T H E K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S river Kishon. (14) And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. (15) And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the Introduction: The Times: “ Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the leaders that over-lived Joshua, and had known all the works of the Lord that he had done for Israel.” (Josh. 24:31.) They were guilty of a four-fold sin: (1) The sin of self-confidence. They had made good resolutions (Josh. 24:21). “ And the people said unto Joshua, Nay but we will LESSON serve the Lord.” EXPOSITION If they had been T. O. Horton living in these days, they would have said this at a conference Where they would have waved their handkerchiefs and promised a “ full surrender,” and then have gone out and forgotten all about it. Human pledges are unavail ing. Men need divine power. Outward profession means but little. We need the inward possession of the Holy Spirit. (2) A lack of training in God’s Word. (Deut. 6:7.) “ And thou shalt teach them diligent ly to thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Contrast God’s command to Israel and the emphasis laid upon the necessity of knowing His Word, with what most chil dren get in these days,— fifteen or twenty minutes on Sunday, and often an unprepared Sunday School teacher; and with what most fathers and mothers get, — a message on Sunday morning with
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sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. (16) But Barak pur sued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.
out even a text from the Word of God! (3) A dependence upon leaders rather than upon God. (4) Disobedience. God had ordered the destruction of their enemies, and because they had failed in this, God measured out His chastening in grace. The judgment of God is His strange work (Isa. 28:21). There were seven special judgments upon Israel, and the foundation of them all is found in the 11th verse of the second chapter of Judges: “ And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim.” i’ and the 12th, 13th and 14th verses give the story. In Chapter 3:7, 8: They were sold eight years into the hands of their enemies. Chapter 3:12-14: They served the kings of Moab eighteen years. Chapter 4:3: They were oppressed for twenty years. Chapter 6:1: They were delivered into the hands of Midian seven years. Chapter 10:8: The Philistines op pressed them for eighteen years. Chapter 13:1: The Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years. A study of the Book of Judges would be profitable for every teacher and every preacher in these days. Outline: (1) Deborah, the Prophetess, vs. 4, 5. (2) Deliverance Promised, 6, 7. (3) Decision of Barak, 8, 9. (4) Destruction of Sisera, 10-16.
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