Judges Chapter 5
Included in the pages of our Bibles are some incredible pieces of literature including the lyrics to songs written by God’s people. Creationists teach us that men were much more intelligent than they are today. We no longer use as much of our brains as our predecessors did. We may be more technologically advanced, but we are certainly not as intelligent.
I find it amazing how quickly they composed this song and its beautiful poetic formation. Of course, the original was written in the Hebrew language so there are some differences in the form as we read it in English. The lyrics of the song in this chapter tell the story of the events that happened in the previous chapter. Its theme is the joy and blessing we receive when we are willing to be used as instruments of God. Their song was another way to praise and worship the LORD God.
Let's Reflect
1. According to verse 1 who are the most likely authors of this song?
2. The theme of the song is found in verse 2 where we learn an important truth that God delights in accomplish His purpose through people. What word in this verse is paramount for this to happen?
3. In verse 15 of the previous chapter, we learned that the LORD “routed” the army of Sisera and his chariots. In this chapter the words of the song give us a clue what it was that God did that day to help the armies of Israel. What do you see in verses 4 and 5 that God did?
4. Verses 6-8 describe what life was like under the oppression of the Canaanites. They took away Israel’s weapons, and it was dangerous for them to use the highways. Deborah is not bragging but she is praising God for His willingness to cause her to have faith and to stir up the men. What does she call herself?
5. As the battle against the Canaanites started, Deborah recounts how other tribes of Israel also rose up to help. She questions in her song why other tribes did not help. How did she describe their complacency or fear in verse 16-18?
6. The people had been very afraid of the enemies’ chariots of iron, but they were useless in this battle because God sent rain from heaven. So much rain that there was flooding making it impossible for the chariots to maneuver. What river overflowed causing the horses of the chariots to be stuck?
7. There was a town mentioned, Meroz, where the Israelites did not come to help the battle and the song mentions the curse of the LORD would be upon them. But there was much praise and glory attributed to a woman who killed the general Sisera of the enemies’ army. What was this woman’s name?
8. In verse 28-30 Deborah imagines what the thoughts of the mother of Sisera were as she waited for her son to come home from battle. She imagined that his mother thought about how Sisera and his men would have been delayed as they divided the spoils of war. Those spoils would have included female Israelite women to use for their own pleasure. What other spoils of war might the mother of Sisera imagine him to be taking for himself?
The words of this song confirm that the death of Sisera and his men was a good thing, and Israel could celebrate in their victory over these evil men. War is never glorious, but this was the justice of God exacted upon very evil men and God would be glorified.
