SS03-07-04.
“DEMONSTRATING SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP.” JUDGES 4:4-16, 5:1-9
JUDGES 4: 4-5, 6-7, 8-10, 14-16; 5: (1-2, 6-9).
PLEAE OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO JUDGES 4.
Today’s “Life Question” is “How can my taking a stand for God encourage others to do so?
The 7th Book of the O.T. takes its name from the title of the men who ruled Israel from the time of the death of Joshua to the reign of Saul, the first king of Israel. The principal leaders of the people were called Judges. These men and their times are described in the Book of Judges and in 1 Samuel 1-7. They were charismatic leaders; that is, they were raised up to be Israel’s “saviors” by a special endowment of the Spirit of God.
It is clear that they were judges only in the broadest sense of the term. In reality, they were principally military leaders, raised up to save the people of Israel from oppressing foreign powers. The times were most distressing. The period was cruel, barbarous and bloody. The less desirable hill country had been taken, but the fertile plains and the cities were still largely in Canaanite hands.
Some will count Deborah and Barak as the fourth judge of the 13 while others will separate their reign into individual accounts and thus list 14 judges. The first judge mentioned in detail in the 3rd Ch. Of Judges is Ehud, who, after 18 years of oppression led a revolt by killing Eglon King of Moab and there followed an 80 year period of peace.
After the 80 years of peace under the judge Ehud, the Israelites fell back into their old ways. They “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord,” which means they began to worship the pagan gods of their Canaanite neighbors. As a way to discipline them in love, God allowed them to be overrun by a foreign king. The biblical writer says God “sold” them to King Jabin, of Hazor, in Canaan. Sold probably means that God removed His support and protection, allowing King Jabin to conquer all or part of the Israelites.
The second detailed deliverance story shifts from the lower Jordan Valley to the Valley of Jezreel and the Galilee hill country in Northern Palestine. The oppressor is Jabin, king of Canaan who reigned in Hazor, whose 900 chariots of iron must have struck terror into the Hebrew tribes, who were still in the stone age. (1 Samuel 3: 19-22)
The deliverers were Deborah, “the prophetess,” surely the actual leader of the uprising, and Barak, a fearful man who led the Hebrew army at Deborah’s urging. The tribes of the Galilee hill country, united for this battle, which was fought in the Valley of Jezreel by the brook Kishon.
Today’s lesson is the first of four lessons on the study theme entitled “Courage to Stand for God.” All four lessons will study leaders in the O.T. so that Christians today might learn from them to stand for God in the day in which we live.
These four lessons will focus on the lives of several O.T. persons who modeled courage, some hesitantly at first and others with a marvelous faith. These examples can give us a foundation for forming and solidifying the courage it takes to live for God.
This first lesson studies Deborah, a prophetess, and Barak. It is hoped that we Christians will take a stand for God and thereby encourage others to do the same. In fact the theme of this lesson is that “believers who have courage to stand for God should help others take that stand for Him as well.”
One of the early Christian martyrs was an elderly man named Polycarp. He was arrested and freely admitted that he was a Christian. He was given plenty of opportunities to save his own life, but he refused each offer because the condition was for being spared was to deny Christ. He told his persecutors, “Eighty and six years have I served him, and He hath done me no wrong: how then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?”
Polycarp stood up for the Lord, even though it cost him his life. Many others have done the same. We are blessed to live in a land of religious freedom, but we face challenges in which we are called on to stand up for God. Will we remain true when tested?
PLEASE READ JUDGES 4: 4-5.
The story of Israel’s deliverance under Deborah takes two chapters. Ch. 4 is a prose narrative, and Ch. 5 is a poetic description of the events. Judges 4:1-3 describes the first three stages in a cycle of sin, punishment, and repentance. The Lord had told the Israelites to utterly defeat and destroy the pagan Canaanites. Joshua had subdued the land enough to assign portions to each tribe, but each tribe was to complete the task in their area. Some of the tribes did not complete their assignments. God left these people to test the Israelites.
The Canaanites posed two major threats to Israel. First, their fertility religion tempted Israel to forsake the Lord. Second, in this case they posed a threat to defeat and oppress sections of the Promised Land. Jabin, king of the Canaanites, enlisted Sisera to command an army of 900 chariots of iron. They subdued some of the northern tribes and oppressed them for 20 years, when the people cried out to God.
For 20 years the Israelites had been slaves because of their fear of the military power of the Canaanites. Then they took the first step to move from fear to courage. They prayed. The Lord heard their prayer and called Deborah to declare God’s plan for delivering His people.
Vs. 4 introduces Deborah. She fulfilled at least three roles. First, she was a prophetess. As such she lived close enough to the Lord that she received messages from Him for the people. Second, she was a wife. Nothing is known about her husband Lapidoth. Nothing is said about Children. Later in Judges 5: 7 she and Barak called her “a mother in Israel,” but this probably refers to her mother-like role over Israel. Third, she was a judge.
Deborah’s call to her twofold vocation, no doubt, came from two sources: first, the cries of her oppressed compatriots reeling under the abuses of Canaanite cruelty; second, the prevailing lack of equity among fellow Israelites. Deborah interpreted both of these unsavory conditions as calling for spiritual renewal among her people.
Unique among Israel’s judges whose activities are recorded, Deborah alone is spoken of as having the prophetic gift. Francis D. Nichol said she judged “not as a princess by any civil authority conferred upon her, but as a prophetess, correcting abuses and redressing grievances.”
There is no disagreement that the judges functioned primarily as deliverers. There is disagreement about whether these judges performed judicial tasks. The traditional view is that vs. 4-5 present Deborah exercising some judicial tasks. Some see the words “She dwelt under the palm tree” as referring to a place to which people brought their disputes: “She held court under the Palm of Deborah…and the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided.”
Various women had important roles in Israel’s life, but Deborah was the only judge among Israel’s recorded judges who was a woman. God can use you as you study His Word. Deborah had the courage to serve God in a way unlike anyone else among her people.
PLEASE READ JUDGES 4: 6-7.
In addition to giving counsel and holding court, Deborah was in some part responsible for the nation’s welfare. Jabin had oppressed Israel for 20 years. In response to their prayers, God sent relief to His people and revealed His plan to Deborah. At God’s command, she summoned Barak (BAY rak) and told him the Lord’s words. Barak, whose name means “lightning,” was the military leader for the Israelites in the area around Canaan.
He was to gather 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali (NAF tuh ligh) and Zebulun (ZEB yoo luhn). Ch 5 adds Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, and Issachar to the list. Perhaps only Naphtali and Zebulun are mentioned here because their territories were the ones most oppressed by Jabin.
Notice that Deborah phrased this directive to Barak in the form of a question: “Hasn’t the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you?” This served to deflect attention away from Deborah to the Lord Himself. God’s messenger is not the most important thing. His message must be primary. Paul made this point in 2 Corinthians 3 by asserting that neither he nor Apollos were anything and that God is the One who should receive all the glory.
The Lord’s strategy as set forth in Vs. 7 for Barak and his army was brilliant. Barak would gather his troops at Mt. Tabor, an excellent vantage point at the northeast corner of a large flat area known as the Esdraelon Plain.
The gathering of such a large army would attract the attention of Jabin’s general, Sisera. But God’s plan seems to have one minor flaw. Barak knew he would be facing Sisera’s 900 chariots of iron. For the Israelite infantry to attack the iron chariots would be like sending infantry armed with outdated weapons against an army of tanks and supporting troops armed with the latest technology. This was a fearful prospect, enough to frighten any who faced such foes. God’s promise made through Deborah was that God would deliver Sisera into Barak’s hand. The only proof that God would do this was His word spoken through the prophetess.
While mountainous regions rendered the chariots useless, the chariot was a deadly weapon on flat, open terrain. Long intimidating knives attached to the Chariot’s wheels shredded enemy soldiers as the chariot raced across the battlefield. Those spinning blades ripped into pieces any soldier caught on the open plains.
PLEASE READ JUDGES 4: 8-10.
Barak accepted his responsibility but with significant reservations. He insisted that Deborah accompany him: If you will go with me, I will go. He then added that he had no intention of going without Deborah.
One can only guess as to why Barak responded this way. Some commentators suggest the obvious; Barak was afraid. This impression is reinforced by Deborah’s response. But such an interpretation misses an important point. If Barak was that full of cowardice, how did he ever rise to the position of general in the first place? Furthermore, in the culture of the times, it was almost unheard of that a woman would accompany men in battle.
It is more likely that Barak’s response was designed to show that the campaign was God’s will, not his own. This demonstrates once again the esteem that Deborah held in the eyes of the Israelites at the time. If she said that this was God’s will, then the people would believe it. In Barak’s mind, her presence with them would be a source of confidence for him and his troops.
Among the many witticisms attributed to President Harry Truman, two stand out as classic. First and most popular, “If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.” Second and equally provocative, “I learned a great leader is a man who has the ability to get other people to do what they don’t want to do and like it.” Both are highly relevant to any study of Deborah and Barak, the third and fourth Judges of Israel.
The primary point here, however, is not why Barak responded as he did. Rather, the main truth we should grasp is the power one person has to encourage another. Barak’s request for someone to come along with him for encouragement is not peculiar to him. God’s people often need encouragement. All of us can remember times when we needed someone to stand beside us in a time of crisis or discouragement. I am thinking now of several people who were there for me at times in my life when I needed courage and greater faith. It is amazing how God sends people to us in such moments to strengthen our faith just when we need them the most.
After Deborah consented to go with Barak in vs. 9, she foretold that the honor from the victorious campaign would fall upon a woman and not upon him. Who was this woman? The obvious answer is Deborah since her nobility and character provided Barak with the courage he needed to lead his men into war. Without her help, Sisera’s army would never have been defeated.
Another woman, however, takes center stage in vs. 17-24, and perhaps the woman’s hand to which Deborah referred is hers. Jael was the one who ultimately did what Barak was unable to do—she killed Sisera. This story is intense and full of irony as Sisera, weary from battle, stumbled into the tent of one whom he though he could trust. Deborah’s song in Ch. 5 extols both women, so we cannot be sure which woman Deborah had in mind, here, in this Vs. 9.
In this lesson, however, we are focusing on Deborah. She willingly exposed herself to the same dangers faced by Barak and his army. Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. From there he summoned the ten thousand men, and all this time and throughout the battle Deborah went up with him.
Deborah showed her courage and her confidence in God by going with Barak. Her presence was used by God to give courage and faith to Barak and his army. Since Deborah cared enough to put herself in God’s hands she became a rallying point for weaker souls who dreamed her dreams, but lacked her faith and courage.
Cowardice is terribly contagious. Let one man in an audience be seized by panic, spring to his feet and shout ‘Fire!’ and it is hard to prevent disaster. This is the case even if there is not a blaze within a mile. But, thank God, courage is contagious also. Let one single soul face any wrong with determination, let one soul set his face with firmness of purpose toward the achieving of any worthwhile goal, and others will rally to him. So it was with Deborah.
Vs. 10 does not contradict vs. 6, which has Mt. Tabor as the location where the battle line was drawn. Kedesh was the home territory of Barak. It was located in the southern part of Naphtali between Mt. Tabor and the Jordan River. Because the general was so familiar with that territory, it was no doubt the staging area where Barak assembled his troops to prepare for battle. The actual battle sight was approximately 40 miles from this location. Most of the time the focus of great faith is on the men of the Bible, Deborah is a great example of a woman whose courage and faith led a nation to experience God’s deliverance.
PLEASE READ JUDGES 4: 14-16.
Barak mustered men from Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh and led them to Mt. Tabor. Ten thousand men responded. In Vs. 14 the scene was set for the battle. Sisera positioned his 900 iron chariots to strike Israel at the Wadi Kishon at the foot of Mt. Tabor. Barak and Deborah had l0,000 troops on Mt. Tabor ready for battle. At God’s command Deborah told Barak: “Move on.” Often the action of a group waits for the spiritual leadership of someone who will say confidently “Let’s roll!” God had shown Deborah that He would give Sisera and his forces into Barak’s hand. The prophet announced that the Lord had already gone before Barak to engage Sisera.
Barak did as Deborah instructed and led his troops down Mt. Tabor to meet Sisera. The men followed Barak who was following Deborah’s instructions who also was following the Lord’s commands. Barak’s unwavering confidence that God was leading gave him and his men great courage.
God Himself fought for the Israelites that day, and He did a thorough job of defeating the enemy! He threw Sisera, the chariots, and his entire army into confusion. The Hebrew word for threw can also mean “scatter” or “destroy.” Deborah’s song in Ch. 5 may give us a hint at one way the Lord confused and defeated Sisera’s army: “The earth trembled, the heavens poured rain, the clouds also poured water. The mountains melted from before the Lord.” It could well be that the Lord sent severe storms and heavy rains upon Sisera’s chariots so that they became useless, hopelessly stuck in the mud. What had been a military advantage became a liability and Sisera’s entire army was thrown into disarray.
The chariots of Sisera’s army got bogged down in the mud, much like the chariots of Pharaoh at the crossing of the Red Sea back in Ex. 14:25. Sisera’s chariots of iron were powerful weapons under ideal conditions, but they were helpless when trapped in a sea of mud. The foot soldiers made short work of the soldiers in the trapped chariots.
General Sisera alone escaped the battlefield. He made his way to the tent of Jael. Pretending to be a friend Jael invited Sisera into the tent. After he drank some milk, he fell asleep. While he slept, Jael used a hammer to drive a tent pet into his head. She then advised Barak that the one he was seeking was dead.
The whole army of Sisera fell. So complete was the Israelite victory that not a single man was left. Finally, after 20 long and harsh years, Israel was liberated from Jabin’s control. And the main reason was a spiritual leader, Deborah, courageously spoke for God, agreed to stand with her brothers and strengthened their faith in God.
Some people might call the storm and muddy ground a coincidence, but Deborah and Barak saw these as the hand of the Lord. When the Spanish sent a might armada against England during the reign of Elizabeth 1, a storm at sea destroyed many of the ships. Believers saw this as a diving deliverance.
Adolph Hitler launched an all-out blitzkrieg on Russia. Everything came easy to his kind of mechanized warfare until his army was only a few miles from Moscow. Then the fall rains turned the roads into mud, and the winter weather froze the engines of Hitler’s trucks and tanks. The Russian counterattack pushed the German army back many miles. Neither Hitler nor Stalin thought God had anything to do with it, but people of faith thought differently.
PLEASE READ JUDGES 5:1-2, 6-9.
Ch. 4 and 5 relate the story of Deborah. Prose characterizes Ch. 4 and Hebrew poetry is the literary style of Ch. 5. Some Bible students say Ch. 5 is one of the best illustrations of the use of Hebrew poetry in the O.T. This Ch. contains Deborah’s praise to God for the deliverance. He gave the Israelites victory over Sisera and his army. We Christians need to praise God for His specific blessings, just as Deborah did.
Deborah likely composed this song herself. Deborah and Barak were faithful to give praise to God because they knew victory came from Him. Because the content of this chapter is poetry, the interpretation of some of these poetic stanzas is difficult to determine. The overall message of Deborah’s song, however, is praise to the Lord God for His victory over the enemies of His people. Their praise was an expression of their realization that without God’s help they would have been defeated, but with His help they had overcome. Such praise form the heart honors God.
The song contains two reasons in vs. 2 to praise the Lord. The first reason is found in the phrase “When the leaders lead in Israel.” The military leaders were willing and eager to go against Sisera for the Lord’s cause. Second, Deborah’s song also contains praise to the Lord for the 10,000 soldiers. The prophet blessed the Lord because the men volunteered themselves freely.
The praise was for the dedication and character the military leaders and troops showed in the contest with Sisera. Today, as then, service for the Lord must be done willingly and eagerly. We must stand ready at all times for God’s marching orders.
Throughout this song, Deborah referred many times to the Lord. Deborah and all the judges discovered that God was able and faithful to give them victory when they stood for Him and followed Him. God is available and faithful today to lead His people.
In the vs. 6-9 Deborah described some of the conditions that existed under the oppression of the Canaanites. The people of Israel experienced these conditions in the days of the 3rd judge Shamgar and in the days of Jael, the woman who killed Sisera. Because of the threat of robbers and enemy garrisons, the roads were unsafe. The main ways were deserted. This referred to caravan or personal travel on the major roads in the land. The travelers took the back roads that wound around through the hills and mountains.
In vs. 7 the Canaanite oppression also affected the villages. A village was a small settlement that had no wall of defense, whereas the cities were enclosed in protective walls. Because people were afraid of the Canaanites, they would not work out in the fields. Therefore, they did not plant or harvest crops. Such conditions continued until Deborah stepped forward. Deborah referred to herself as a mother in Israel. This title was one of honor. As a prophet, judge, and military counselor, she protected and provided for the needs of her people as a mother does for the family.
We too have resources because God is with us we can help God’s people respond to God’s call, no matter how unusual or how difficult the task. God will make the task possible.
Vs. 8 focuses on why Israel’s enemies oppressed them. Israel chose new gods whom they worshiped and trusted. They turned from the Lord God to the Canaanite idols such as Baal and Asherah.
As a judgment and discipline by the Lord, He sent enemies to war against the Israelites. War raged even to the gates of their cities. Israel was powerless before those enemies. The Israelites could not find shield or spear that could help them withstand the enemy because the enemy was God’s discipline upon His people. The picture was one of helplessness and defeat.
God’s discipline, because of unfaithfulness is a reality. Every Christian today knows the discipline of the Lord from time to time. We turn from the Lord. When God disciplines us, there is no defense but to turn back to God and follow Him. When Israel did return, God raised up a judge to deliver them. When Christians turn from God, He disciplines them to bring them back. The quicker we admit our sin and repent, the quicker we will enjoy victory and fellowship again.
In vs. 9 Deborah felt deeply for Israel’s military leaders and troops because of their brave response to Barak’s military campaign. She felt gratitude in her heart for the commanders’ leadership and for the volunteers who enlisted to make up Israel’s army. When she thought of them her response was, “My heart is with the leaders of Israel.”
Taking a stand for God as a spiritual leader requires God’s help. I pray God will supply you with all the wisdom and power you need to stand courageously for Him. Your stand will encourage others to do the same. Courage inspires courage.
NEXT SUNDAY, MARCH 14, FROM JUDGES 6 WE ASK, “How can I take a stand to oppose false beliefs in a godly way?” A. V. DAUGHERTY 3-07-04
altav@swbell.com http://www.theweeks.org/av/