigals to persecuted believers—drives fervent prayer and practical help. Living It Out • Cultivate empathy: regularly ask, “How would I want the body to treat me if I were the one who fell?” • Balance truth and tears: stand firm on righteousness while letting hearts stay soft. • Engage in corporate lament: set aside moments in gatherings to mourn broken situations within the body. • Pursue restorative action: like Israel sending peace to Benjamin, take concrete steps—calls, visits, provision—to rebuild those wounded by sin’s fallout. • Keep brotherhood central: remember that in Christ “there is one body and one Spirit” (Ephesians 4:4), and compassion is the glue that holds that body together. |
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