Deborah and Barak -- Resisters and Responders
Judges 4 & 5
5/31/09
INTRODUCTION
For most of us our only understanding of chariots and there use in warfare comes from movies.
Most of us have watch Charlton Heston in the chariot race in ben hur.
There is scene in the movie Gladiator that is terrifying. Maximus and the other gladiators are dressed as barbarians. They are standing in the center of the coliseum when the announcer voice sounds.
"the Emperor is pleased to bring you the LEGIONNAIRES OF SCIPIO AFRICANUS". The gates burst open as the glorius chariots explode into the arena, one at a time. Leopard skins drape the shoulders of the chariot drivers. Each chariot carries a female warrior in golden armour and golden helmet, armed with bows and wearing swords at their waists. The chariots are driven at great speed as they circle the "Barbarians" who gather in the center of the arena. Before the battle begins a chariot crushes one gladiator.
Chariots were considered the ultimate weapon in the ancient world. Though initially viewed as an instrumental weapon of terror at the forefront of any advancing army, the chariot was also a battlefield "clean up" weapon used to decimate routing enemy. In ancient times, most casualties - occurred when one army made the terrible decision to run from the battle as this was the moment that their pursuers could wreak havoc on the confused lines in retreat.
It is these terrifying weapons that play a significant role in the next chapter of God’s deliverance stories in the book of judges. It would make a great movie. It’s got powerful characters, intrigue, an underdog army, and incredible victory. But unlike many of the drama of the chariots race in ben hur, this drama really took place. And in it its drama we will discovery our next lesson in our own deliverance story.
GOD’S DELIVERANCE STORY LEADS US TO DEFINING MOMENTS IN OUR JOURNEY WITH HIM.
I. Key Verse
Judg 5:2
2 "When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves- praise the LORD!
II. Background
Judg 4:1-3
4:1 After Ehud died, the Israelites once again did evil in the eyes of the LORD. 2 So the LORD sold them into the hands of Jabin, a king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth Haggoyim. 3 Because he had nine hundred iron chariots and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, they cried to the LORD for help. NIV
III. The Players
God is advancing his kingdom and individuals are going to discover her defining moment in it.
A. Deborah -- Lady Leader
Anoints a leader & sees a plan.
Judg 4:4-7
4 Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. 5 She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided. 6 She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, "The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you: ’Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead the way to Mount Tabor. 7 I will lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’"
B. Barak -- Resistant Leader
reservedly leads an army.
Judg 4:8-13
8 Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go."
9 "Very well," Deborah said, "I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will hand Sisera over to a woman."
So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh, 10 where he summoned Zebulun and Naphtali. Ten thousand men followed him, and Deborah also went with him.
His army -- Ephraim, Benjamin, Zebulun (use Map) Princes of Issachar.
Judg 5:13-15
13 "Then the men who were left came down to the nobles; the people of the LORD came to me with the mighty.
14 Some came from Ephraim, whose roots were in Amalek; Benjamin was with the people who followed you.
From Makir captains came down, from Zebulun those who bear a commander’s staff.
15 The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; yes, Issachar was with Barak, rushing after him into the valley.
The Advance
12 When they told Sisera that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor (1843’ high over looking the valley of Jeezrel),
13 Sisera gathered together his nine hundred iron chariots and all the men with him, from Harosheth Haggoyim to the Kishon River.
„X (10 Miles from MY Tabor)
Judg 4:15-16
15 At Barak’s advance, the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword, and Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled on foot. 16 But Barak pursued the chariots and army as far as Harosheth Haggoyim. All the troops of Sisera fell by the sword; not a man was left.
Judg 5:21
21 The river Kishon swept them away, the age-old river, the river Kishon. March on, my soul; be strong
C. Jael -- Decisive Leader
Judg 4:17-24
17 Sisera, however, fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there were friendly relations between Jabin king of Hazor and the clan of Heber the Kenite.
18 Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, "Come, my lord, come right in. Don’t be afraid." So he entered her tent, and she put a covering over him.
19 "I’m thirsty," he said. "Please give me some water." She opened a skin of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him up.
20 "Stand in the doorway of the tent," he told her. "If someone comes by and asks you, ’Is anyone here?’ say ’No.’"
21 But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.
22 Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. "Come," she said, "I will show you the man you’re looking for." So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera with the tent peg through his temple-dead.
23 On that day God subdued Jabin, the Canaanite king, before the Israelites. 24 And the hand of the Israelites grew stronger and stronger against Jabin, the Canaanite king, until they destroyed him.
Defining Moment Lessons in Kingdome Advancement
God uses those who respond.
God will only use a person to the extent of their surrender.
But God will get his work accomplished.
God’s people will either discover their role or be passed over.
Judg 5:15-17
In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart.
16 Why did you stay among the campfires to hear the whistling for the flocks?
In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart.
17 Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan.
And Dan, why did he linger by the ships?
Asher remained on the coast and stayed in his coves.
NIV
IV. Reuben, Gilead (located just south of the sea of Galilee), Dan and Asher all miss out.
A. Reuben sat at home and listened to the shepherds. Indecision
Gen 49:3 "Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.
B. Asher distracted by the sea.
C. Gilead (one of the Grandsons of Manasseh) is indecisive
1 Chron 2:21-23
21 Later, Hezron lay with the daughter of Makir the father of Gilead (he had married her when he was sixty years old), and she bore him Segub. 22 Segub was the father of Jair, who controlled twenty-three towns in Gilead. 23(But Geshur and Aram captured Havvoth Jair, as well as Kenath with its surrounding settlements-sixty towns.) All these were descendants of Makir the father of Gilead.
D. Dan simply seemed to ignore the opportunity
God holds us responsible for our choice.
Judg 5:23
23’Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the LORD.
’Curse its people bitterly, because they did not come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty.’
„X Who are the people of Meroz?
The bitterness in the treatment of Meroz, not found in the references to any of the other delinquents, must be due to the special gravity of her offense. Reuben, Gilead and Dan were far away. This, however, is not true of Asher, who was also absent. It is likely that Meroz was near the field of battle and, at some stage of the conflict, within sight and hearing of the strife.
GOD’S DELIVERANCE STORY LEADS US TO DEFINING MOMENTS IN OUR JOURNEY WITH HIM.
As God writes his deliverance story will you be a resister or a responder?
As We seek to advance his kingdom this summer will you be a resister or a responder? Will you be indecisive? Will you simple sit idly by and what? Will the kingdom advance in your presence but you miss out?
