THE KING’S BUSINESS
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He bids us go (Matt. 28:19, 20). As Barak was unwilling to go alone, but must have an arm of flesh to lean upon, he was to miss the honor he might have had and it should go to another, nevertheless Barak’s name has come down to us in God’s catalogue of heroes of faith (Heb. 11:32). v. 10. "And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh', and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet.” Barak did exactly what God had commanded him to do, and Deborah did exactly what she had promised to do. In consequence, God did exactly what He had promised to do (cf. vs. 5-7). The road to blessing and victory is prompt, unquestioning and exact obedience to God (John 15:14; Acts 5:32). Though the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali were the ones summoned and the ones depended upon, it appears from Deborah’s song of victory that some came with her from Man- asseh and Issachar also (ch. 5:14, 15), and some were expected from Reuben, Dan and Asher who did not come (ch. 5:15-17),. “But Zebulun and Naphtali jeoparded their lives unto the death” (ch. 5:18). Their obe dience to God stopped at nothing. v. 11. "Now Heber the Kenite,” etc. This verse seems to break the continuity of the story, but it is inserted at this point as a preparation for the story about Jael which follows immediately after the verses assigned for our lesson (vs. 17-22), and these verses should be read and studied in connection with the lesson. They are the fulfillment of what is said in verse 9. v. 13. “And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon." It was a great and mag nificently appointed army that Sisera gath ered together, and there seemed no possi bility that the meager forces of Barak could prevail against them. Sisera and his host had no doubt of victory, but like many an other military commander he had left one important factor out of his calculations— God. Ten thousand poorly equipped men with God on their side are more than a
to win the victory against Hazor was that the city of their oppressor was in their territory (i. e. in Naphtali). Furthermore, God’s business required haste and there was no time to draw an army from the other tribes. v. 7. "I will draw unto thee, to the river Kishon, Sisera the captain of Jabin’s army.” Deborah is the one speaking, but she is speaking for God, not for herself. It was God who was to draw Jabin to Barak at the river Kishon, and He was drawing him there to meet his destruction; He was com ing with chariots and a multitude, and Barak might have trembled as he was told this, if it had not have been for what he was told right after it: “And I will deliver him into thine hand.’’ It was Jehovah who was to deliver Sisera into Barak’s hand (cf. Exod. 14:4; Joshua 11:20; Ezek. 38:16). Victory is “always” of the LORD (Prov. 21:31). The promise that Jehovah here makes to Barak is the promise that He makes to all those who fight for Him, un der His direction, against His enemies (cf. Joshua 8:7; 10:8; 11:6). v. 8. “And Barak said unto her, I f thou wilt go with me, then I zsrill go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.” Barak seems to have had more confidence in Deborah than in Jehovah. He should have gone at Jehovah’s command whether Deborah went with him or not, but there are many today who when God bids them go, will not go unless they have some arm of flesh upon which they can rely. They are not willing to go with God alone. Barak by trusting Deborah rather than God lost much of the honor that God had in store for him. v. 9. “She said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Deborah yielded to Barak’s plea and went with him. That was all that Barak asked, but we have a far better promise in warring the warfare that God has ap pointed us, namely, that the Lord Jesus Himself will go with us if we go the way
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