“Hitting the Nail on the Head”
Judges 4:4-9
OBJECTIVE: To apply this obscure OT story to today, using the various events in a parallel to today.
INTRODUCTION: Illustration “The Story of Deborah, Barak and Jael” Constantly throughout the OT we find that Israel would fall out of favor with GOD and He would use outside armies to bring judgment upon them.
At this time, GOD had given Israel over to JABIN, king of the CANAANITES. Israel repented and begged for a reprieve from the LORD.
The LORD had appointed DEBORAH a judge over Israel.
She called for BARAK, a military leader of the Israelites and told him that GOD had commanded that they fight against and defeat the Canaanites army. He was to go to Mt. Tabor with ten thousand men and GOD would draw SISERA, the commander of JABIN’s army to that place for his defeat.
BARAK told DEBORAH that he would go only if she went with him. She agreed but told him that the honor of the battle would go to a woman and not him.
BARAK’s men defeated SISERA’s army, but SISERA himself fled away in foot to a tent city, to the tent of a woman named JAEL. He went into her home without her husband present and asked for water to drink.
She gave him milk and allowed him to rest and even gave him a cover so that he could sleep. After falling asleep she crept to him and drove a tent peg through his temple and fastened him to the ground, killing him.
After this BARAK’s army was able to go and defeat JABIN the king
This story is a little bizarre to say the least.
And though it is a ‘victory’ story, it is not as well known in our Bible studies as others such as “David and Goliath” or “Joshua and the Walls of Jericho”.
But just because a story is obscure does not mean that it contains no lessons for today.
II Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”
This verse assures us that ALL scripture is given by God and ALL is profitable.
So what lessons can we find within this story?
I. THE LESSON CONCERNING CREDIT
a. It amazes me that BARAK would rather be assured that God was with him than receive credit for the battle
i. Some might argue that BARAK had little faith, and because of this he needed DEBORAH’s faith to make him feel better
ii. But I tend to agree more with the great Bible commentary writer, Matthew Henry, who said that BARAK refused to go into battle without the assurance of God’s favor and counsel.
iii. Because DEBORAH represented God’s counsel, he wanted her right beside him in battle
iv. When she warned him that the honor of the victory would then go to a woman, he did not change his request.
v. He knew that God’s counsel was more important than credit
b. People are notorious for fighting over credit – especially men!
i. Have you ever gone by a worksite? What do the signs say? “MEN AT WORK”!!!
ii. Women aren’t that bad – you don’t walk into a kitchen and pass a sign that says, “MOM’S DOING DISHES” (Taken from Chonda Pierce Standup Comedy Act)
c. Church folks also LOVE to receive credit for stuff
i. You spend time looking around churches and on almost every piece of furniture you will find name plates.
ii. Also we worry that we do not forget to recognize someone’s achievements, because if we forget to give credit we might hurt that person’s feelings
iii. Now I am not saying that a person should not be recognized for doing a fine job, but…
d. We should be seeking the counsel and approval of God ABOVE our own credit!
i. If you are working within the house of God, or you purchase something for the house of God, or you have special responsibilities in the house of God –
ii. You should be seeking the approval of God not credit from others!
e. That is what I believe was BARAK’s ultimate motivation for seeking the company of DEBORAH
i. He knew he was going to lose the HONOR of victory to a woman
ii. He decided not to concern himself with who was getting the credit but rather focused on what was important: winning the battle
f. Many of us get in fleshly battles over ‘credit’
i. We forget that we aren’t at war with one another
ii. Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
iii. We need to stop wrestling over “who gets the credit” and start standing together unified as Christians against the powers of Satan
iv. AND GIVE GOD ALL THE CREDIT!
II. THE LESSON CONCERNING PROPHECY
a. When DEBORAH prophesied that the honor of victory would be given to a woman –
i. Many of us probably assumed that she was referring to herself
ii. BARAK probably also thought the same way
iii. JAEL was not yet in the picture, so it only made sense that DEBORAH meant herself; but she did not
b. But GOD doesn’t always do things the way we assume He will
i. Certainly Jesus, the Messiah, did not come in the way the Jews would have expected.
ii. They expected the ‘LION OF JUDAH’ not the ‘LAMB OF GOD’
c. Many of the OT prophecies concerning the Messiah were seriously misinterpreted by the Jews, and they still are
i. Listen to this passage concerning Christ from Isaiah 53:
ii. READ: Isaiah 53
iii. The Jews will tell you that this passage is referring to Israel, not the Messiah
iv. But if you listen to the eloquence of the statements and the personal nature of the verses, it is apparently referring to a single person – the man, Christ Jesus
d. Sometimes it takes looking back to fully understand prophecy
i. This is why I don’t argue with people over end-time prophecy; because we don’t know for sure how things are going to happen
ii. There are many theories and ideas, and I have a belief that I am happy to share in a setting where opinions are appropriate (not the pulpit)
e. We need to understand that we may not fully understand how Christ will return – but that cannot let us think that He will not – we know for sure that:
i. He will return in power and glory
ii. He will be preceded by a shout
iii. Those who have died will rise first, then those who are alive will be caught up together with Him in the air
iv. And we will forever be with the LORD
III. THE LESSON CONCERNING PRAISE
a. READ: Judges 5:1-5
b. After the great battle was over and Israel was free, the people did not hesitate to glorify God
i. They asked for God’s favor and forgiveness for going astray in the beginning
ii. Then they blessed God by singing this song of praise to Him for what He had done
c. Many of us never hesitate to go to God in our times of need, as did the Israelites
i. But we also need to take a lesson from them in our praise for blessings during our victories
ii. How many of us who are living in a victorious time in our lives, never attribute any thanks to God for our blessings?
d. We should be praising God for all of His blessings
i. Many of us need a lesson concerning praise
ii. We too often forget to attribute praise to God when things are going our way
CONCLUSION: The story of BARAK, DEBORAH and JAEL concerns:
The request of God for His counsel in hard times
The belief in God and His wonderful prophecies of hope
The praise of God for victory in our battles
So if you are facing a battle that you don’t know how to handle… seek God’s counsel and, like BARAK, refuse to fight the battle apart from God
If you get in a position where you need hope… remember the wonderful prophecies God has promised to those who follow Christ
If you are presently experiencing victory in your life, don’t forget to ascribe the glory and honor totally to God
Sisera’s demise came because he dwelt in the camp of his enemy unaware. Because of his unwitting position, he became vulnerable to the nail of judgment which came from God.
God has promised that he will judge those who break his law. And we are all guilty.
We may think, “God won’t judge me, I am a good person”. But the Bible says that there is “none good”
A quick look at the piercing nail of God’s law enlightens us to the peril of the situation we are in without Christ.
Ask yourself: Have I ever lied? Stolen anything? Used God’s name to express disgust (blasphemy)? Hated someone? Lusted after someone? Have I ever not put God first in my life?
If you are honest, you would have to say yes… and if so, you have broken God’s law.
James 2:10 “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”
But there is good news for you… it is called the Gospel
Unlike SISERA, if you would wake up and recognize your situation, you can then run for safety into the arms of Christ.
And the nail of God’s judgment will never pierce you.
Christ will protect you from judgment and grant you the free gift of eternal life in heaven.
