April 1924
T H E
K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
237
The place of deliverance was named “Kishon.” Sisera was the captain of Jabin’s army. He had his chariots and his multitude of soldiers. But what God promises He will surely perform. In every time of trouble and of need, let your prayer be based on His promise (Psa. 91:15 ). There is a promise for every believer. There is a promise- for every time of need, no matter what the conditions or the circumstances. That is the advantage of being so familiar with God’s Word that we are able to lay our hand upon the promise at the proper time. The honor of deliverance was to be given to Deborah (v. 9). God honors those who honor Him (1 Sam. 2:30) “Them that honor m e I w ill honor, and th ey that despise me shall be ligh tly esteemed.” And our Lord Jesus says (John 12:26) “ If any man serve m e, him w ill m y F ather honor.” (3) DECISION OF BARAK, vs. 8, 9. “If thou w ilt go with me, then I will go.” v. 8. Barak was willing to go if Deborah would go with him, but he was not willing to obey God’s command otherwise. His promise to obey was conditional, but God demands un conditional obedience to His Word. Barak was very human. He knew Deborah’s relationship to God, and he had more confidence in her ability to com mand God’s favor than he had in God’s own word to him. Our tendency is to lean upon the arm of flesh (2 Chron. 32:8). We want something upon which the eye can rest. It is so hard to trust the naked word of God. Yet,— everything must be decided by the Word of God (Isa. 8:19, 20) “ T o the law and to the testim on y; if they speak not accord- ing to this W ord , it Is because there is no ligh t in them .” Failure to believe God’s Word dishonors God. Failure to follow God’s command means eternal loss. (4) DESTRUCTION OF SISERA, vs. 10-16. “And all the host of Sisera fell,” v. 16. God honors servants who will give ,their whole hearts to His service. Barak was half-hearted. He went, but not as God commanded. Deborah went with Barak to stimulate his faith and she it was that gave the command, “Up, for this is the day!” (v. 14). The battle was the Lord’s (v. 16). It 'must always be His. God fights from Heaven (5:20) “T hey fought from H eaven; the stars in their conrses fought against Sisera.” The elements combined— rain, hail, swollen streams— swept them away. Sisera fled, but God followed him in his retreat and sent him to the tent of Jael. He was delivered into the hands of a woman (v. 9). How will the slaying of Sisera be justified? On the basis of God’s own Word. God is the ruler. He is the authority. He is a God of love, but He is also a God of justice (1 Sam. 15:18) “ And the Lord sent thee on a journey, and said. Go and u t terly destroy the sinners, the Am alekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.” Here, God pronounces judgment and Jael executes it. Honor came to Jael that might have been Barak’s. Jael was as essential in the carrying out of God’s purpose as was Barak and his army. Someone must execute the laws of God. He uses individuals and He uses nations. There are two ways in which God punishes: (1) He withdraws His protection. (2) He permits the enemy to assault. Read the wonderful song of Deborah in Chapter 5, in which she gives the result-of the victory; the restoration of Israel’s faith; the bringing of the nation back to Jeho vah; the account of the battle and the means by which the
victory was gained; and a description of the fate of those who oppose God (v. 31). “ So let all thine enem ies perish, O L ord; but let them that lo ve. thee be as the sun when he goeth forth in his m ight. And the land had rest forty years.” Topics for Study ( 1 ) What is the lesson for the church to learn from this period in Israel’s history? (2) Has not God warned the church of the perils of apostasy? (3) Is there not an imperative need to heed God’s com mand, “Come out from among them and be sepa rate?” (4) Does History repeat itself? (5) What was the secret of Israel’s failure? ( 6 ) What was the foundation of the seven special judgments which came upon Israel during this period? (Judges 2 :1 1 -1 4 )/ This book is so named because it is the record of the exploits of some of the leaders, heroes, champions, and de liverers of Israel during one marked period of their history, extending from the conquest of Palestine to the period of the kings.— Peloubet. COMMENTS The Judges were Deliverers, Defend- FROM THE ers. The root-meaning of the word is COMMENTARIES “to secure one his rights,” hence gen- V. V. Morgan erally to judge. Through Judges, Je hovah secured to the people of Israel their rights against their enemies, and, as rulers, the Judges secured to individuals their rights.—Bible for Home and School, The story of the book is practically outlined for us in chapter 2, verses 6 to 19 which takes the place of a sum mary, and suggests as the spiritual outline of its contents these four words: Sin. Punishment. Repentance. Deliver- ence.—Gray. The periods of peace and prosperity were really much longer than the periods of war and captivity, as was neces sary for the best development of the nation. Taking Ruth, and the story of Elkanah, Hannah and Samuel into the ac count, we gain a more correct and hopeful view of the times. Where will you find more charming pictures of peaceful rural life? The purpose of all this discipline through the whole period may best be expressed by God’s words recorded in Deut. 8:2, 3.— Peloubet. 2:16. The judges who governed Israel were strictly God’s vicegerents in the government of the people, He being the supreme ruler. Those who were thus elevated retained the dignity so long as they lived; but there was no regular, unbroken succession of judges. Individuals, prompted by the inward, irresistible impulse of God’s Spirit, when they witnessed the depressed state of their country, were roused to achieve its deliverance. It was usually accompanied by a special call, and the people seeing them endowed with extraordinary courage or strength accepted them as delegates of Heaven, and submitted to their sway. They had no power to make laws; for these were given by God; nor to explain them, for that was the province of the priest-—but they were officially upholders of the law, defenders of religion, avengers of all crimes, particularly of idolatry and its attendant vices.— J. F & B. 4:3. Thus there had come upon Israel exactly what Moses had foretold in Deuteronomy when he set before them the blessings of obedience and the curses that would certainly follow them. (Deut. 28 :15 ).—Peloubet.
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter