Judges 5

*Join us this Sunday, October 23, for our WORSHIP ENCOUNTER @6pm!

Scripture

Judges 5:31

“So may all your enemies perish, Lord!
    But may all who love you be like the sun

    when it rises in its strength.”

Then the land had peace forty years.

Observation

Labeled “The Song of Deborah,” Chapter 5 is an example of early Hebrew poetry.  It’s a song of triumph that follows the victory outlined in Chapter 4.  Chapter 4 begins…

¹ Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, now that Ehud was dead. ² So the Lord sold them into the hands of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. Sisera, the commander of his army, was based in Harosheth Haggoyim. 

And they remained oppressed by Jabin for twenty years, until they were delivered by Deborah.  The song was intended to preserve the victory and bring praise to God for generations to come.

Understanding

Ch 3-16 represent the cycles of oppression and deliverance experienced by the Israelites.  The cycle included abandonment of their beliefs, followed by a period of oppression (in this case 20 years, but the cycles for each period varied from 3-40 years), repentance, then [finally] restoration and peace.

Does this cycle sound familiar to anyone else? 

I find myself getting sidetracked by things – sometimes event really good things…and, no I do not abandon my beliefs completely; but I do find myself allowing other things to take priority at times.  The beautiful part of these crazy cycles that Judges takes us through – SEVEN of them! – is that

God is always faithful to restore us and, with that restoration, comes peace. 

“Then the land had peace for forty years.”

 

BUT, did you catch the most important part?  The contingency factor is repentance.  It’s when we choose to repent – which literally means “to turn.”  It’s when we turn away from what we are doing and towards God that seems to “unlock” that healing restoration and peace.   

Life Application

God, you are so good!  Thank you so much for extending such grace with your children.  You are faithful to restore, faithful to provide, faithful to forgive, faithful to love us from the inside out.  Show me where I need to lay things down, where I need to turn away, where I need to turn more towards you.  And use me to bring others to you as well. 

Amen.

*PS Another thing that struck me in “digging in” on this Chapter, was a note in Matthew Henry’s commentary – “That one of these judges was female (Deborah) is striking confirmation of God’s sovereignty in raising up leaders that He chooses in any era.”  At a time when women were considered property – spoils of war to be divided among the men (v. 29-30) – Deborah was called out by God to be one of the judges to deliver His people from oppression.  Thank you God that you are all powerful to call us, to gift us, to use us to accomplish Your will.  

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- Rei