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Chapters 4-5

Don’t Mess with These Women!

These chapters tell us about two incredible women God used to bring help and victory to Israel in a time of national crisis.

1. The SIN of Israel (4:1) The people respected Ehud, but not the Lord. While Ehud was alive, they stayed loyal, but after he died, they turned from God and rebelled. The Book of Judges shows the foolishness of people being faithful to a human leader and yet being unfaithful to God. God’s people should stay faithful to the Lord no matter who the earthly leader is or where he is. The apostle Paul commended the church at Philippi (see Phil. 2:12).

2. The SUFFERING of Israel (4:2-3) Israel was forced to submit to king of the Canaanites. The enemies had 900 iron , a powerful military force in those days. They were like armored tanks. The people were in bondage for 20 long years.

3. The SUPPLICATION of Israel (4:3) In hard times the people cried out to God. Notice that they asked God to relieve their suffering, not to forgive their sin. Things haven’t changed at all. When 9/11 happened, people everywhere in America were praying for God’s help. When times are tough, the American people know to pray. Israel needed to pray and our nation needs to pray what David prayed in Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

4. The SALVATION of Israel (4:4-23) God raised up leaders to deliver His people. God’s methods are people. In this case God used two famous women— and . Using women like this was not only a token of God’s grace, but also a sign of humiliation because it was shameful in a male- dominated culture to have women in leadership positions. Isaiah 3:12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them.

A. Discussion of Deborah and (4:4-13) – Deborah was a woman of authority. She was both a prophetess and a judge. She was a person of wisdom and influence. She had the courage that Barak lacked. She was ready to fight, but he was reluctant to fight.

B. Deployment of Israel’s army (4:14) – Deborah was a woman of action.

C. Defeat of Sisera’s army (4:15-16) – The Lord fought for Israel. If God be for us, who can be against us. “Discomfited” means routed or totally defeated.

D. Death of Sisera (4:17-22) – It was humiliating for any man to die at the hands of a woman. The Lord directed Sisera to that tent.

E. Destruction of Jabin, king of (4:23) – The Lord won the battle for Israel.

5. The SONG of Israel (5:1-31) Israel’s victory over Sisera is described in prose (chapter 4) and in poetry (chapter 5). This is one of the great songs in the Bible (song of Moses, Ex. 15; song of the Lamb, Rev. 5:8-10). This song was offered in honor to the Lord for the great victory He gave to Israel. Deborah predicted the Lord’s victory (4:9) , and then she praised the Lord for victory in chapter 5. A. God honored the warriors who fought in the battle (5:15-18) Some made great sacrifices to participate in the fight while others did not help (vs. 15-17). The failed to help because they had second thoughts. Gilead refused to cross the Jordan and help. The tribe of Dan was more interested in their shipping business than in helping their brothers, and Asher remained by his seaside home. But the tribes of Zebulun and risked their lives to fight.

B. God controlled the weather to bring victory (5:19-21) Verse 20 speaks of God’s intervention in the battle. This is the original “Star Wars.” The Weather Channel has a program called, “When Weather Changed History.” That’s what happened here. There was a torrential storm and the river overflowed and flooded the battlefield. It was the dry season of the year and this was an unlikely storm. The main god of the Canaanites was Baal and he was considered god of storms, so you can understand how the sudden change of weather affected the superstitious Canaanites. Had their own god turned against them? Was the God of Israel more powerful than Baal? The great asset of the Canaanite army turned out to be their great liability. The iron chariots were useless in the rainstorm and the mud.

C. God used a woman to defeat a mighty general (5:24-27) At that time women were used to putting up tents and taking them down. Jael obviously knew how to use a hammer and she was used to driving tent pegs. For a general to run from the battlefield was embarrassing. To be killed while he was fleeing was humiliating. But to be killed by a woman was the most disgraceful thing of all. The book of Judges reminds us that God uses unlikely things and unlikely people to deliver His people. 1 Corinthians 1:25-31 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

D. God issued a warning through this song (5:28-31) The enemies of Israel are also the enemies of the Lord. This is a touching picture of a soldier’s mother anxiously awaiting the return of her son. She was sure of his victory, but it didn’t turn out that way. Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. These verses are similar to some of the psalms called “imprecatory psalms,” that call for the destruction of God’s enemies (e.g., Psalm 35, 69, 83, and 101).

God used two women to deliver the nation in two ways: Deborah, a woman of faith; and Jael, a woman of force. Book of Judges Chapters 4-5

Don’t Mess with These Women!

These chapters tell us about two incredible women God used to bring help and victory to Israel in a time of national crisis.

1. The______of Israel (4:1)

2. The______of Israel (4:2-3)

3. The______of Israel (4:3)

4. The______of Israel (4:4-23)

A. ______of Deborah and Barak (4:4-13)

B. ______of Israel’s army (4:14)

C. ______of Sisera’s army (4:15-16)

D. ______of Sisera (4:17-22)

E. ______of Jabin, king of Canaan (4:23)

5. The______of Israel (5:1-31)

A. God honored______who fought in the battle (5:15-18)

B. God controlled______to bring victory (5:19-21)

C. God used______to defeat a mighty general (5:24-27)

D. God issued______through this song (5:28-31)