Judges 5:14-31 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Judges 5:14-31. Let’s go!
Judges 5:14-18 (NIV)
14 Some came from Ephraim, whose roots were in Amalek; Benjamin was with the people who followed you. From Makir captains came down, from Zebulun those who bear a commander’s staff.
15 The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; yes, Issachar was with Barak, rushing after him into the valley. In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart.
16 Why did you stay among the campfires to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart.
17 Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan. And Dan, why did he linger by the ships? Asher remained on the coast and stayed in his coves.
18 The people of Zebulun risked their very lives; so did Naphtali on the heights of the field.
On verses 14-18: The biggest theme of Deborah’s song in verses 2-13 was celebrating the willingness of the Israelites to go out and fight for their nation. This theme continues as Deborah praises the willing tribes of Ephraim, Benjamin, Zebulun and “Makir”, which scholars believe is a poetic reference to the tribe of Manasseh (v14). Deborah also praises Issachar (v15a), Zebulun and Naphtali (v18). However, Deborah calls out the tribe of Reuben for not going to fight and instead pictures them comforting themselves by a fire, having second thoughts (v15b-16). Deborah also calls out “Gilead”, which probably is a reference to the tribe of Gad, as well as Dan and Asher (v17) for not participating.
What can we learn from this? Your role in God’s kingdom counts. No matter how many others are involved or say yes, God will hold you accountable for what you personally did or did not do for His cause, and how united you were in serving with the rest of His family.
Judges 5:19-23 (NIV)
19 “Kings came, they fought; the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they carried off no silver, no plunder.
20 From the heavens the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera.
21 The river Kishon swept them away, the age-old river, the river Kishon. March on, my soul; be strong!
22 Then thundered the horses’ hoofs– galloping, galloping go his mighty steeds.
23 ‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the LORD. ‘Curse its people bitterly, because they did not come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty.’
On verses 19-23: While verse 19 pictures the kings of Canaan fighting against the Israelites, verses 20-22 picture creation (including the stars, the river Kishon and horses) fighting back against Sisera. It’s as if creation has turned on the Canaanites and there is now no hope for them. In verse 23, Deborah goes after Meroz, who did not help the LORD’s cause (v23).
No matter how powerful we think we are, we’re no match for God. We’ll always be better off siding with the LORD than against Him.
Judges 5:24-27 (NIV)
24 “Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women.
25 He asked for water, and she gave him milk; in a bowl fit for nobles she brought him curdled milk.
26 Her hand reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workman’s hammer. She struck Sisera, she crushed his head, she shattered and pierced his temple.
27 At her feet he sank, he fell; there he lay. At her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell–dead.
On verses 24-27: Deborah poetically describes how Jael defeated Sisera the Canaanite commander and praises her as the “most blessed of women” (v24). You don’t a special title, position or privilege in order to be praised by God. Just do the best you can with what God has given you.
Judges 5:28-30 (NIV)
28 “Through the window peered Sisera’s mother; behind the lattice she cried out, ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why is the clatter of his chariots delayed?’
29 The wisest of her ladies answer her; indeed, she keeps
saying to herself,
30 ‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoils: a girl or two for each man, colorful garments as plunder for Sisera, colorful garments embroidered, highly embroidered garments for my neck– all this as plunder?’
On verses 28-30: Contrasted against the stark reality of Sisera’s death that the woman Jael made possible are verses 28-30 where we see the women of Sisera, in particular Sisera’s mom and her servant girl, wishfully thinking that Sisera is busy plundering the Israelites. We all try to hope in different ways, but one day our hope will either be proven true or false. No matter how sincerely I may believe something to be true, sincerely believing in itself is not enough to make what I believe true. True hope is true no matter how much you believe it. False hope is false no matter how much you believe it. In the end false hope does not help because if anything it distracts you from finding real hope.
Judges 5:31 (NIV)
31 “So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But may they who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.” Then the land had peace forty years.
On verse 31: Deborah ends her song by blessing those who love the LORD. I admire Deborah’s leadership, how she truly valued and appreciated the people she was serving and leading, and was not afraid to express it. Likewise, may you not take the people in your life who help you for granted.
Thank You Father that in You I can have a real hope, not just wishful thinking. I pray I would be a willing servant of Yours. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2021 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
