AM Bible Study Group; April 22, 2015 from Judges 5:1-31
Theme: This song reviews the ways that God brought about victory for His people.
(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).
In Chapter 4 of Judges, we studied the remarkable story of how God worked to rescue His people through unlikely instruments and in unexpected ways. We studied the story of the prophetess Deborah—who was raised up by God to be a judge over His people in a very difficult time; and also of Barak—the man from the tribe of Naphtali who, at God’s call, and with Deborah’s help, arose to the defense of his people. And now, in Chapter 5, we read of how the mighty works of God in that difficult time were memorialized in song.
This wouldn’t be the only time in the Bible when the great acts of God were declared in a song. God’s great work of delivering His people from bondage in Egypt through Moses was put into not just one, but two songs: one by Moses (Exodus 15:1-18), and one by his sister Miriam (v. 21). Near the end of his life—just before the people of Israel entered the promised land—Moses wrote yet another (Deuteronomy 32:1-43). King David—a prolific song writer—wrote a song at the time when God had delivered him from all his enemies. It’s recorded for us not just once in Scripture, but twice (2 Samuel 22:2-51 and Psalm 18).
In this divinely inspired duet that was sung by Deborah and Barak, we see the ways that God had brought about a great victory for His people—in the midst of a seemingly hopeless time, and through very unlikely means. This song is a memorial that helps us see how God our Helper is never helpless; and that nothing is too hard for Him. Note from this song . . .
I. HOW GOD AWAKENED HIS PEOPLE TO ACTION (vv. 1-12).
A. Judges 4:1-3 tell us how dark the times were. The people had once again wandered from the Lord. There was an absence of spiritual fervency, and a lack of godly leadership; and the people were “harshly oppressed” by the army of King Jabin of Canaan and his general Sisera. But it was in this context that God gave a great victory (4:24). And on that day (5:1), this song was composed—so that none of it would be forgotten. It begins with a praise—and we also might say, a lesson. God is to be praised when the leaders offer themselves to the Lord and rise up to lead (vv. 2-3).
B. Somehow, God made Himself evident on behalf of His people by some means that came from Edom (or Seir); and perhaps it had to do with a torrent of rain that came at the right time to sweep away the armies of Sisera at the River Kishon (vv. 4-5; see also 4:7, 14-15). It was something that happened in dangerous and treacherous days—days in which the roads were not safe to use and in which people hid in their homes (vv. 6-7a). The people, in rejection of the one true God, “chose new gods” (v. 8a). It was a time of great defenselessness and vulnerability—when “there was war in the gates; not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel” (v. 8b). But it was a time when Deborah arose (v. 7b). And she was able to say, “My heart is with the rulers of Israel who offered themselves willingly with the people. Bless the LORD!” (v. 9). The end result of it all was that a great testimony could be spoken to those who rode about in safety and dignity—and that from those who had formerly been subject to oppression within the villages (vv. 10-11). God had given an awakening to His people, and granted them courage in the time of need. He used Deborah and Barak to encourage and inspire the people (v. 12; see also 4:10, 14).
C. This teaches us that one of the ways that God intervenes for His people is by awakening them to action! Sometimes he does this through a leader He raises. This happened in the time of Moses at the construction of the tabernacle: “Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments” (Exodus 35:21). This also happened at the time of purifying the temple under King Hezekiah: “So the assembly brought in sacrifices and thank offerings, and as many as were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings” (2 Chronicles 29:31). It’ s true that God can work without having stirred His people to action; but what a blessing that work is when He does!
II. HOW GOD WORKED ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHO WERE YIELDED (vv. 13-23).
A. This battle is presented to us as a major, multi-tribe battle against the king of Canaan; and one purpose of this song is to praise those who yielded themselves to the Lord (v. 13). Chapter 4 only mentions Zebulun and Naphtali. But Chapter 5 tells us of more. Among those who lent themselves to the task were the tribes of Ephriam and Benjamin (v. 14a). Leaders came from Machir (that is Menasseh), and recruiters from Zebulun (v. 14b). Royalty from Issachar were honored in this song (v. 15a). We’re told that people from Zebulun “jeopardized their lives to the point of death, Naphtali also, on the heights of the battlefield” (v. 18). One of the remarkable things about this song is how it praises those who rose up to the task.
B. But clearly, not all rose up when they should have. Some among the tribe of Reuben “had great resolves of heart” (v. 15b)–that is, deliberating amongst themselves with “great searchings of heart” (v. 16b). Many in Reuben chose to remain with their flocks while others went to battle (v. 16). Gilead (that is, from the regions of Menasseh), chose to stay on the east of the Jordan (v. 17a), Dan in their ships on the western shores (v. 17b), and Asher “on the seashore” and “by his inlets” (v. 17c). Standing out as having received particular rebuke was a place called Meroz—unknown to us today. It’s rebuke is spoken by no less an authority than the angel of the LORD; who said, “Curse its inhabitants bitterly, because they did not come to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty” (v. 23). We can take it that they could have done so, but rebelliously refused to do so.
C. But those who came and yielded themselves obediently saw a mighty deliverance from God. The battle is described in such a way as to suggest that God moved the heavens itself to the defense of His people (vv. 19-20). The torrents of the River Kishon—which God sovereignly moved the enemy general Sisera to go to—swept against his army and its horses and rendered them helpless (vv. 21-22). Though the enemy came with a mighty army and 900 chariots of iron (4:3), Sisera himself had to flee on foot (4:15). This encourages us to be faithful by reminding us that—as Jesus once said—if we believe, we will see the glory of God (John 11:40). It’s a sad thing to miss out on what God does!
III. HOW GOD USED THE HUMBLEST OF INSTRUMENTS (vv. 24-31).
A. The song closes with a testimony of the remarkable way God worked. To highlight the results, two women are featured. The first is the humble Gentile (?) woman Jael—the wife of Heber the Kenite. “Blessed is she among women in tents” (v. 24). She was the one who welcomed runaway Sisera into her tent, brought him milk, gave him rest, and then—as he slept—took a hammer and a tent peg and slew him (vv. 25-26; see also 4:17-22). We’re told—in unmistakable detail—that he most surely died! (v. 27). It may seem a gruesome thing to us; but it was an act that is presented to us as of God (4:9, 23), and that was deserving of praise (5:24).
B. The other woman—not so deserving of praise—was Sisera’s mother. She is presented as looking out the window; wondering where her precious boy was (v. 28). As if to highlight the despicable character of Sisera, we’re told that his mother was comforted by the suggestion that he was dividing the spoil of the conquered armies of Israel, and was among his troops abusing the women, and was even taking plunder of his enemy’s garments (vv. 29-30). But instead of all the glory she had imagined, her son had fled from his enemies, was covered by a rug in a tent, and was quietly slain by a humble housewife. From this, Deborah and Barak sing that all of the enemies of the Lord should thus perish (v. 31). And as a result of it all, “the land had rest for forty years” (v. 31). What remarkable song! And more—what remarkable doings are the doings of the Lord!