Well we saw in
our last study The 3rd Judge in Israel /God did something NEW A
woman Deborah
A)She was teamed up with a General named Barak Led
Israel into war W/ Jabin King of Canaan & HIS 900 Chariots
B) After the Victory: Deborah & Barak sing
this song
1)
Song is a good Memorial easy to
remember Reminder of what God has done
{ song writers here -
C) Ps 33:1-4
Rejoice in the
LORD, O you righteous!
For praise from
the upright is beautiful.
2 Praise the
LORD with the harp;
Make melody to
Him with an instrument of ten strings.
3 Sing to Him a
new song;
Play skillfully
with a shout of joy.
4 For the word
of the LORD is right,
And all His
work is done in truth.
Ps 96:1-3
Oh, sing to the LORD a new song!
Sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing to the LORD, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation
from day to day.
3 Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.
Judges 5:1-2
Then Deborah
and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying:
2 "When
leaders lead in Israel,
When the people
willingly offer themselves, Bless the LORD!
B) There is a shortage
today of Leaders those who are willing to challenge the status quo and
Lead go against the grain { comfortable
1) Those who are willing to make a stand for
righteousness Not just say it but live it { Grieved
by Bill Bennett gambling Revelation} anyone can talk
C) Another thing when People lead set the pace !!!
Notice
the result When leaders lead people willingly offer themselves up
A)That is the healthiest kind of service People
willingly offer themselves
B) Paul in Phi. 2:17 talked about being poured out
as a drink offering for the people { Lord fill me
& pour me out
1)
That is what ministry is about
C) That is what Jesus modeled - Eph 5:1-2
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
D) The mark of a real
leader is one who is willing to offer himself up to the Lord to be poured out
by the Lord wherever the Lord sees fit
1) Not choosing to SERVE where he/she feels comfortable
but seeking to be available
3 "Hear, O kings! Give ear, O
princes!
I, even I, will sing to the LORD;
I will sing praise to the LORD God of
Israel.
E)Deborah was this
industrious woman - / woman of vision / leader / very gifted but apparently
she didnt have a good voice Even I will sing
A)Now I can relate to that: Ever heard that song NOT SUNG LIKE
THAT
B) But this is a good
reminder to us that worship is not about how well I sing but it is about how worthy God is TO BE PRAISED!!!
C) Good to remember: Worship is not something we do something we are!!!!! MAX LUCADO
Christianity in its purest form, is nothing more than seeing
Jesus. Christian service, in its purest form is nothing more than imitating him
who we see. To see His majesty & to imitate him, that is the sum of
Christianity.
Something happens to the person who has witnessed His
majesty . One glimpse of the king & you are consumed w/ a desire to see
more of Him & to say more about Him. SO TRUE!!!!!!
D) So Deborah says Even
I will sing
V4 LORD, when You went out from Seir, When You marched from
the field of Edom, The earth trembled and the heavens poured,
The
clouds also poured water; 5 The
mountains gushed before the LORD,
This
Sinai, before the LORD God of Israel.
Now
here she gives some insight into how the Lord gave the Victory to Israel in the
Battle.
A)Noted Jabin had 900 iron Chariots which was the military machine of the day Huge advantage { faster more mobile / less tired
B) Huge advantage unless it was raining & muddy Chariots were of no use stuck in the mud God sent a STORM
C) Now I love the way that Deb. Describes this the storm
was no coincidence : The Lord marched from the
Field of Edom
1) The Lord sent the storm it was HIS DOING
D) It
is such a great thing when Gods people see Gods hand in things
1) Blessings that come into our lives His handy work
2) Revelation of sin: His way of trying to keep us from going farther or
deeper Whom the Lord loves He chastens
E) So Deborah praises the
Lord for sending a storm to aid them in the battle
6 "In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, In the days
of Jael,
The highways were deserted, And the travelers walked along
the byways.
A)Here she is making
reference to the how poor the quality of life was in Israel RDS WERE DANGEROUS - couldnt travel on Highways
B) 7 Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel, There
was NO COMMUNITY
No kids playing
C) Life was a mess Until I, Deborah, arose, Arose a mother in Israel.
Now
notice how Deborah refers to herself as a mother in Israel
Some translations
the Mother in Israel Not accurate { a mother
A)I find this to be very interesting that of all the things that she could have referred to herself as she uses this term a mother
B) Women with Children Highest CALLING
C) Titus 2:3-5 3 the older
women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to
much wine, teachers of good things -- 4
that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their
children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to
their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
3Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that is appropriate
for someone serving the Lord. They must not go around speaking evil of others
and must not be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good.
4These older women must train the younger women to love their
husbands and their children, 5to live wisely and be pure, to
take care of their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their
husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.
D)
This is a message that isnt too popular today: But Paul is saying here that
the mark of a young womans Christianity is going to be seen thru her role in
the Home !!!!
E) Loving her husband / loving and training her kids taking care of the house
Does that mean that a woman cannot have
outside ministry or a Job
A) No But this has to
be the #1 Priority and if she cannot keep this intact then she should do
anything else
B) Ladies some of you are
not going to like me for this: But if your kids are neglected pawned off on
others so you can minister or what ever wrong !
1) If your husband starts feeling IN competition W/
your ministry or your Job that is not right
C) Understand : Marriage is an ordered equality God has set up
1) He knows what is best You find your highest degree
of fulfillment in His designed place for you.
D) You older women kids
are gone enjoying that freedom Realize your place to teach the younger gals
Gods design
E)So Deborah could have described herself as a Judge a counselor / a leader in Israel but she chose the term MOTHER
V8
They chose new gods; Then there was war in the gates;
Not
a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.
A)Here she reveals the cause of their oppression Chose new gods
B) Result : All their steel taken left defenseless
1) Lesson
here: Anytime you chose another master {
that master will end up taking { What he takes wont compare w/ pleasure he
brings
C) Greatest misconception: People turn from the Lord to
something else thinking this is going to make me happy Sin is
pleasurable
..season
1) But it always takes away Leaves you defenseless
and in bondage
9 My
heart is with the rulers of Israel Who offered themselves willingly with the
people. Bless the LORD!
10
"Speak, you who ride on white donkeys, Who sit in judges' attire, leaders
And who
walk along the road. regular people
The Leaders offered themselves even though they didnt have
weapons even though outnumbered they led by example
A)Those who
road on donkeys the rich & those who walked the poor all coming together for the work THE BODY no Hierarchy
From here she
moves to describe some specifics about the battle v.11-15a
A)So here she mentions the tribes of Ephriam / Benjamin / Machir or the ½ tribe of Mannaseh & Zebulen Honored for fighting
B) God notices those who
get involved !!!!
C) But He also notices
those who DONT !!!!!
V 15a Among the divisions of Reuben There were great resolves of
heart.
16 Why
did you sit among the sheepfolds, To hear the pipings for the flocks?
The
divisions of Reuben have great searchings of heart.
Here we see a Rebuke of those who didnt come down
A)Deborah
says Reuben had great resolve in his heart / great searchings
B) Here
is the idea: They had great intentions they were the type who would say: we
really should get involved help out in the battle
1) Some
day I am going to get in the middle of it maybe Tomorrow
C) They had great resolve and great searchings Wonderful
committee meetings but they never entered the Battle
D) What
was required for that Hour was that they would enter the battle that was the
need at Hand
1) Not more people on the sidelines /
Great Resolve no Action !!
IS that You : Are you one who is always saying I really
should get involved more: Hear of a need Should do that
A)This is a day when it is ALL
HANDS ON DECK - Church described like a Basketball
game: 40,000 in stands watching 10 guys on the floor
B) Life IS A VAPOR Could be my last night go out with a bang!!
Spend my
life in the Purposes of God
1) Needs all over the place what do
you want me to do Lord !!!
C) Give
ourselves for the Lord
V.17,18
Note the Contrast
V.19-23
She retraces the events of the War
Meroz was a great city in that day A city that was located
only 15 miles away from the battle.
A)They
never entered the Battle and so a curse was upon them because they didnt
join in the CALL - They didnt join in
to help out in what the Lord was doing .
B) God was expecting great things for them He had given
them all that they needed to be greatly used by Him But they never showed up
1) And
God took note of it !!!!!
V. 24-30 Retrace the
events of the story of Jael & Sisera which we looked at closely last time
lets read
Judges
5:31 "Thus let all Your enemies perish, O
LORD! But let those who love Him be like the sun When it comes out in full strength."
So
the land had rest for forty years.
A)I love this
description: Let those who love the Lord be like the sun when it comes out in full strength
B) Let those who love the
Lord Shine brightly for Him
1)
Radiate the Love / the
Power / the strength / the compassion of the Lord
C) LORD BURN BRIGHTLY IN
OUR HEARTS & THRU OUR LIVES