Judges 5:1-13 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Judges 5:1-13. Let’s go!
Judges 5:1-3 (NIV)
1 On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:
2 “When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves– praise the LORD!
3 “Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I will sing to the LORD, I will sing; I will make music to the LORD, the God of Israel.
On verses 1-3: In celebration of their victory over the Canaanites, Deborah and Barak are described as singing a song. Welcome to Judges the Musical. In their song, which seems to be composed by Deborah, they praise the willingness of those who gave themselves to the cause, and follow up by expressing their own choice to sing to God.
What can we learn from this?
First, when you experience a victory, don’t just move on, but give God the praise. Stop and take the time to thank God for the victory.
Second, something powerful takes place when we willingly give ourselves in service to God. God looks for people who are willing to give themselves toward the service of Him and His kingdom. Like Deborah and Barak, when you declare with faith “I will sing”, or “I will serve”, or “I will choose to honour you, God”, and you follow that up with action, that is you and the Holy Spirit working powerfully together to advance God’s kingdom.
Judges 5:4-5 (NIV)
4 “O LORD, when you went out from Seir, when you marched from the land of Edom, the earth shook, the heavens poured, the clouds poured down water.
5 The mountains quaked before the LORD, the One of Sinai, before the LORD, the God of Israel.
On verses 4-5: Why is God described as marching “from the land of Edom”? It could be that the song is describing Israel’s travels from Egypt to the promised land, which went through Edom. If that is the case, the picture is of God moving powerfully with His people. When God goes with you, it’s like walking with an Avenger like Thor, except this Avenger is real. When you have by far the most powerful One beside you, what else should possibly make you afraid?
Judges 5:6-8 (NIV)
6 “In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the roads were abandoned; travelers took to winding paths.
7 Village life in Israel ceased, ceased until I, Deborah, arose, arose a mother in Israel.
8 When they chose new gods, war came to the city gates, and not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.
On verses 6-8: Now the song describes what life was like when Israel had descended into idolatry. Likewise, this is what happens when we choose to serve gods other than the LORD: we lose our way (“the roads were abandoned; travelers took to winding paths” – v6), we become disconnected from real community (“village life in Israel ceased” – v7), and we become impotent and powerless to fight our battles (“not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel” – v8). Rather than giving life, idolatry sucks the life, purpose and strength out of our existence.
Judges 5:9-11 (NIV)
9 My heart is with Israel’s princes, with the willing volunteers among the people. Praise the LORD!
10 “You who ride on white donkeys, sitting on your saddle blankets, and you who walk along the road, consider
11 the voice of the singers at the watering places. They recite the righteous acts of the LORD, the righteous acts of his warriors in Israel.
On verses 9-11a: After praising the willing volunteers among the Israelites once again (v9), Deborah and Barak address those “who ride on white donkeys, sitting on your saddle blankets” (v10). According to scholars, Deborah and Barak here are addressing the rich Canaanites who lived in great comfort, as evidenced by their fashionable white horses and saddle blankets. Deborah and Barak ask these rich Canaanite elite, as well as the poorer Canaanites (“you who walk along the road” – v10), to consider the Israelite singers who are reciting the LORD’s righteous acts (v11).
What can we learn from this? You may live in a comfortable bubble, but know this: God’s Word is going out and being proclaimed. The question is: do you perceive it, do you consider it, do you respond to it? If you ignore God’s Word, you do so at your own risk.
Judges 5:11b-13 (NIV)
11 …”Then the people of the LORD went down to the city gates.
12 ‘Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, break out in song! Arise, O Barak! Take captive your captives, O son of Abinoam.’
13 “Then the men who were left came down to the nobles; the people of the LORD came to me with the mighty.
On verses 11-13: In this song, rather than Deborah and Barak being pictured as the ones who stir the rest of the people to action, the people are pictured as waking Deborah and Barak to action. This is once again possibly Deborah giving credit to the willing volunteers among the Israelites. What a refreshing change in a book that focuses a lot on the exploits of individual leaders. Judges 5 is a reminder that ordinary people can make a difference just by being willing, courageous and proactive. You don’t need a title or a position to make an impact. What you need is the willingness to offer yourself for a cause bigger than yourself. Those are the kind of people God uses especially to change the world.
Lord Jesus, thank You for willingly giving of Yourself for the Father’s cause. Since You willingly gave Yourself for me, may I willingly give myself for You. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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