Sunday, June 4, Lesson Text: Judges 4:1-10. King James Version (KJV) I. DELIVERANCE REQUIRED (Judges 4:1-3)

Transcription

1 Lesson Text: Judges 4:1-10 Sunday, June 4, 2017 King James Version (KJV) I. DELIVERANCE REQUIRED (Judges 4:1-3) 1. And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, when Ehud was dead. 2. And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. 3. And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel. II. DEBORAH S LEADERSHIP AND ISRAEL S DELIVERANCE PREDICTED (Judges 4:4-7) 4. And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 5. And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between

2 Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6. And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? 7. And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand. III. BARAK S RESPONSE (Judges 4:8-10) 8. And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. 9. And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10. And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.

3 New International Version (NIV) I. DELIVERANCE REQUIRED (Judges 4:1-3) 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. 3. Because he had nine hundred chariots fitted with iron and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, they cried to the Lord for help. II. DEBORAH S LEADERSHIP AND ISRAEL S DELIVERANCE PREDICTED (Judges 4:4-7) 4. Now Deborah,a prophet,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 went up to her to have their disputes decided. 6. She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in

4 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 them up to Mount Tabor. 7. I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands. III. BARAK S RESPONSE (Judges 4:8-10) 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. Certainly I will go with you, said Deborah. But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman. So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. 10. There Barak summonedzebulun and Naphtali, and ten thousand men went up under his command. Deborah also went up with him.

5 PRACTICAL POINTS FOR DISCUSSION: 1. We are prone to wander and to engage in sinful practices when we lack godly leaders (Judges 4:1). 2. Sometimes God chooses to use unbelievers to discipline His children (Judges 4:2). 3. Oftentimes it takes the threatening force of an army to bring people to pray for divine help (Judges 4:3). 4. People seek the counsel from those who command respect by virtue of their godly life-style (Judges 4:4-5). 5. The obedience of a large number of people is often involved in God s will being accomplished (Judges 4:6-7; Joshua 7:1-13). 6. We limit the Lord s blessing in our lives when we place conditions on our obedience to Him (Judges 4:8-9). 7. When we obey God s commands we can rest assured that He will be with us (Judges 4:10). ***The Bible Expositor and Illuminator, Union Gospel Press***