Judges Study - 2026-09-09

Welcome to the Lansdale Life Church podcast.

If you're seeking a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, this podcast is for you.

Thank you for joining us today.

So we are looking at Judges chapter five. It's a long song. So I was praying about how this is going

to flow for a group like us. I figured maybe last time we took turns something like this is a good

thing to take turns reading, I think. I don't know how you all feel. But, you know, just me up here

reading all these verses of a song straight through could get tedious. It may be better if we take

turns and do that. So let's pray and thank the Lord for being here. Father God, we thank you

that your word is so precious as we read Judges chapter five, Lord. And remember the great

events that we learned about last week and how, you know, you moved in such unusual ways, Lord, and

how we learned about your judge or Judge S, Deborah, and your faithful servant, Barack,

and then your courageous, I picture her a young lady, JL, and Lord, how you just delivered Israel

through this group of people, Lord, and those who are courageous. And so Lord, we asked you to

help us learn something that we didn't know before and really see this song in a new and fresh way.

We ask this in Jesus' name, amen. So last week, for those of you who weren't here, we can't go

through all those details, but I'll just try to summarize the events. So Israel, we've been

studying through Judges how it's been this cycle of the obedient to the judge God has

raised up to lead Israel. And they follow the judge, but when the judge dies, they go back to

their old ways and rebel against God and start sinning again. And so the Lord gives them over

to be in bondage to a foreign king, or not foreign, actually, they're the foreigners,

but to a local nation and a king that then enslaves them and they become enslaved,

Danny pointed out, to these other rulers until they cry out and beg God and God finally

delivers them from these pagan rulers. And so last week, we learned how they were in bondage for 20

years from the oppression of Jabin, king of Canaan, for 20 years, and the Israelites were crying out.

And we pointed out how the Lord does listen to us. How many times have we read in scriptures

how when people cry out to the Lord, in spite of how disobedient, how rebellious and sinful they were,

the Lord hears her cry and he responds. He only does the same thing for us.

And so they were crying out. And so the Lord chose Deborah to be the judge of Israel.

And of course, in those days, it was very unusual to have a female leader of the people.

And yet that's what she was. She was the judge. And so the Lord spoke to her and gave her the plan.

And she reached out to Barak and said, you're going to deliver Israel from Jabin,

and specifically the commander of Jabin's army, which was Sisera. And so she was telling Barak

go and deliver Israel. And Barak is saying, I'm only going if you're going.

Okay. And so Deborah was, and I think you probably had some great conversations.

We did, right Ken, in our small group about the whole dialogue between Deborah and Barak.

Let's just read it real quick in chapter four.

Deborah was saying to Barak

that the Lord will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army with his chariots and his multitude

at the River Kishan. And I will deliver him into your hand. And Barak said to her,

if you will go with me, then I will go. But if you will not go with me, I will not go.

And so she said, I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, there will be no glory for you

in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.

And so we talked a lot about that and what that all meant. And the way I reconciled it in my mind,

I could be wrong, but I saw really Deborah is possibly testing in a sense, Barak's mindset

and his perspective. Because if Barak had said, oh yeah, yeah, you're right. I won't get any glory

if I don't do it, then that would be kind of revealing his heart. But he didn't care. He wanted

Deborah with him because Deborah was receiving messages from God. I mean, wouldn't you want

a prophetess with you if you were going into battle, giving you advice and directional what

God is saying to do in this battle? And so I believe it really revealed Barak's heart and just,

he was willing to serve God in whatever method God had designed. And I believe,

I don't see that Deborah was trying to be, I guess, prideful or whatever. I just think she was

saying, all right, just keep in mind. And so we're going to see, that's what happened. And so

after they were conquering Sisera in this battle, Sisera jumped off his chariot. He ran into the tent

of JL. And JL said, just take it easy. He goes, bring me some hot water so I can drink it and be

relaxed. And so she brought him warm milk. And that apparently is something to make you go

personally. So I don't know, but it makes you tired apparently. I got to try that whenever I can't

sleep too well, which is like every night. In fact, I wake up about two to three in the morning and

I'm just like twiddling my thumbs. So maybe warm milk is the key. So anyway, she gives him warm

milk. He falls asleep under the blanket and she smashes a tent peg right through his temple,

kills him and says to Barak, look at what has happened to the man that you're seeking.

And there he is. And so now, so there was a great victory. And as a result, Israel rose up and

began to overtake Jabin, king of Canaan. And the tides had turned in favor of Israel because of

what the great victory that God had delivered. So now we're going to read this psalm or this song.

And as we do, I learned some things you don't really see in the previous chapter,

that there were more tribes than just Zebulun and Naftali. Other ones also participated in the battle,

but there were some that didn't. And I think that's important to remember that in every battle,

there's leaders, Deborah, Barak, they were leaders. And Jael even was a leader in her courageous act.

And there are soldiers, those who say, okay, just tell me what you need, I'm going,

I'm going to do it. And then there's also pacifists. And we learn about these couple

of tribes that just didn't participate at all and they're called out in this song.

One little thing we can talk about about a song, and I just want to set this up because then we're

just going to read right through and finalize it with a couple of last comments. But the Lord

really, there's a reason we worship. I'm sure you thought about this. I mean, we worship because

God is a worshiper, right? I mean, he doesn't worship anyone, but he loves singing. He designed

us to worship him because he sings. He's a singer. I love, in fact, I want to jump ahead, Zephaniah

3 17. If you have Zephaniah 3 17, where it says that the Lord sings over us. The Lord your God

in your midst, the mighty one will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will quiet you

with his love and he will rejoice over you with singing. Isn't that a beautiful verse? You ever

think about that? Like he cherishes you so much, he sings over us. You know, I can't imagine what his

voice sounds like singing. I mean, his voice is often compared to mighty rushing waters and

thunder and so many other things. So we're going to hear that someday when he sings along with us

in heaven, I believe. And Paul writes to the Ephesians in Ephesians 5 19, talking about this

singing and hymns. If you have there, it is speaking to yourselves in Psalms and hymns

and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. So he's saying, you know,

songs, these hymns, when we sing together, there's a reason we do it because God has designed us

to do that. Because when we sing, there's so many emotions that erupt within us and we have all the

chemicals that dopamine and adrenaline and everything else gets released. And that's why

music is such a mighty force in society and culture. And also Paul writes to the Colossians

in Colossians 3 16. And he said, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom,

teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Again, this idea of just singing praise to God.

And in Hebrews, we have these two verses smushed together, Hebrews 2 12 and 13 15.

I will declare your name to my brethren in the midst of the assembly, I will sing praise to you.

And the next therefore by him, let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God.

That is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. In Revelation, we see that the

celestial beings and the saints, they're all singing to the Lord in Revelation 5 and elsewhere.

And just a couple other places of these ideas of songs, remember Miriam's song just after

deliverance of the Red Sea? She sang to the Lord. It's amazing. I wonder how long it took

for them to write these songs where the Lord just downloaded the lyrics to them immediately.

And they just started singing these songs. And also, well the girls of David, remember

David has, Saul has conquered his thousands and David has tens of thousands. And then Hannah,

when finally she had Samuel and she wrote this poem or song to the Lord, because the Lord had

finally given her a son in Samuel and then many other children after that. So again, it's just

the idea of singing and praising the Lord. That's why we do it. And so let's start to

read this song of Deborah. And then we'll just again hash out a few points at the end.

So we don't want to go back and forth because some may not feel comfortable or want to read

tonight. So who would like to start us off? Jill, do you want to start us off?

And why don't you read just a few verses, say four verses, and then we'll, and then we'll, I don't know,

go, whoever wants to just raise your hand, you could take the next section.

All right, go ahead, Jill, why don't you read the first four verses?

Who wants to read next? Verse five. Roger, go ahead.

In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, in the days of Chaolah, I raised my banner,

and travelers kept to the byways. The villagers ceased in Israel. They ceased to be until I arose.

I, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel. When new Gods were chosen, when war was at the gates,

was shield of spear to be seen among 40,000 in Israel?

In verse nine.

Yeah, nine. The bride goes out to the commanders of Israel,

who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the Lord.

Speak, you who ride on white donkeys, who sit in judges attire and who walk along the road,

far from the noise of the archers among the watering places. There they shall recount the

righteous acts of the Lord, the righteous act for his villages in Israel. Then the people of

the Lord shall go down to the gates. Awake, awake, Deborah. Awake, awake, sing a song.

Arise, Barak, and lead your captives away, O son of Abinuwel.

Many made hands that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people.

The Lord made me have dominion over the mighty.

At Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek. After thee, Benjamin, among thy people,

out of Napur came down governors and out of Zebulon, they that handled the pen of the writer.

And the princes of Ishikar, for when Deborah, even Ishikar, and also Barak, he was sent on foot

into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben, there were great thoughts of the march, 16.

So we are up to 16. Do you want to take like three verses or so?

There's chapter five or 16, right? Yeah.

You say three verses? Yeah.

Why abotest this is the King James version. Why abotest thou among the sheathalest to hear

the leadings of the flocks, for the divisions of Reuben, they were great searchings of heart.

And why did Dan remain at ships? Asher continued on with Seashore,

and abotest his breaches. Zebulon and Naphtali were a people that

jeopardized their lives unto the death in the high places of the few.

Verse 19. Do you want to take 19, Evan?

Where are we?

I'm taking it late, so I'm going to search for some of these and we're going to give you that.

Come back. Judges 5, 19. Who wants to read over here? We can always go back. Dina?

Okay. King's King, they fought the kings of Canaan fought.

At Tikonok, by the wooders of Megiddo, but they carried off no silver nor plunder.

From the heavens the stars fall, from the porch they fall against Sisera.

The River of Kishon swept them away, the age-old river, the River of Kishon.

March on, my soul, be strong. Then thunder the forces who lose,

galloping, galloping, go his mighty steeds.

Curse the rose, said the angel of the Lord.

Curse its people fairly, because they did not come to help the Lord,

to help the Lord against the mighty.

Most blessed of women be jailed. Her wife had heard the Kenak.

A tent well of women most blessed. He asked for water and she gave him milk.

She brought him curds in a noble's roll.

She sent her hands to the tent peg, with her right hand to the workman's mallet.

She struck Sisera, she crushed his head, she shattered and pierced his temple.

Between her feet he sank, he fell, he laid still.

Between her feet he sank, he fell, where he sank there he fell dead.

Verse 28, when she takes 28.

Through the window appeared Sisera's mother.

Behind the lattice she cried out,

Why is his chariot so long in coming?

Why is the clatter of his chariot's delay?

The wisest of her ladies answered her.

Indeed, she keeps saying to herself,

Are they not finding and dividing the spoils?

A woman or two for each man, colorful garments as plundered for Sisera.

Colorful garments embroidered.

Highly embroidered.

Garments for my neck.

All this as plundered?

So may all your armies perish, Lord,

but may all who love you be like the sun

when it rises in its strength

and the land had peace for 40 years.

So you know, it's interesting,

you think of some of these words, what kind of melody went with that?

Not to make, I mean, I'm not laughing at it.

I'm just saying, it's very interesting.

I mean, you know, he asked for water.

She gave him milk.

Maybe I could see it.

She brought her out cream in a Lordly bowl.

She stretched out her hand to the tent peg.

Her right hand to the worker's workman's hammer.

She pounded Sisera.

She pierced his head.

I mean, you just wonder what kind of melody was going with it.

At her feet he sank.

He fell.

He lay still.

At her feet he sank.

He fell.

Where he sank, there he fell dead.

So, but you know, it's, some of the lyrics we hear today

are pretty, pretty wacky too, right?

You think, yeah, I wouldn't see how that would flow.

But you know, so this idea of just writing a song

and in small groups we could talk about

perhaps some of the lyrics in that song.

But again, I just want to point out that, you know,

in this we learn that some tribes went along

and they saw that their fellow tribesmen,

Zebulun and Eftali, were in a battle

and they engaged in that battle and they went with them.

And yet we realize that some, actually it was Ruben,

East Manasseh on the other side of the river.

Dan and Asher did not join in, in the battle.

And they're really called out, you know?

And I think that's just truly an encouragement, you know,

that we really should all want to participate

in whatever battle our fellow believers are in.

And it's all spiritual.

We had a conversation, I think,

no, it wasn't last week, but somewhere.

But how, you know, when you read the Old Testament

and you see these like, these violent things

and many people who have a struggle

sorting out the Bible and how can this God

who's wiping out nations, now here it's more of self-defense

and that kind of thing.

But in other areas where they're wiping out countries,

even children, everything else you see,

how can this be the same God as Jesus Christ

who, you know, says to forgive and everything else.

And I really reconcile that in my heart and mind

in that, again, Old Testament is all a picture

pointing to Jesus Christ.

He reconciled all mankind.

And now in the New Testament, it's all a spiritual battle.

So when we look at flesh and blood,

we now realize that our warfare is spiritual.

When we look at land, now we're talking about life,

you know, these things are all symbolic

of something that would come after Christ.

And so we don't look and expect God

to wipe out people groups.

He really wants to save all people groups.

And really, we're in his army to do that.

You know, so when we warfare with God,

it's really to bring his righteousness,

you know, and justice, well, righteousness really,

and salvation of people, you know, not to destroy them.

But in the Old Testament, this is all a picture.

And I also think it's really a picture of God's wrath

because in fact, I know we've had discussions about,

you ever kind of forget where you had this discussion

and with who, I do that all the time.

Because you know, when you're talking about the Bible

all the time, you forget who and with what.

But I remember talking about how like, you know,

these are all pictures of really that wrath is a real thing.

Someday, God will destroy, well, eternally,

those who are not with him.

And thank God he's persevering, you know,

he's not, what's that verse that says,

he's not slack as we consider slackness,

but he wants none to perish.

He wants to deliver everyone to him.

And so we can read these things and really reconcile to us

that these are all analogies really to spiritual warfare,

you know, and that we don't want to be apathetic

and pacifist when it comes to spiritual warfare.

Because what happens when you're pacifist,

the enemy takes you over and you start to be enslaved

once again, just as Israel was.

And just thinking of some other things,

I love that one of the last verses there, 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.

And so, really, when we are obedient to God,

we see this again and again in Judges.

In fact, two times in Judges, you know,

in those days, Israel had no king

and everyone did what was right in their own eyes.

And really, that's what happens

when we don't realize that the Lord is our king.

We make tremendous amount of foolish mistakes

and we let the enemy wreak havoc in our lives.

And really, we end up being in bondage to him,

just as they were in bondage

to all of these various nations.

One question before we break into small groups,

when God calls, you know, do we participate?

You know, do we get engaged

or do we merely observe, you know?

And, you know, that can be compared

to a lot of different scenarios in even today.

You know, do we want to get involved

in helping our fellow believers in other countries

that are undergoing persecution

or do we just know about it and glad it's not here?

I'm glad they're not in this part of their world, you know?

Or do we want to participate?

And so, let's pray.

We'll break into small groups

and delve into those questions.

Hopefully, you all got a picture of them

and we'll go from there.

So, Father God, we thank you, Lord,

that you are our king.

And Lord, we can trust you

and when we obey you,

things always work out better for us.

It doesn't mean everything will be perfect, Lord,

but you work all things for the good of those who love you

and who are called according to your purpose.

And Lord, just reminding me, Lord,

of, you know, times that I wrote songs

and my kids wrote songs

when they were going through tough times

and good times.

And Lord, really, in a sense, you know,

we all are songwriters,

whether we think we are or not,

because we can journal these things

that we go through in life

and connect them, Lord, to words of praise.

And to you, every one of our voices are beautiful

when we're singing to you in praise and thanksgiving.

And so, we thank you for that.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Amen.

Yeah, think about that.

You ever think of yourself as a songwriter?

I don't know if you guys like journaling.

Anybody like journaling?

I like it.

I don't like writing, like writing it down,

but I like, I do journal.

Like, when I journal, it's like a word here and a word there.

But journaling is so good

because you can capture those thoughts you have

about events that are going on in your life, you know,

and really just marinating what God's sharing with you.

So, I highly recommend journaling, you know,

especially when you're going through a crisis,

especially when you're going through really good times.

Just record it all so that you can look back

and remember what you were going through during that time

and what God was showing you

in the midst of those highs and lows of life.

Amen.

Thanks for joining us at Lansdale Life Church

as we praise God and discuss His word.

Don't forget to join us for Worship Live Sunday mornings

at 10 a.m. Eastern on YouTube.

Be blessed and have a great day!