Bibledoorajar for Deborah and Barak's Song of Dominion

     I have decided to continue the poll for another week to see if we have additional votes. So, if you did not vote and would like to, the poll is to the right.
     Lately, we were talking about God's two hidden weapons, the weather and the lady, Jael. The course of the battle and Jael's action made for a wonderful victory for freedom. It was so God-like to use the less than obvious means to secure His plan. I love His ways because it means I am always surprised. Almost everyone likes to be surprised. Now, on to Deborah's song.
     The song is a sweet song of salvation which she sang "on that day." She did not delay which implies that her joy was so great she simply burst into song. After all, her God had just been vindicated over the blasphemous acts of the Canaanites. She gave the glory to God and to Him only. The Master of the Universe (able to manipulate the weather) would to be known to all as the God of Israel (desirous to have a called out people). What a wonderful realization! This victory would, of necessity, have elevated the Israelites to new heights of spirituality and, for this, Deborah was extremely grateful. She took the opportunity to trace God's provision of the law at Mt. Sinai and reminded the Israelites that straying from the law was what always made them vulnerable to their enemies. The Jews should praise God and return to holy acts of service. Now they were free to do so because Deborah reminds them that "in the time of Jael" it was treacherous to even leave your tent to travel. Most of the people had taken to living behind city walls. People who had to be out would go in less travelled ways and take many detours in hopes of avoiding trouble. To be relieved of this kind of stress meant the ladies in the tents would certainly praise Jael because she ended a 20 year cycle of torment.
     But like most mothers, the "mother in Israel" could not resist a little motherly chiding. Things did not get any better until she "arose" and offered herself to God to be a part of the solution. Then, God was able to avenge. For Deborah, this act of offering herself was the fulfillment of her spiritual destiny. People could now ride and walk the roads without fear. She urged the scholars and the businessmen who could return to their efforts unmolested to praise God. All should intensify their praises. Barak could now arise and take his captives because Deborah's efforts had helped his prowess as a warrior. When Barak joined Deborah in the song, the song was one of dominion. But Deborah also expressed her feelings toward some of the tribes who did not respond to Barak's summons for help. There is nothing worse than putting out an appeal for help and getting a poor response. However, such human limitations and failings do not mean that God is failing. For that, we can all praise Him and be encouraged.
     Some of the tribes may have found Deborah's song a little embarrassing. The were probably wishing they had joined in and helped more, especially when Deborah said they would not share in the rewards. Jesus said that if we would confess Him before men, He would confess us before the Father. How are we going to feel when the recitations by Jesus take place in heaven? I heard someone say once, "I'll be happy to just get a back row seat just as long as I get in." But I'm different. I want to think He will feel that with His help I did something of merit on my journey. How about you? We'll end this week on one of Deborah's "notes."

        "Hear O kings; give ear O princes! I, to God shall I sing; I shall sing praise to God, God of Israel!"
                                                        Judges 5:3

bibledoorajar Deborah con't

The two ladies(in biblical garb) with Gayle Browning are sisters. They are Mary Frances Cliett Hudson and Emily Cliett Underwood. Their significance to our story of Deborah is that they too are from a line of fruitfulness. Their paternal grandmother "arose a mother in her community."
About 105 years ago, she allowed a group to meet in her front yard to study the Bible. She invited people to come, including many who worked for her husband (among these just happened to by my grandparents). Soon, she was inviting well known gospel preachers to come and share the Word. Many were saved including members of my family. Today, the group which descended from these first meetings is still a viable beacon of faith in the community which Mrs. Cliett loved. She 'made all of this happen' while functioning as a wife and mother. Flash forward to the present. Mary Frances and Emily (granddaughters) found themselves worshipping with a group that needed a place to meet. Mary Frances and her husband, a strong twosome, opened their completed basement to the group. Approximately 65 souls meet in worship there. Now the two sisters have donated a tract of land to the group. It is their desire that a permanent Bible presence be seen and felt in their community. These godly actions of this family give us some feeling of how fruitfulness continues in family lines in the church period just as it did in Israel. God will always have those family lines that have been, are and will be fruitful branches on the Vine. And, the good thing to remember is that He is always  looking for someone courageous enough to start just such a line. Could it be you?
     Continuing our focus on Deborah and Barak, the Israeli general, let's look at how they worked together to defend the tribes from a fierce enemy. The tribes of Israel were a loose confederation at the time with no centralized leader. In times of serious difficulty God would raise up leaders to save the people from any external threat. If you read the biblical texts describing these times, you always see that the need would arise because the people had not lived up to their covenant with God (see Judges 2:8-14). Indeed, God had placed a high standard of responsibility on His people. When they failed miserably, God usually got their attention by allowing a physical enemy to attack (see Judges 4:2). This would usually shock the people back to their senses and they would cry out to God for rescue (Judges 4:3).
     When Deborah sent for Barak and told him of her plan to attack the people's enemy the Canaanites, Barak paused. He considered the reality of Israel's loose confederation and lack of weapons. In weighing the pros and cons, the cons seemed very distressing. But Deborah remained firm. So firm in fact that one can almost feel the energy passing between the two leaders. Barak knew that Deborah was a prophetess who received light on problem situations from God. That was a plus. He also knew that she was from a tribe that was very fruitful. Certainly Deborah was well respected for all the help she provided from her fruitful palm tree. Barak decided that if she would go to battle with him then God would be pleased and make him fruitful (successful) also. This was how Barak, God's general, became emboldened enough to go to war. He recognized the calling of God on another and the power that was involved in such a calling. He told Deborah that if she would go against the enemy then he would too. This reminds me of how many times many of us have become emboldened to take on a work because we sense God's anointing on another. How easy it is to see faith and courage in another; how hard it is to see it in ourselves! Deborah took Barak's comment in stride; she simply told the warrior of God that because he wished to play it that way the honor for the victory would go to a woman. Barak seemed to have no trouble accepting this and apparently was more interested in success than personal fame. We know that his personal faith was not compromised. The writer of Hebrews (11:32) speaks of his wisdom and faith combined with courage that took him to battle. This record placed both these leaders in the category of those who overcome and who persevere. Paul, writing in Romans 8:37, says that we can be the same kind of conquering heroes of faith through Him that loved us and gave us a much greater covenant than the old. I will close today with some verses I stand on.
    "To those who by PATIENT CONTINUANCE in well doing (fruitfulness--rap) seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: but to them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that does evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile: for there is no respect of persons with God." Rom. 2:7-11 I'm all for choosing fruitfulness in Christ Jesus. How about you?

bibledoorajar Deborah con't

     Last week we were speaking of the vicious cycles of faith and downfall that plagued the Israelites during the time of the judges. So rampant were the downfalls that the national life of Israel was drastically changed. It took on more and more of the characteristics of the evil Canaanites to the North. God had wanted this territory conquered by the Israelites early on; it was to be a part of the tribe of Napthali's heritage. But, the people failed to conquer. Their failure would prove to be to their peril. One might say that the people who lived to the North lived in darkness. The gods they worshiped were Baal, the god of nature, and Anat, the goddess of fertility. Israel was attracted to the prosperity of their neighbors' farms and villages. Soon, they were also attracted to the gods to whom the Canaanites credited with their success. The Israelites started to abandon God and chase after the gods of the neighbors. And, to make matters worse, they began to take up some Canaanite behaviors. Some of the Israeli hill folk chased after their neighbors possessions by plundering their farms and villages. Evil on both sides abounded and it became troublesome to just be in the streets (sound familiar?).
     The Canannite ruler of the city states was a man named Jabin which means "intelligent". He decided it was time to deal with the marauding Israelites. He had a formidable general named Sisera whose name means "array". At least part of his "array" included 900 chariots of iron. Jabin ruled from a fortified city called Hazor which means "enclosed". The Israelites were sorely afraid of Jabin's military strength and because of their improprieties they were too weary for faith and hope. But God had leaders in mind that could help. The leaders were Deborah, the lady who had been sitting for years under her fruitful palm dispensing help and justice, and, Barak ("lightning"), an Israeli general. Remember Deborah's giftings? She was an oracle, judge and a prophetess. Perhaps in the past, her roles of oracle and judge had been more in view, but now God intended the role of prophetess to come to the fore. It would be Deborah who would help the nation correct their tragic interpretation of life with the enemy. Events would be put into perspective by this "mother in Israel". The spiritually blind, too weak for faith, would see more clearly. The only way they could truly be assured of prosperity and reward would be to follow God's commandments and successfully deal with their enemies.
     So the time was set for battle. On stage would be Deborah, Barak, and Jabin's general, Sisera. Off stage the presence of Lapidoth ("lamps") "warring" against Jabin ("intelligent") would be felt. This situation reminds me that none of us today have seen God or Satan, our wily enemy. But we know the battle rages on. Praise God for sending the great Leader who dispels the darkness and brings light and peace. His grace and truth is a much greater gift than the law given by Moses thereby making victory ours for the taking by God's decree.
     At just the right time, Deborah arose a mother in Israel and sent for Barak. Barak, interestingly enough, was from the tribe of Napthali. When Moses had blessed this tribe he had said, "O Napthali,  SATISFIED WITH FAVOR AND FULL OF THE BLESSINGS OF THE LORD". Barak had found favor and had achieved to the rank of general. Deborah tells him he is to move out with his men to the North in the direction of darkness. He is to go against the evil ruler Jabin who sat in Hazor behind fortified walls. Remember, Hazor was a city that God had wanted to be the possesion of his tribe but Napthali had failed to conquer. Barak knew that Jabin's army had grown even bigger and he knew that he had zero chariots to Sisera's 900 iron ones. Success looked bleak and Barak paused to think. Next week we will look at Barak's decision. Would he be valiant or continue to tolerate darkness?