JUDGES SERIES – CHAPTERS 4 & 5 (DEBORAH & BARAK)
Judges chapters 4 and 5 gives the narrative of Deborah a prophetess and judge in Israel and Barak a military leader in Israel’ s battle and victory over the Canaanites. Chapter 4 is written as prose while chapter 5 is written as an epic poem, and together, they give a complete understanding of the battle and victory.
Chapter 4 starts with Israel returning to their sinning ways after the death of Ehud and God, allowing King Jabin of Canaan to oppress them with the assistance of Sisera the captain of his army for twenty years. Eventually, Israel cries out to God, and He responds by giving Deborah who was functioning as a prophetess and judge a Word to give to Barak. Deborah summons Barak and gives him this Word from the Lord, “Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and the children of Zebulun? 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.” Having received the Word Barak tells Deborah he will only go if she accompanies him to which she agrees to do, and she tells Barak that God was going to give the victory of their enemy to a woman.
Barak gathered the troops from the six tribes of Naphtali, Zebulun, Issachar, Benjamin Ephraim and Manasseh west who willingly volunteered for battle and these six tribes in the chapter 5 poem were praised while the four tribes of Rueben, Manasseh east, Dan and Asher who did not respond to the call were rebuked.
As the two opposing armies met by the Kishon River, God sent a torrential storm causing Sisera with his nine hundred iron chariots to get stuck in the mud which resulted in mass confusion and slaughtering of all of the Sisera’s army. Amid this Sisera escaped and fled to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite.
Sisera asked Jael to protect him and not to expose his whereabouts. Jael covered him with a cloth and gave him some milk to drink after which Sisera fell asleep. Quietly, Jael took a hammer and nail of the tent in her hand and hammered the nail through Sisera’s temples and into the ground, causing him to die.
When Barak, who was pursuing Sisera came by Jael’s tent, she stopped him and brought him into her tent where he saw dead Sisera with the nail in his temples.
After the death of Sisera and the slaughter of his army as God declared Deborah and Barak sang a song of triumphant which is recorded in chapter 5 and God gave the land rest for forty years.
Conclusion: God delivers His people.
Israel required strong leadership to keep them doing what was right in God’s eyes.
Israel had difficulty learning from the mistakes of their forefathers.
God used unconventional means (two women, a torrential storm, a bottle of milk, a hammer, and a nail) to win a war.
In the Bible, Deborah was the first women mentioned in government, and God used her in several capacities.
Deborah’s faith and Barak’s obedience made the difference between defeat and victory.
Spiritual Application: Your faith and obedience can make a difference in our future
Align yourself with people that hear from God.
Warren Wiersbe states, “Reformation temporarily changes outward conduct while revival permanently alters inward character.” We need to seriously pray for revival in our lives lest we like Israel fail to change.
When God gives you instructions, your response should not be based on someone else’s actions, always obey God.
God used Jael, who was not an Israelite to kill an enemy of Israel. Don’t limit or question God on who He will use to fight your battles and deliver you from bondage.
To God, your gender does not matter.
Similar, to some of the tribes of Israel who chose not to assist in the battle, there will be people that you feel should be supportive of you, but they are not. Don’t despair; God will bring you out without them.
Our victory is not contingent on what we see or feel; it is contingent on our trust in God.
The example of Deborah in chapter 5 reminds readers that praise and thanksgiving to God for past and present victories are always in order.
Related
From → JUDGES SERIES
The Teacher's Pick 
Wow, wonderful blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is magnificent, let alone the content!
Hey very nice blog!
Nice post. I used to be checking constantly this weblog and I’m
impressed! Extremely useful info specifically the ultimate section 🙂 I deal with such information a lot.
I was seeking this certain information for a very long time.
Thanks and good luck.
I was curious if you ever considered changing the layout of your site?
Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But
maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better.
Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or two images.
Maybe you could space it out better?
I love what you guys tend to be up too. This sort of clever work and exposure!
Keep up the amazing works guys I’ve included you guys to my personal blogroll.
Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I
find It really useful & it helped me out much.
I hope to give something back and help others like you
aided me.
I am in fact happy to read this webpage posts which includes lots of useful information, thanks
for providing these information.
Simply wish to say your article is as astonishing.
The clarity in your post is simply spectacular and i can assume you’re an expert on this subject.
Fine with your permission allow me to grab your feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post.
Thanks a million and please continue the gratifying work.
Good blog you have got here.. It’s hard
to find quality writing like yours these days. I honestly appreciate individuals like you!
Take care!!
Simply wish to say your article is as astonishing.
The clarity in your post is just spectacular and i could assume you are
an expert on this subject. Well with your permission allow me to grab your feed
to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please carry on the gratifying
work.
Greetings! Very helpful advice in this particular article!
It’s the little changes that produce the greatest changes.
Thanks a lot for sharing!
It’s an amazing post designed for all the internet visitors; they will obtain advantage from
it I am sure.
I would like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in writing this website.
I am hoping to check out the same high-grade content by you later on as well.
In fact, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my
own blog now 😉
My brother suggested I would possibly like this
website. He used to be totally right. This publish truly made my day.
You cann’t consider just how much time I had spent for this
info! Thanks!
This design is steller! You definitely know how to keep a reader entertained.
Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Excellent job.
I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you
presented it. Too cool!
Wow, incredible weblog format! How long have you ever been running a blog for?
you make running a blog glance easy. The overall look of your web site
is magnificent, let alone the content!
I need to to thank you for this fantastic read!! I definitely loved every bit of
it. I have got you bookmarked to look at new stuff you post…
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement
account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you!
However, how can we communicate?
I think this is one of the such a lot significant info for me.
And i am happy reading your article. However want to statement on some basic
things, The website taste is perfect, the articles is truly nice :
D. Excellent activity, cheers
What a information of un-ambiguity and preserveness of precious experience on the topic of unpredicted
emotions.
Your mode of describing all in this article is genuinely good, every one be capable of without difficulty be aware
of it, Thanks a lot.
Highly energetic blog, I enjoyed that a lot. Will there be a part 2?
I am now not certain where you are getting your information, but good topic.
I needs to spend a while studying more or understanding more.
Thank you for excellent information I used to be looking for this info for my mission.
What’s up, just wanted to mention, I loved this blog post.
It was funny. Keep on posting!
I believe that is among the such a lot important information for me.
And i am happy studying your article. However wanna statement on few general things, The
web site style is great, the articles is in reality nice
: D. Excellent process, cheers
Hi I am so grateful I found your webpage, I really found you
by error, while I was looking on Digg for something else, Regardless I am here
now and would just like to say kudos for a remarkable post and a all
round thrilling blog (I also love the theme/design), I
don’t have time to browse it all at the minute but
I have bookmarked it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time
I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the fantastic
job.
Marvelous, what a weblog it is! This website presents useful facts to us, keep it up.
You have made some decent points there. I looked on the web for more information about
the issue and found most people will go along with your views
on this website.
Remarkable! Its in fact remarkable article, I have got much
clear idea regarding from this post.
Keep on writing, great job!
whoah this blog is excellent i love reading your articles.
Keep up the good work! You already know, many individuals are
looking round for this information, you can aid them greatly.
Greetings! Very useful advice within this article!
It is the little changes that make the greatest changes.
Thanks a lot for sharing!
I delight in, cause I discovered exactly what I used to be looking for.
You’ve ended my four day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a
great day. Bye
Hello friends, how is the whole thing, and what
you wish for to say regarding this post, in my view its actually amazing for me.
It’s difficult to find knowledgeable people in this
particular topic, however, you seem like you know what
you’re talking about! Thanks
It’s very trouble-free to find out any matter on web as compared to textbooks, as I found this article at this
web page.
Yes! Finally someone writes about RemiPoker.
It is not my first time to pay a visit this site,
i am visiting this site dailly and obtain nice information from here daily.
If you are going for most excellent contents like I do, just visit this
web site all the time since it offers feature contents, thanks
I know this site provides quality based content and other
material, is there any other website which offers these things
in quality?
It’s amazing to visit this site and reading
the views of all colleagues concerning this piece of writing, while I am also eager
of getting experience.
I was recommended this website by my cousin. I am not sure whether
this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my problem.
You’re amazing! Thanks!
Hi to all, the contents existing at this web site are truly awesome for people knowledge, well, keep up the
nice work fellows.
Can I simply say what a comfort to find a person that truly
knows what they are discussing on the web. You certainly understand how to bring an issue to light and make it important.
A lot more people ought to check this out and understand this side
of the story. I can’t believe you are not more popular given that you certainly possess the gift.
This information is invaluable. When can I find out more?
What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered It absolutely helpful and it has helped me out loads.
I am hoping to give a contribution & assist other customers like its
aided me. Good job.
Also visit my blog post :: daftar id live22
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you writing this article plus the rest of the website is extremely good.
my web blog – joker888 apk download
Hi there, of course this paragraph is genuinely fastidious and I have learned lot of things from it concerning
blogging. thanks.
This web site really has all of the information I wanted about this subject
and didn’t know who to ask.
Terrific work! This is the kind of info that are supposed to be shared around the
internet. Disgrace on the search engines for now not positioning this submit upper!
Come on over and seek advice from my site . Thanks =)