Saturday, May 26, 2012

4th Week of May 2012 Adult Sunday School Lesson

Judges 5th Chapter

This whole chapter is a song or psalm dedicated to Jael. It says in the first verse that it is sung by Deborah and Barak. Deborah prophesied that a woman would get the praise for this victory because of the lack of faith on Barak's part.

When Deborah starts the song, she not only sings about the current victory, but of past victories, that some feel mimicked, or favored this same victory. She talks about victory over Edom years ago, and it is interesting to note that she is recalling things that Judges records the children of Israel forgot. God wants us to search him out, search his word, so that we know him, and the past victories he's given his people. They are for our encouragement, edification, education, and exhortation.

She sings that there seems to be no end to what God will do for his people, including moving mountains and the flow of oceans and rivers. Shamgar is mentioned here, even though he is only mentioned a in a small space earlier. She mentions how Israel has suffered at the hands of others, but she does not keep back the fact that these cases, it was Israel's disobedience that let to there troubles.

Later in the chapter, she mentions the tribes of Israel individually, including the tribes that helped, and the tribes that left Barak and his army to their own devices. When you help another individual, or when you help God's saints, God will recognize your efforts; he will also remember when you didn't obey and did nothing to help.

Finally Deborah mentions the craftiness, boldness, and courage of Jael. Jael help put a tired Sisera asleep even though he was prettified with fear. She then boldly took his life and sought out Barak to give him the news. She was a bold woman who was recognized by God, Deborah, Barak, and all Israel.

Since the sacrifice of Jael, Barak, Deborah, and the obeying tribes, Israel had rest for forty years.

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