2002-01-01
Good Morning Faithful Ones,
The commonwealth period of Israel’s history (about 1210-1030 BC), the time when the judges ruled, was a very dangerous and complicated life for individuals living there. In the early chapters of the book of Judges (JG), there were still pockets of Canaanite power in certain areas. This meant that conflicts were frequent between Israelites and Canaanites, as we see in the story of Deborah and Barak, which is found in JG 4 & 5, two chapters which I hope you will read. We need to remember that nothing was included in the Scriptures that wastes our time. God has lessons in every word therein. It is also helpful to remember that Hebrew names either denote some dominant personal trait of the person or the person’s assignment from God. As you examine this story, note how God’s hand is in it.
JG 4: 1-3, “After Ehud died, the people of Israel sinned against the Lord again. So the Lord let them be conquered by Jabin, a Canaanite king in the city of Hazor (north of Capernaum not far from the Jordan River). The commander of this army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-of-the Gentiles (in the area of Armageddon). Jabin had nine hundred iron chariots, and he ruled the people of Israel with cruelty and violence for twenty years. Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help.” It is interesting to note that both the Philistines and Jabin’s group of Canaanites had iron technology, which the Israelites did not. That certainly might account for the ability of these pagan groups to hold sway over Israel from a human point of view at the time. We can also see in this passage a pattern of God bringing the Israelites to brokenness, so that they will realize that they must appeal to Him for help and thus acknowledge His superiority and sovereign power. Yes, Dear Ones, God does the very same thing with us today.
Since ancient Israel was very much a patriarchal society, it is significant that one of the heroes of this story is a woman, Deborah, a prophetess who apparently commanded considerable respect both as a judge and as a warrior. JG 4: 4-5, “Now Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophetess, and she was serving as a judge for the Israelites at that time. She would sit under a certain palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel would go there for her decisions.” One day, Deborah sent for Barak, the son of Abindam from Kedesh in Naphtali. It helps to remember that Israel had been divided into territories occupied by the descendants of each of Jacob’s twelve sons for which these territories were named. Deborah told Barak that God wanted him to gather 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them into battle with Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army at the Kishon River. (It extends SE from the Mediterranean Sea just NE of Mt. Carmel not far from modern-day Haifa). She also said that God promised to give Barak a victory in that battle. Barak’s response to Deborah is that he would go if she would also go with him. JG 4:9, “She answered, ‘All right, I will go with you, but you will not get any credit for the victory, because the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman.’ ”
The Kenites were descendants of Hobab son of Jethro, a Midianite, Moses’ brother-in-law [NU 10: 29-32; JG 4: 11]. At the time of Deborah was speaking to Barak, Heber the Kenite had moved away from the other Kenites with his wife, Jael, and set up their tent close to Kedesh near the oak tree at Zanannim. This is east of Mt. Tabor near the Jordan River and Barak’s home. The day of the battle, it rained so hard that the ground became muddy and almost impassable for horses drawing chariots. The Israelites fought valiantly. JG 4:15-16, “When Barak attacked with his army, the Lord threw into confusion Sisera with all his chariots and men. Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot. Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth-of-the-Gentiles (in the area of Armageddon), and Sisera’s whole army was killed. Not a man was left.”
Sisera fled to the tent of Heber the Kenite and was met by Jael (Heber’s wife) who invited him inside. This seemed like a good sanctuary for Sisera, since King Jabin of Hazor was at peace with Heber’s family (17). Sisera, who was thirsty, asked for a drink of water, but Jael gave him a bag filled with milk to drink instead. It is not said whether or not poison that would cause Sisera to fall asleep was added to this milk, but it could have been. In any event, Sisera was tired from his travel and fell asleep. Some commentaries say that Jael didn’t share her husband’s neutrality toward the Canaanites and was thus motivated to take a wooden hammer and pound a tent peg through Sisera’s skull, killing him. That is how King Jabin’s army commander died (21). When Barak arrived looking for Sisera, Jael invited him into the tent to see what she had done. JG 4:23-24, “That day God gave the Israelites victory over Jabin, the Canaanite king. They pressed harder and harder against him until they destroyed him.”
There is some symbolism that when explained allows us to reach toward God’s perspective on these events. Deborah’s name means “honeybee,” and Barak’s means “lightning.” God used a mere honeybee (Deborah) to cast down human reason (Jabin) when it exalted itself against His own knowledge. The judgment that came against the foe (Sisera) was like lightning. It is known that women of ancient times were given the responsibility to erect and take down tents. The tent peg could have been witness to Jael’s pilgrim life, a life to bring down the pretensions of the mighty. The hammer speaks of the word. JER 23: 29-31, “My [God’s] message is like a fire and like a hammer that breaks rocks in pieces. I am against those prophet who take each other’s words and proclaim them as My message. I am also against those prophets who speak their own words and claim they came from Me.”
PRAYER: O Lord, through the story of Deborah and Barak You once again demonstrate that You are omnipotent and supreme. You also show us that despite the intentions to the opposite of mankind, that Your will shall be done. A man like Barak learns through his circumstances that even through he does not feel brave, that he can have victory when he fights for Your cause. That fact that Deborah is a true prophetess is proven when her messages that there will be victory for the Israelites and that a woman (Jael) will get credit for Sisera’s death come true. You give us these stories so that we will examine the status of our own personal trust in You and willingness to obey You. Once again, You show us the folly of putting human rationalizations over Your teachings. You demonstrate to us over and over again Your willingness of offer us wise guidance, Your patience and compassion for us, and Your great love for Your people. To You belongs all the glory, praise, thanks, worship, honor, adoration, trust, and obedience. We humbly approach You with our utmost love and reverence. In His holy name, amen.
Tomorrow, we will look at the “Song of Deborah and Barak” found in JG 5, comparing it to “A National Song of Triumph,” found in PS 68. Our loving Abba is anxious to reveal Himself to us, if we give Him the opportunity. Those who do, discover quickly as I have how much He loves us. I hope knowing that will bless your lives today as it is blessing mine. Peter and I also send you our love.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn