JUDGES 4

1 ¶ And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.

• The statement that Israel did evil in the sight of The Lord is found 4 times in the Book of Judges. That evil repeated itself in a pattern. (1) They forgot God (2) They turned away from God (3) They began to worship false gods.
• It has been said that sin is a boring routine, not a fresh excitement. The fast lane becomes an old rut. And the end of that rut is always death.

2 And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.

• The consequence of rebelling against God was that they were sold into the hand of their enemies, who in this case was Jabin, the king of Canaan.  The captain of Jabin’s army was another man by the name of Sisera.

3 And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

• With nine hundred chariots of iron, Sisera had a seemingly invincible military machine at his disposal. Note that the price of rebellion was oppression for 20 years.
• Oppression in this case was the condition of being weighed down and crushed by the cruel powers of Canaanites. The Canaanites were the instrument that God used to chastise or oppress his children that were walking in rebellion against Him and His authority.
• Beloved, oppression is a spiritual matter, not a chemical one, for even Messiah Jesus was recorded as being oppressed, and He was afflicted (Isa 53:7). Thus, on the cross, Jesus bore your oppression beloved. The wonderful promise of God for any who are oppressed tonight is Ps 9:9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.Receive that gift from The Lord tonight.
• Another form of oppression is downright demonic, and for that condition was have another glorious promise that tells is that Ac 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
•  When we read of Israel crying, we know that deliverance will come. Prayer has mercy at its heels. CHS

4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

• Deborah is called a prophetess, one of five such women in the OT (cf. Miriam [Ex. 15:20]; Huldah [2 Kings 22:14]; Isaiah’s wife [Isa. 8:3]; and Noadiah [a false prophetess; Neh. 6:14]). Deborah functioned as a civil leader (Judg. 4:6–10; 5:7) and as a judge who decided cases (4:4–5). She lived in southern Ephraim, near Judah.
• The word for prophet as it is used in Scripture must be understood in 2 ways. (1) it is used of persons extraordinarily inspired by God, and endowed with the power of working miracles, and foretelling things to come; and (2) of persons endowed with special gifts or graces, for the better understanding and discoursing about the word and mind of God.

6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?

• At least six tribes participated in the battle: Naphtali and Zebulun, Ephraim, Benjamin, Manasseh (Machir), and Issachar (5:14–15).

7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.

• The river Kishon, is a river that flows through the valley of Jezreel.
• Note the 2 fold promise of God’s sovereign hand (1) He will draw the enemies of God to the place of battle (2) He will deliver them into his hands. Though Israel's deliverance is Yahweh's sovereign and mighty work, his people are not to sit passively by:  they are to participate actively in his mighty work. There again is what is known by theologians as the divine tension between the sovereignty of God and the full responsibility of man.
• God's call to battle or obedience does not come with every obstacle mowed down or difficulty removed! We walk by faith….faith in God’s power…faith in God’s promises.

8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.

• I will not go-His offer to go with her, shows the genuineness of his faith, for which he is included in the hall of faith, Heb 11:32. But, his refusal to go without her, shows the weakness of his faith, that he could not trust God's bare word, as he ought to have done, without the pledge of the presence of his prophetess.
• This shows us that God uses even the weakest of instruments to perform His will and purposes. When our faith is shallow or weak, God will raise up brothers and sisters to lift up our arms and give us the encouragement that we need.
• Remember beloved that when it comes to spiritual warfare, it is not our strength that matters, but the strength of The One Whom we rely upon to do the work. Be strong in The Lord and in the power of His might.

9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

• Deborah’s prophecy did indeed come to pass. Barak would not be given credit for Sisera’s demise. Instead, as we will see, the honor would go to a woman named Jael.

10 ¶ And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh (the 2 tribes in that region); and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.

11 Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.

12 And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.13 And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.

• Some trust in horses, and some in chariots, but vain are such defenses against the Lord of hosts. Little does Sisera realize that he is being drawn into this arena of battle by the sovereign hook of God. 

14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up (delay not); for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.

15 And the LORD discomfited (Heb. with great terror and noise) Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.

• The Lord discomfited Sisera, but Barak was the sword in his hand. According to Jud 5.21, The Lord sent the rain that flooded the stream and the valley which neutralized the chariots of Sisera.

16 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.

17 ¶ Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.

18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.

19 And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.

20 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.

21 Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.

• It has been commonly thought that Jael fully intended to afford Sisera the shelter and protection which he sought of her, but was afterwards ordered to kill him by the immediate revelation and direction of heaven. Thus, the character of Jael remains unimpeached.
• There will be more commentary on this deed of Jael in chapter 5.24-27.

22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.

23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.

24 And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

• By the grace and mercy of God, Israel prevailed and prospered against Jabin the king of Canaan. 20 years of oppression are brought to an end.
• Beloved, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed (Rev 5.5). Jesus has prevailed beloved, that we might be more than conquerors. This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith (our faith in Him).

JUDGES 5

1 ¶ Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,

2 Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.

• Unto God all the praise is given for the victory.  The people were willing, but it was the strength and power of God that caused their zealous valor to be successful.
• Before the days of mass printing and other forms of media, songs were the best teaching tool available and was often used in Israel’s history.

3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.

4 LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.

5 The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel.

• All the kings around are bidden to remember the glorious marching of Jehovah, when He led his people from Egypt to Canaan

6 ¶ In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied (abandoned), and the travellers walked through byways (winding paths).

• Because the Canaanites controlled the highways, the Israelites had to use other routes to avoid confrontation or robbery.

7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.

• Notice it does not say Deborah is the mother of Israel. It says she is a mother in Israel. Here was a woman who was a poet, a prophetess, a judge, a genuine hero in the history of God’s people—and yet what does she take pride in? The fact that she is a mother. She no doubt lived within the biblical realm of God’s order for a marriage relationship. There is no higher calling than motherhood because mothers have the unique opportunity to shape lives and affect the future.
• Deborah would not fit in with the “new woman” movement and their campaign to usurp the place of the man. A mannish woman is an outrage upon her own sex and a caricature of her own gender. She falls between the 2 fires, for she falls short of manhood and falls out of womanhood.
• The godly example and character that Jael set in her home was the basis of her ability to lead on the on the battlefield. Moms, grandmothers, never underestimate the impact that you have upon your children or grandchildren for good or evil.
• Paul spoke of the precious influence of the women that God placed in his life: 2Ti 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice.

8 They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?

• Because Israel turned to idolatry, they were left unarmed. Rebellion and compromise always leaves us powerless against the wiles of the enemy and the lusts of the flesh.

9 My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD.

• Have you offered yourself willingly to The Lord tonight my friends? Willingly means with no conditions? Martyrs of sacrifice are the crowning glory of any effective congregation of saints.

10 Speak, ye that ride on white asses (the rich), ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way (the poor).

11 They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD (they sing about the right things the Lord does), even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates.

12 ¶ Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.

• The Spirit of God commands Deborah to wake up and utter a song.  Ps 108:2 Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
• Barak is commanded to lead captivity captive. That is similar to when Paul told Timothy by The Spirit to stir up the gift of God that was within him.
• In the NT we are exhorted by The Spirit through Paul to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed (Rom 13.11).  1Co 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not. 1Co 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not.

13 Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty.

14 Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.

15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.

16 Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds (sit at home), to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

• Great thoughts of heart….great searching’s of heart. Reuben didn’t get involved. He stayed in the sheepfold, stayed where it was safe. Why? Because instead of heeding the call to go out and fight, they gave it a lot of thought. They gave in to what Jon Courson calls “the paralysis of analysis”.

17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.

• In other words, why did Gilead remain across the Jordan? Why did Dan remain with his ships? Why did Asher sit unmoved upon the seashore?

18 Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.

• Unlike Gilead, Dan, and Asher, Zebulun and Napthali jeoparded or risked their lives. They took steps of faith. They did not play it safe when it came to warfare against the enemies of God. They engaged in battle and took on the enemy.
• A.B. Simpson, founder of Christian Missionary Alliance churches said: “This victory was not won by any single individual, but God linked together, as He loves to do, many cooperating instruments in the accomplishments of His will.”
• We see the nation of Israel divided into two groups: Those who responded to the call to arms and those who remained with their flocks, in their ships, or on the shore. And we see the same division today. Some are rushing into battle, saying, “God use me,” while others are content to stay with their flocks, take a cruise, or hang out at the beach.

19 The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.

20 They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.

21 The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.

22 Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones.

23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.

• Although we don’t know its exact location, Meroz was a city of Israel in the region of the battle. But its inhabitants were cursed for their failure to get involved in the battle. Oh the curse of indifference and neutrality!
• We might die tonight. And once we’re dead, it will be too late to say, “I’m going to use the abilities You gave me, Lord—the money you entrusted to me, the doors you opened before me.”

24 ¶ Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.

25 He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.

26 She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.

27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.

28 The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots?

29 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,

30 Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?

• In verses 28-30, the dialogue switches to Sisera’s home, and in particular, his mother. His mother was certain that the reason for her sons delay in returning home was caused by the dividing of the spoils of warfare. Becasuse they were prone to abuse and rape the women of their enemies, note that his mother says very candidly, that perhaps he is playing around with a damsel or two.
• It is very sad when sin becomes commonplace and accepted as a way of life.

31 So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.

• Such shall be the honour and such the joy of all that love God in sincerity, and they shall shine for ever as the sun in the kingdom of their father.
• Dan 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

On that final day, when we stand before our bridegroom Jesus Christ, the books will be opened. In the battles of The Lord, our names will either be recorded with the inhabitants of Meroz or Reuben or with the victors of faith like Deborah and Barak. Grant us fresh and daily power to be faithful to You Lord Jesus.