DEAL WITH SIN OR GOD WILL DEAL WITH YOU
Faith in Dire Times
Judges 5
Jerry A Collins
v What
happens when you have to go to war?
v Are you
willing to be a hero for God?
v Make
sure you give the credit to God?
INTRODUCTION
Life sometimes requires of us to
be valiant warriors. Times that require us to be brave, courageous, heroic,
fearless, and noble. Times when we are distressed and demand that our faith in
God be tested. This is especially true when the issues are spiritual in nature.
When truth is at stake. When the will of God is considered. Actually we should
welcome these dire times because then God is able to display Himself in
marvelous ways that afterward allow us to give Him tribute. When we can clearly
acknowledge the power and sovereignty of our God because it was so evident that
He intervened & delivered. We can say more about God because of the dire
times than we ever could have without these. Here we have a hymn of victory—a
song that reflects upon a dire moment and gives God the credit for deliverance.
We need to have more of these songs ourselves.
INTERPRETATION 5:1-11
GOD IS ON THE MOVE WHEN WE FACE
DIRE TIMES
God is not sitting back
unconcerned about your dire situation. He knows and He cares and He is working.
He has not left you to fend for yourself. I cannot think of one time I faced a
dire situation that God has not shown up. He is on the move in yours even now.
It can be a waiting game for sure but God supplies, directs, supports, and
encourages us all along the way.
(1) Our God is worthy of our praise 1-5 Deborah says so and many
millions have echoed the same praise down throughout the centuries. In vs 2
praise given to the leaders who led in Israel. This is in reference to the
commanders on the field vs 9 who did the work to bring victory against the
enemy. Deborah acknowledges their valiant leadership. Especially as it related
to the volunteer spirit it aroused amongst the people to fight the enemy. There
was some significant inspirational leadership that was necessary to rouse the
people to fight. They willingly offered themselves—same word as free will offering
of Lev 7:16-23. The people offered themselves like a free will offering. So the
adage, Bless the Lord, the one who is
really behind this inspirational leadership and mustering of the people. The
people are prepared now to fight a battle God wants them to fight. Their
preparation is just as essential as their prosecution of the war. In case no
one is aware of who this God is, She identifies Him as the one associated with
Mt Seir-mountains east of the red sea where Israel had her beginnings in escape
from Egypt—via Edom into Israel. So this God is the one associated with all of
the events of Moses prior to crossing the Jordan and under Joshua who did cross
it vs. 3-5. So God was on the move and He was in this battle. Can you imagine
the confidence in the faithful as they had recounted God on the move in the
past and connecting those dots to the present could face the mounting distress
in faith and hope? Our God is worthy of this praise. Go ahead and praise Him
ahead of time before you can even see His hand at work. God is good we often
say because of something positive that has happened but God’s work even before
it happens I good. Can you acknowledge that to God?
(2) Our lives are filled with distress and difficulties 6-8 Shamgar in vs 6 is the 3rd
judge—the one before Deborah. The situation in northern Israel was dire.
Outside of the fortified walls of the northern tribes, life in the villages and
on the highways was precarious and at a standstill because of the oppression of
the Canaanites. This oppression cake right up to the entrance of the city gates
in these walled cities vs 8. Sisera’s chariot-fitted army controlled the roads
so they had to travel via the hills and dales vs 6. The peasantry cased
gleaning the fields for food vs 7. The reason for the oppression and no
resistance to this evil oppression by the tribes was the inclusion of gods vs 8
amongst the people. The oppression of Sisera was so successful that not a
shield of spear was seen in the north. Jabin and Sisera had a stranglehold on the
entire region for 20 years. Some difficulties come and go because life is just
that way. And some distress we cause ourselves. Israel increased the oppression
and baggage because of sidelining God. They forgot God but did not forget their
idols! It is too easy to place God on the back-burner of our lives,
marginalizing him, setting Him aside, and replacing Him. Some dire times in our
lives we just have to plainly admit are the result of our own decisions, our
own rebellion, our own disobedience.
(3) Give God the credit for your deliverance from or thru dire times
10-11 Here is a general call to worship because of the
prosperity vs 10 that now
exists in the land with the
oppression removed—the rich on donkeys
and carpet and the poor who walk along the roads. Freedom! Sing! Everywhere in
the north—like the common watering places for animals—they are to give God the
credit vs 11. Look at what God did for us! Amen! What can you recount?
INTERPRETATION: 5:12-31
YOU MUST DECIDE WHETHER TO MOVE
WITH GOD IN YOUR DISTRESS
Each of the tribes had to make a
decision to move with God to determine whether they would possess their
possession.
(1) You must decide to initiate your move 12-13 The
people came to Deborah, their judge, for help. Some decided to pursue God’s
help and they knew where to go for that. Survivors of the oppression, the
people came ready to take possession—came as warriors vs 13.
(2) Some decided to fight and others did not 15-18 5 ½ tribes—Ephraim, Benjamin,
Machir (half tribe of Manesseh Num 26:29, Zebulum, Issachar, and Naphtali—who
volunteered are praised for helping in battle. 4 ½ tribes are
criticized—Reuben, Gilead (Gad and other half tribe of Manessah), Dan and
Asher—who did not participate in the battle. Judah and Simeon are not
mentioned. You can either determine to pursue God and His will in your dire
situation or you can ignore God’s prescription because you have second thoughts
about doing it God’s way like Reuben who had great resolve of heart but sat
around and did nothing vs 16; you do not want to do that like Gilead staying on
other side of Jordan; you are preoccupied with commerce and business like Dan
and Asher vs 17.
(3) The battle is waged without you 19-23 In this
case there was a great victory because of God’s intervention in an
unanticipated torrent and deluge that flooded the marshy valley and rendered
the chariots and horses of Sisera’s army useless. Now it was a level playing
field and the Israelites had the advantage with this surprise and since they
were used to fighting on the ground. The city of Meroz is cursed for not
participating 23.
(4) It is better to not hesitate and choose to move with God in your
distress 24-31 First, she was on God’s side against will of her husband.
Second, she thought things through and planned her strategy. Third, She was not
a prophet or scholar but used what she had to obey the Lord. Fourth, she was
decisive and did not hesitate. Now Sisera’s mother can only fantasize of Sisera
late coming back from battle dividing up the spoil 28-30. He never will.
(1) Contrast between Deborah
mother of Israel vs 7 & mother of Sisera vs 28—true hope vs false; (2)
Contrast Meroz & Jael—did not help in midst of others who did and one who
helped in midst of those who did not. So stand up in distress and take up with
God’s will.