Bible Studies
Deborah and Jael God’s Deliverers (Judges 4 and 5)
Series: Studies in the Book of Judges Judges 4:1-3Introduction:
1. Each of us should be thoroughly familiar with the cyclical pattern in the book of Judges.a. The sons of Israel would do evil in the sight of the Lord by worshiping the idols of Canaan.
b. The Lord would raise up an oppressor.
c. Israel would cry to the Lord.
d. He would send them a deliverer.
e. They would have peace for a time, until they again gave themselves to idolatry and the cycle would repeat itself.
2. In the account that we have just read Jabin, king of Canaan and Sisera, the commander of his army, are the oppressors. 3. Chapter 4 describes the history and chapter 5 is a song of praise and celebration for the deliverance given by God. 4. First, we will survey the history, and then draw out some relevant lessons applicable to our circumstances.Discussion:
I. There is a brief mention of Shamgar (3:31), but the account traces back to Ehud, the deliverer who had slain Eglon, the king of Moab.A. Shamgar is described as the son of Anath.
1. Anath is the name of a female Canaanite god.
2. Shamgar may have been the son of a woman named after this god, or may himself have been a devotee of the god (Barry Webb, NICOT).
3. Anath was worshiped as a goddess of war.
B. Shamgar is not identified by tribe or family. Some have suggested they he may not have even been an Israelite and although he saved Israel he may not have been a worshiper of God. The evidence is just not specific.
C. He is not identified as judging Israel, like Deborah.
D. His claim to fame is that he struck down 600 Philistines with an oxgoad.
II. Shamgar’s brief mention stands in contrast to the account regarding Deborah and Barak that covers two chapters.A. The sons of Israel cry to the Lord because Jabin, king of Hazor has 900 iron chariots.
1. Evidently Israel sees herself as not having the technology necessary to compete against Jabin.
2. Interestingly, Shamgar, seems unhindered by such a lack of technology.
3. He had killed 600 Philistines with an oxgoad.
B. God responded by giving a message through Deborah, the prophetess and judge.
1. She gave Barak the command from God. God said, “Go and march to Mount Tabor with 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun. I will draw out Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his many troops to the river Kishon, and I will give him into your hand” (4:7).
2. Barak is willing to go only if Deborah goes with him. Israel did not have the technology that Jabin had. 5:8 mentions, “Not a shield or a spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.”
3. She agreed to go, but said, “The honor shall not be yours, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman” (9).
C. Barak called together his troops at Kedesh and then assembled them on Mount Tabor.
D. Sisera responded with his 900 chariots to the Kishon River.
1. Deborah, under the command of God, said to Barak, “This is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hands; behold the Lord has gone out before you” (14).
2. 5:21 is suggestive of what happened. It says, “The torrent of Kishon swept them away.” Weather conditions greatly affect battles. Apparently Sisera’s chariots were rendered ineffective by flooding conditions.
3. “The Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak” (15). Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled on foot.
E. A man named Heber is casually mentioned in 4:11. Jael, his wife, is not introduced into the account until Sisera is fleeing.
1. Heber is related to the Israelites through Hobab, the father-in-law of Moses. He has pitched his tent to the north near Kedesh.
2. There is peace between Heber and Jabin. In other words he has a covenant with the Canaanites.
3. Sisera is fleeing and Jael, wife of Heber invites him in to her tent.
4. She took a tent peg and a hammer and drove the peg into Sisera’s temple. The Canaanites are defeated with low-tech devices.
III. What lessons can be learned from this account?A. Leadership and deliverance come from God and when people submit to the wisdom of God they rise to the top.
1. True leadership is founded upon God’s wisdom.
2. When men do not follow His leadership and women do they become leaders.
3. This seems to be the case with both Deborah and Jael.
a. Heber has made peace with the Canaanites and in this way has sided with the enemies of God.
b. His wife, Jael, on the other hand, acts in allegiance with God (5:24ff).
4. Deborah acts in confidence in what God said. Barak seems more hesitant.
a. Perhaps he is thinking,“We don’t have a shield or spear among forty thousand in Israel,” how then can we go up against 900 iron chariots?”
b. Deborah seems to act in complete confidence in God’s command.
c. Faith in God and His word gives defines our vision; it gives us direction, confidence and determination and allows for leadership whether among men or among women.
d. When men fail in this and women excel we should not be surprised that women then rise to the top in leadership while men falter.
B. God is not concerned about man’s technology as if somehow it threatened His power or control.
1. No matter how advanced our technology it is no match for the power of God.
2. He renders iron chariots ineffective and while we may think iron chariots are low tech, even our best technology is neutralized by the power of God.
3. Let us not trust too much in our military might; nor fear too much the advanced technology of others.
4. Our confidence needs to be in the Almighty God and no other. Remember Shamgar and his oxgoad and Jael and her tent peg.
C. Our allegiance needs to be with the army of the Lord.
1. Chapter 5 commends those who fought in the army of the Lord: Ephraim, Benjamin, Machir, Zebulun, Issachar, Reuben, and Naphtali (14-15, 18). Jael (24ff).
2. Condemns those who remained uncommitted: Gilead, Dan, (17) Meroz (23).
3. Our battle is a spiritual battle (Eph. 2:20ff).
D. Praise/worship is the appropriate response to God’s deliverance (chapter 5).
1. Deborah and Barak praised God (5:2ff).
2. It is the natural response of those delivered by God (Heb. 12:28-29).
Conclusion:
1. Are you oppressed? Are you crying to the Lord? 2. Then give yourself in allegiance to Him. 3. He will deliver you from the effects of your sin and disobedience. 4. Once you are delivered then praise and worship Him in thanksgiving.
