When Good Men Stay Silent | Judges 19:16-23

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Our text today is Judges 19:16-23.

“And behold, an old man was coming from his work in the field at evening. The man was from the hill country of Ephraim, and he was sojourning in Gibeah. The men of the place were Benjaminites. And he lifted up his eyes and saw the traveler in the open square of the city. And the old man said, ‘Where are you going, and where do you come from?’ He said to him, ‘We are passing from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim, from which I come. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to the house of the Lord, but no one has taken me into his house. We have straw and feed for our donkeys, with bread and wine for me and your female servant and the young man with your servants. There is no lack of anything.’ And the old man said, ‘Peace be to you; I will care for all your wants; only, do not spend the night in the square.’ So he brought him into his house and gave the donkeys feed. And they washed their feet, and ate and drank. As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, surrounded the house, beating on the door. And they said to the old man, the master of the house, “Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him.” And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brothers, do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not do this vile thing. ” — Judges 19:16-23

This passage offers a flicker of hope—an old man who shows compassion to strangers when no one else would. But even here, courage is mixed with compromise. He welcomes them in, yet his warning is chilling: “Only, do not spend the night in the square.” The city of Gibeah, once belonging to God’s people, has become so corrupt that hospitality has turned to hostility.

The tragedy of Gibeah isn’t just the wickedness of its men—it’s the silence of its good ones. Evil thrives when the faithful grow fearful, when believers retreat instead of resist. The old man does what’s comfortable, not what’s courageous. He shelters the Levite, but he never confronts the culture.

This same paralysis infects our world today. We see evil advancing—violence, perversion, confusion, and godlessness—but too often, we stay quiet. We fear rejection more than judgment, conflict more than compromise. We’ve become polite in the face of sin.

But our silence in this time is not neutrality—it’s surrender. When good men stay silent, evil speaks louder. When the righteous sit back, the wicked will take over.

God is still calling his people to stand—to speak truth even when it costs, to show courage even when it’s unpopular, to defend righteousness even when the world mocks.

Don’t just be kind—be courageous. Have courageous confrontations. Because courage changes the course of a nation. Gibeah would one day rise again under Saul as Israel’s first capital—a reminder that when one good man steps up to lead with conviction, God can redeem even the darkest places.

ASK THIS:

1. Where are you choosing comfort over courage?
2. What sin in your culture or circle have you been silent about?
3. How can you confront evil with both truth and grace?
4. What would bold obedience look like for you today?

DO THIS:

• Replace fearful silence with faithful action—pray, post, or stand for righteousness where others won’t.
• Lead by example in your home: confront sin lovingly, not passively.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, give me the courage to speak when it’s easier to stay silent. Help me confront evil with both conviction and compassion. Let my words and actions bring light where darkness reigns. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

“Stand In Your Love.”