Deborah and Barak's Song Of Praise- Judges 5

In Judges 4 God’s word was seen influencing God’s people in three ways. First, at that time the people of Israel were coming to Deborah to hear the Word of God. (4:5) The people came to Deborah for all sorts of reasons and Deborah gave them the Word of God. The Word produced in them repentance which caused them to repent and to cry out for help. (4:3) Exhortation: Let us not just say that we believe in sola-scriptura but let us apply it to our heart and mind and do it. (Proverbs 28:26)

Second, the word of the LORD summoned Barak to come to Deborah in the hill country of Ephraim. The LORD was calling Barak to be a deliverer for Israel (4:6-8) but when Barak was given this word he refused to go if Deborah does not go with him. (8) Perhaps Barak believed that if Deborah came, because the people trusted her, that her presence would help him gather the troops. (Judges 5:15)`

The third way the we saw the word of God working was when Barak goes out and calls Israel to come and battle the Canaanites. In Judges 5 we’ll see that many tribes were called. (5:12-18) Some tribes responded with faith and courage but other tribes did not respond at all.

Israel had a 40,000 man army (5:8) but when the call is given only 25 percent of that army responds. In fact, in verse 11 Deborah honors ‘the villagers’, the ones who had to fled their villages who came (7). Barak could have been discouraged by this but God had already told Barak that He intended to only use 10,000 men.

We mentioned last week that the structure of this story is different in two ways from what we normally see in the book of Judges. Usually after Israel is delivered from their enemies (4:23-24) we immediately read that the land had rest until the death of the judge. Then we are told that Israel begins again to do evil in the sight of the LORD. These words, however, won’t appear for another 31 verses. (5:31 & 6:1). There are two reasons for this.

• First, we discover in Judges 4:24 that Israel had more battles to fight until king Jabin is destroyed. Yet, we are not told about these battles. Instead...

• Secondly, we discover that Judges 5 is a song of praise. This is the primary reason for the change in structure. Judges 4:23 and 5:1 emphasize that this song was sung on ‘the day’ that Israel defeated Sisera and his armies. (4:24)

Observation: Notice that even though Israel has to continue to fight they did not wait to sing this song of praise. Application: We should not neglect to praise the LORD even while we are fighting our battles. We face many trials and tribulations but we are not to reserve our praise until these things are over. (James 1:2-4) In Psalm 144 David composes and sings a song even while the battle raged. In that same song David says, “I will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you, who gives victory to kings, who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword. Rescue me and deliver me…”. (144:9-11a)

Let’s consider our text in Judges 5:1 which says, “Then sang Deborah and Barak...on that day”. In Judges 4:4-9 we saw some differences between Deborah and Barak. Despite this, we have seen them working and worshiping the LORD together.

Application: How quickly our differences can keep us from working and worshiping the LORD together. (Philippians 4:2-3; Acts 15:36-41) In Judges 5 Deborah and Barak can work together and worship together because neither of them are seeking their own glory. In this song they seek to give God the glory and acknowledge all those who willingly give themselves to the LORD. If we share in these gracious virtues we will also be able to work and worship the LORD together even though there may be many differences between us. (See LIFEPLAN: True Grace)

In v. 2-5 we see the first reason that praise is to be given to the LORD, “That the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly, bless the Lord! Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes; to the Lord I will sing; I will make melody to the Lord, the God of Israel. ‘Lord, when you went out from Seir, when you marched from the region of Edom, the earth trembled and the heavens dropped, yes, the clouds dropped water. The mountains quaked before the Lord, even Sinai before the Lord, the God of Israel.’”

In these three verse there are three examples of the sovereignty of God that are worthy of praise.

• First, God is sovereign over people. We are told that Israel had a 40,000 man army, (8) but God does not need all of them or for them to be well equipped. Therefore, God sovereignly calls only 10,000 men to participate in this battle. The LORD makes them willing to volunteer even though they are going to face great danger. (8,9) Psalm 110:3 testifies to God’s power in these things, “Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power.” (6:2)

• Second, Deborah wants all leaders to know that Israel is God’s chosen people. (6:3; Deuteronomy 7:6) The LORD has not revealed Himself or His word to any other nation as He has done with them. (Ps. 147:20; Romans 3:1-3, 9:1-5) These would also be a reminder to the Canaanites and the other 6 nations in the land that God had promised to remove them and give this land to Israel. (Deut.7:1)

• Third, God is sovereign and rules over all of His creation. At the beginning of this song Deborah thinks back to a time when the LORD actedon behalf of miraculously for His people. (4-5) On that day the LORD made the earth tremble and the clouds brought forth rain. God does not need a big army or the best trained soldiers (8) because He can give them the victory as He displays His own great power. (5:20-22)

The second reason to praise the LORD is seen in vv.6-11, “In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned, and travelers kept to the byways. The villagers ceased in Israel; they ceased to be until I arose; I, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel. When new gods were chosen, then war was in the gates. Was shield or spear to be seen among forty thousand in Israel? My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the Lord. Tell of it, you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets and you who walk by the way. To the sound of musicians at the watering places, there they repeat the righteous triumphs of the Lord, the righteous triumphs of his villagers in Israel. Then down to the gates marched the people of the Lord.”

This passage reminds us that sin is our greatest danger because it leads to suffering, misery, and death. Every time Israel turned away from the LORD they suffer. In Shamgar’s (3:31) and Jael’s day Israel’s enemies made life miserable but when they repented the LORD would deliver them. In Shamgar’s day the LORD used one man with an ox goad for a weapon, to kill 600 Philistines! In Jael’s day He used 25 percent of Israel’s army and a woman with a tent peg and a hammer to win the battle.

God does not need a strong and well equipped army to accomplish His purposes. Therefore, we ought to once again consider Psalm 144 when David says, “Blessed be the LORD my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; His is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and in whom I take refuge, who subdues the peoples under me.” (1-2)

This song testifies that the Canaanites and the Philistines harassed God’s people so much that they could not walk on the highways or live in the villages without danger. But when the people cried out to the LORD He delivered them. When they cried out to the LORD everything began to change in Israel so that they could travel in safety and congregate together. As they enjoyed these blessings Israel was to repeat to one another the “righteous triumphs of the Lord”. (11)

The third reason Deborah gives for a reason to praise the LORD is in vv. 12-18, “Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, break out in a song! (Ps.57:8; 108:2) Arise, Barak, lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam. Then down marched the remnant of the noble; the people of the Lord marched down for me against the mighty. From Ephraim their root they marched down into the valley, following you, Benjamin, with your kinsmen; from Machir marched down the commanders, and from Zebulun those who bear the lieutenant's staff; the princes of Issachar came with Deborah, and Issachar faithful to Barak; into the valley they rushed at his heels. Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. Why did you sit still among the sheepfolds, to hear the whistling for the flocks? Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan; and Dan, why did he stay with the ships? Asher sat still at the coast of the sea, staying by his landings. Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the field.”

In this section we see a contrast. We read the word ‘marched’ 4 times and we read that Israel ‘rushed at the heels’ of Barak into battle. (Proverbs 28:1) These words speak of action, discipline, and forward movement. In contrast to this we are given four examples of other tribes who did the exact opposite. Reuben searched his heart and sat still among the sheepfolds and listened to the whistling for the flocks. (15-16) Giliad stayed beyond the river. (17) Dan stayed on his ships and did not join the battle. (17) Asher sat still and stayed by the sea and by his landings. (17) They sat...stayed...stayed...stayed. (Mt. 21:31)

We saw something similar in Judges 3 when God raise up Israel and they moved quickly and decisively. In contrast, Israel’s enemies moved slowly and were defeated. Those with faith are on the move. But Reuben, Giliad, Dan, and Asher have no zeal, no energy, no desire to take a risk. (Luke 9:57-62) Those tribes do not have the same spirit as Zebulun who risked their lives unto death (18) or Naphtali who took to the heights and defended those areas where the battle is often most intense. (18)

The fourth reason to praise the LORD is in vv. 19-23, “The kings came, they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan, at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; they got no spoils of silver. From heaven the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera. The torrent Kishon swept them away, the ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. March on, my soul, with might! Then loud beat the horses' hoofs with the galloping, galloping of his steeds. Curse Meroz, says the angel of the Lord, curse its inhabitants thoroughly, because they did not come to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.”

Israel’s enemies were overly confident and haughty that they would obtain great spoils from Israel. (19, 28-30) These enemies would not have been impressed with Israel’s little and ill-equipped army that did not possess sword and spear. (8)

Notice that Sisera gathered his whole army for this battle. Sisera, the man who had oppressed the people of Israel cruelly (4:3), was not going to show any mercy to Israel. The truth is, God did not intend to show Sisera any mercy and he would die at the hands of a woman! It was the dry season so Sisera’s chariots gathered in the plain next to a river to fight. Sisera believed it would talk longer to divide the spoils than it would take to fight this battle. But the LORD brought a great storm and flooded the plain. Sisera’s chariots were stuck and the horses were spooked. Israel prevailed!

In verse 23 we see something similar to what we saw in Judges 2 when the LORD addressed His people personally. (2:1-5), In verse 23 the LORD curses the city of Meroz because on this day of battle they did not answer the call even thought they were close by. Observation: If this is the case for Meroz, consider the curse upon Heber the Kenite because he had allied with king Jabin. (4:11&17)

God had sovereignly called His 10,000 people (John 10:1-6) but this does not excuse those who did not act in faith and come when the call was given. (John 5:30-47) Similarly, the Gospel call goes out to everyone and all who hear it are commanded to respond with repentance and faith. Those who respond this way find eternal life but those who do not will be rebuked by the LORD. (Matthews 8:12)

Meroz was cursed because they close to the battle but they did not come. Similarly, the gospel has come so close to so many people but they will not come to Christ. In the book of Judges we see that one generation will serve the LORD but that next generation falls away. The children are raised in godly homes but they do not continue in the faith. Those who are closest to the call of the gospel but do not respond will receive the greatest condemnation because of the opportunity they have missed. (Acts 13:46)

The fifth reason to praise the LORD is found in vv. 24-27, “Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, of tent-dwelling women most blessed. He asked for water and she gave him milk; she brought him curds in a noble's bowl. She sent her hand to the tent peg and her right hand to the workmen's mallet she struck Sisera; she crushed his head; she shattered and pierced his temple. Between her feet, he sank, he fell, he lay still; between her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell—dead.”

We have seen that Meroz, Reuben, Gad, Asher and Dan did not respond; in contrast, Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, is commended strongly for what she did on this day. Perhaps one of the reasons these faithless tribes are mentioned is to be the contrast to those who are faithful.

Jael was married to a Kenite man, a descendant of Moses’ father-in-law, (1:6)and he had left the land of his inheritance to live close to the enemy where formed a treaty with him. (4:11,17) Heber felt more at home near the gates of the enemy than by the people of God. (Psalm 1) His wife Jael, however, loved God and His people and when given the opportunity to take a side she chose to serve the LORD. Jael shows us that we can love and serve the LORD even when our family does serve the LORD and we stand alone for Him.

The sixth reason to praise the LORD is in vv. 28-30, “Out of the window she peered, the mother of Sisera wailed through the lattice: ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the hoof beats of his chariots?’ Her wisest princesses answer, indeed, she answers herself, ‘Have they not found and divided the spoil?— A womb or two for every man; spoil of dyed materials for Sisera, spoil of dyed materials embroidered, two pieces of dyed work embroidered for the neck as spoil?’

We noted in 5:19 that the enemy was haughty and confident that they would have victory and receive their spoils. We see this again with Sisera’s mother as she waits for her son to come home. She awaits the familiar sound of the horses hoofs as they return home from battle with their plunder. Little does she know that the ‘loud beat of the horses’ hoofs, and the galloping of the steeds’ (22), has been washed away in a miraculous flood that saved God’s people.’ Her son, Sisera, has fled from the battle and been killed by a woman named Jael.

This song ends with these words in v. 31, “So may all your enemies perish, O Lord! But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might.” At this moment a new day had dawned and a light had shone forth in Israel. Unfortunately it would remain for only 40 years. And yet, the principle remains true that God’s enemies perish but His friends will rise in His might. (Psalm 1)