Deborah Judges 4
Paradoxical Means of God s Discipline God disciplines his people by selling them into the hand of, evil nations, but he will ultimately punish those nations for the sins they have committed against his people
Paradoxical Means of God s Discipline When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes. (Isaiah 10:12) Therefore thus says the Lord GOD of hosts: O my people, who dwell in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrians when they strike with the rod and lift up their staff against you as the Egyptians did. For in a very little while my fury will come to an end, and my anger will be directed to their destruction. (Isaiah 10:24-25)
Paradoxical Means of God s Discipline Occasionally God will allow even evil and hardship into our lives as a form of discipline, but that does not me he condones the evil, nor does it mean he will not ultimately punish the evil.
Judges 4 Focus moves from southern tribes to northern tribes The conflict involves 6 tribes Zebulun, Naphtali (4:6) Ephraim, Benjamin, Manasseh (Machir), and Issachar (5:14-15)
Jabin: King of Canaan Hazor populations approx. 40,000 size approx. 200 acres important city - likely why his is called king of Canaan
Sisera: Commander of Army Lived in Harosheth-hagoyim (Gentiles)
Deborah A prophetess Only judge who handled judicial issues Not commissioned as others were the LORD raised up a deliverer Ehud, Gideon, Samson She was not a military leader, Barak was
Deborah: A Model of Female Leadership? If anyone bring forward, by way of objection, Deborah and others of the same class, of whom we read that they were at one time appointed by the command of God to govern the people, the answer is easy. Extraordinary acts done by God do not overturn the ordinary rules of government, by which he intended that we should be bound. (John Calvin, commenting on I Tim. 2:11-15)
Deborah had real power & influence Barak s fear stems from the fact that no tribe would go to battle without a divine command which would only come through Deborah at the time She must accompany him (4:8)
Theme: Failure of Men Barak gets his wish but he will discover that his victory will not gain him glory but the glory will be given to a woman The woman who gets the glory is not the obvious choice, but a woman yet unknown
Theme: Failure of Men Sisera s death was shameful Then he called quickly to the young man his armor-bearer and said to him, Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, A woman killed him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died. (Judges 9:54) cf. Isaiah 3:12
The Battle Superiority of Sisera s army evidenced by the 900 iron chariots One more example of Israel being the major underdog in order to show God s power through their weakness
The Strategy Barak lured Sisera s army into the Wadi Kishon where the chariots were rendered useless Furthermore, the Lord caused a storm and flash floods to ensure that the chariots could be easily overrun
Yahweh of the Skies...the earth trembled and the heavens dropped, yes clouds dropped water (5:4) The torrent Kishon swept them away, the ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. March on, my soul, with might. (5:21)
Yahweh of the Skies He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind... (Psalm 104:3)
Victory of the LORD And the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army before Barak by the edge of the sword. (4:15) Central verse
Chiastic Structure Dale Ralph Davis The sons of Israel (oppressed) v. 1-3 Deborah, the prophetess v. 4-9 Jael, wife of Heber v. 17-22 Barak & Sisera call out v. 10-13 Yahweh the Warrior v. 14a Barak and Sisera go down v. 14b-16 Jabin, king of Canaan (subdued) v. 23-24
Sisera s Flight & Plight Introduced to the Kenites in verse 11 for a good reason. Jael was Heber s wife, a Kenite Kenites were a nomadic tribe where women were in charger of setting up and taking down tents as was customary during this time
Hospitality Protocol Numerous breaches of protocol Sisera turned to Jael s tent, when he should have turned to Heber s Apparently Sisera thought her tent would not be searched She called him in when she should have turned him out She should have protected him (see Lot in Sodom)
Sisera s Asylum Turned to Justice What about Jael s act? Righteous? No moral judgment is made in ch. 4 But in 5:24, she is called most blessed of women.
Jael s Act? We must distinguish between what the Bible... reports and recommends says and supports describes and prescribes
Jael s Act The morality of the act is not the point of the story God is able even to use evil in his hands to bring about justice II Sam. 4, Judas, Cross
Application Israel was totally helpless Their physical bondage corresponded to their spiritual bondage which is seen again when Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. As are we apart from God s gracious and just intervention
Application The LORD is the source of salvation! He alone has the power He alone is gracious enough He alone takes the credit
Application I will draw out Sisera...I will give him into your hand. (4:7) The LORD routed... (4:15) On that day God subdued (kena) Jabin the king of Canaan (kenaan). (4:23) Often a twist of irony/paradox in God s saving work