Judges Part 5

V. Judges 4-5. A. These chapters set forth the next degeneration and oppression of Israel, against which a remarkable female judge (Deborah) and a remarkable female domestic champion (Jael) were called and honoured. 1. Deborah the prophetess (JDG 4:4) is one of a number of prophetesses in the record. c/w EXO 15:20; 2KI 22:14; NEH 6:14; ISA 8:3; LUK 2:36; ACT 21:9. 2. The Holy Ghost called these women prophetesses, in contrast with “...that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess...” (REV 2:20). 3. For the N.T. transitional period, daughters and handmaidens would prophesy. ACT 2:17-18. B. For their sin, God sold them into the hand of the Canaanite king, Jabin. JDG 4:1-3. 1. As earlier, the imagined power of the enemy’s iron chariots was an issue. v. 3 c/w JDG 1:19. 2. In this chapter, the chariots of the enemy were overcome. JDG 4:15. 3. The problem was not the chariots but rather the sin and capitulation to oppression which could be corrected by repentance, faith, courage and action which God blesses. 4. This should remind us in our battles against the world, the flesh and the devil that we are not the hapless drudges of the powers of darkness unless we allow them to have such power. Repentance, faith, courage and appropriate action are as blessed now as then. 1JO 5:4. C. Deborah “...arose a mother in Israel” (JDG 5:7), a fitting description since the men in Israel were acting like “mommy’s boys.” 1. When the time came to confront the oppressors, even Barak the commander was unwilling to go unless “mother” was with him. JDG 4:6-8. 2. The men had become as women. c/w JER 51:30. 3. Israel in general had abandoned their personal arms under the delusions of their new gods, a recipe for oppression. JDG 5:8 c/w 1SAM 13:19, 22. a. A softer, more tender religion had taken over. Bad religion enervates men and enervated men also choose bad religion which accommodates their lack of personal strength and self-discipline. b. We read of bad religion’s interplay with sodomitic notions. ROM 1:23-28. c. We reject effeminacy in Christ’s kingdom. 1CO 6:9-10. d. (PRO 14:34) Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. e. Civilizations that ascend on sound principles can fall on their lusts. f. Christians that pretend to know Christ without the sword of the spirit are set Judges 6-26-25 Page 8  up for a fall into spiritual and moral degeneracy. Only those who are convinced they have God’s word and put it to use have the potential for victory. 1TH 2:13. 4. The tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali apparently had retained good sense and arms since they were called and then engaged the enemy with the sword. JDG 4:10-16 c/w JDG 5:18. a. It is oft said that the pen is mightier than the sword. But there are times when writing takes a back seat to action and Zebulun was so praised. JDG 5:14. b. “The scribes of Zebulun and learned men, To wield the sword, laid down the pen.” (Sir Richard Blackmore, quoted in Matthew Henry Commentary) 5. NOTE: The order of God in marriage and in life in general is of male authority and leadership. It is not an honorable thing for that order to be usurped or abandoned. a. There are some women who wrongfully seize power or control it behind the scenes, as Jezebel. 1KI 21:25. b. There are other women who take the reins that men abandon, sometimes out of a sense of survival moreso than rebellion, as Abigail. 1SAM 25:23-25. 6. The honor of the day should have gone to Barak but instead went to Jael. JDG 4:9, 17-24. a. She did not let family or politics interfere with her righteous violence (JDG 4:11, 17), nor should men do so in their righteous violence against the sin which keeps them from God’s kingdom. MAT 11:12. b. Jael was justified in her godly deception of Sisera, even as Gideon was later justified in his godly deception. JDG 6:11-12. c. She not only spiked Sisera but took his head off. JDG 5:26. d. For this, she was “Blessed ABOVE women...” (JDG 5:24). c/w LUK 1:28. 7. JDG 5:28-30 drip with righteous sarcasm. c/w 1KI 18:27. D. Deborah was very gracious in praising them that did well, even though some of the tribes were unimpressive. JDG 5. 1. Special praise was given to those who willingly offered themselves to the LORD. JDG 5:2, 9 c/w 2CO 8:5. 2. The tribes of Reuben, Gilead, Dan and Asher were shamed. JDG 5:16-17. 3. Meroz was cursed bitterly. JDG 5:23. 4. This description might remind us of the differing assessments of the churches of Asia in REV 2-3. E. Though Barak started out weak, yet he finished strong. JDG 4:16, 22. 1. Deborah joined him in a lovely duet. JDG 5:1. 2. Barak was urged to lead his captivity captive (JDG 5:12), and this he did in one sense by overcoming the weakness which held him captive. See also EPH 4:8. 3. Barak is listed among the champions of faith. HEB 11:32-34. F. Concerning Sisera’s demise, “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” (JDG 5:31). c/w GEN 3:15; MAL 4:2; REV 1:16. Judges 6-26-25 Page 9