Judges 5:1-31
5:1 The Song of Deborah is a hymn which recounts the events of the last chapter and encourages the hearer (reader) to praise God.
5:2 Deborah is exuberant with joy for the moments when the people are in alignment with God. For her, this hymn is a celebration of God's goodness. It is also a celebration of how smoothly life flows when we live in obedience to Him.
When the leaders lead in Israel, when they are under the submission of God alone and no enemy nation. For when under God, the Israelites are able to lead with confidence, wisdom and peace.
5:3 In a time period when royal leaders and families were revered like gods, Deborah calls for the even the powerful upper-class to submit to God and praise His authority. Human authority has for thousands of years yielded mostly chaos and division. Deborah's observation has been that when God is in control, everything comes into place.
5:4-5 Deborah references the historical events of God's leadership over the children of Israel, Numbers 10, 20.
5:6-8 The children of Israel are in a desperate situation. Under God's authority they were kept safe, made prosperous, and cherished as precious children. However, as they gave their attention and then respect to different sources, they discarded all of their blessings. Their abandonment of God dried up their home into a place of desolation and then war.
When we establish God as the authority and defense of our lives, we live in a protected boundary. God's love is an impenetrable boundary: evil cannot enter; righteousness cannot leak out or become lost. However, we are allowed to leave it. And unfortunately, the children of Israel and we, sometimes, do.
Deborah's reference to herself as a mother in Israel speaks of her respected position as judge, or leader, over the children of Israel. It's important to remember that Deborah's position as judge required faith and hard work. She isn't a god, she's a human and therefore vulnerable to all of the same weaknesses and temptations we are. Yet she has decided to follow God, arduously and faithfully, and that decision has been a fruitful one.
5:9 Deborah places her full support and appreciation behind the leaders of the children of Israel and their tribes of people who will recommit to God. Those who will willingly offer themselves to the philosophy God has established.
Within God's philosophy, there is no need to scheme or worry or suffer because He has outlined a fulfilling, natural path. Deborah mentions willingness because it is only our resistance which renders the path bumpy.
5:10-11 Deborah's hymn is written to people of all societal levels: for we are all simultaneously reduced and exalted by God. Humbled and made grand. Whatever tier of society the world and circumstance have placed a person on, it is irrelevant to God's plans and placement for them: Paul was an opponent made supporter. Moses an orphan made heir. Countless kings in these scriptures reduced to less than the rubble of their collapsed kingdoms.
Therefore Deborah speaks to all of us. The white donkeys of our time are celebrities of entertainment, sport, science and technology. Those in judges attire are our government and political systems; the pedestrians represent the majority. We are each called by her to speak for truth rather than self.
5:12 Deborah and Barak call even themselves to awaken to purpose and intention.
5:13-18 Restoration infiltrated the broken, debased and corrupt tribe through tribe. God is thorough. The family had strayed but one by one He regathers and reestablishes, uproots and discards what does not belong.
5:19-23 The reduction of the kings of Canaan is completely orchestrated by God and carried out by His willing soldiers (children who commit themselves to establishing the principles of His kingdom, here on earth).
The stars from their courses fought... the language used in this verse declares God's universal arsenal. A universal arsenal accessible to the children of God. The righteous are adeptly outfitted in spiritual, invulnerable equipment and weaponry. Head to toe.
In 1 Kings 3 Solomon requests wisdom from God. God is so proud of Solomon's selfless request that He arms Solomon with a capability no one before him or after him has ever had: extra-ordinary, super-natural discernment.
For you, also, will God pull down strength and discernment from the sky. He will pull up stability and foundation from the earth. Whatever you need, He will supply. Once we become advocates for more than ourselves, God prepares us for the grander battle we undertake.
Nature itself, this planet as well as the galaxy and universe it spins in, is operating under God's orchestration. Is in operation for and toward His intention and purpose. To be allied with God is to be allied with the power of the stars.
The whole armor of God is described in the new testament. Paul prepares God's children to for their greater purpose, the purpose of life.
Ephesians 6:10-20
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
5:24-27 Returning to Deborah's hymn, she commends Jael for her actions against Siscera. The aforementioned journey to Ephesians 6 should serve as reminder to us that our battle is over more than just corrupt human leaders. God's children are raised by Him to outsmart evil itself, not just the perpetrators of it.
The events in the old testament serve as examples, 1 Corinthians 10:11, what happened to our biblical ancestors serves as a blueprint for what we will have to opportunity to face - magnified. We will diminish evil with more complex and comprehensive ability. Yet still, like the children of Israel, our ability and triumph is linked with our faith. We must be steadfast, and such is the spirit of this hymn.
5:28-30 Sisera's mother and kingdom were confident in his ability... in a mere man's ability rather than God's. Until the very end, they could not accept the prospect of defeat. It is our blessed opportunity to never become so wholly distracted. For we know that all opposition is already defeated, it has been declared. The charade of evil's reign is temporary - in all homes, neighborhoods, communities, states, regions, and nations.
We are not like Sisera's mother, waiting and wailing at a window wondering what has happened because our God has told us what will happen. Our God has given us a role in the future He has planned, cemented.
5:31 Deborah ends her hymn with gusto:
“Thus let all Your enemies perish, O Lord!
But let those who love Him be like the sun
When it comes out in full strength.”
Forty years of rest followed this restoration done by God. For forty years, the children of Israel remain steadfast in faith. God is faithful for eternity. For His equally faithful children, this beautiful hymn has no end. For eternity there is rest. For each child there is rest.
