Category: Judges

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Once again we see the cycle of Judges: the death of the judge, the people do evil in God’s eyes; an enemy comes who oppresses them; they repent and call out to God and He sends another judge. We need Jesus Christ the eternal Son of God as our Judge. While He lives, we too will live! Notice that God’s word is not enough for Gideon – this is a judge who falls far short of Moses and Joshua!

SJA Notes

* Dear God, how precious is Your steadfast love! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.

“When the people of Israel cried out to the LORD on account of the Midianites, the LORD sent a prophet to the people of Israel. And he said to them, …”

What does the prophet tell the people?

The same thing that Moses and Joshua exhorted them about not many generations previous.

REMEMBER!

The LORD led them up from Egypt and brought them out of the house of slavery.

Remember.

The LORD delivered them from the hand of the Egyptians and the hand of all who oppressed them.

Remember.

“I am the LORD your God,”

These are potent words for us today.

Remember.

It is the LORD who has led us from dead hearts and darkness, out of the slavery of sin – Into true life, hearts rebirthed, free from sin.

Remember.

It is the LORD who delivers us, rescues us, restores us each day.

Let us strive to remember all that the LORD has done and is doing for us.

* Creator God,

You have called us to be Your people – Thank You!

Thank You for Your word that always tells us the truth of what You have done.

Please remind us each day, write Your word on our hearts Lord God.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The Song of Deborah is one of several by women in the Scriptures. These songs or prayers of Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, and Mary should be read and pondered. (Exodus 16:21, 1 Samuel 2:1-10, Luke 2:46-55) Verse 2 is the key verse to the song.

SJA Notes

* Mighty God, Your steadfast love extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the clouds.

“Why did you sit still among the sheepfolds, to hear the whistling for the flocks.”

When we move away from God, we move away from each other.

Even here with a victory, much of God’s people take no part.

Remember back when the eastern (past the Jordan) two-and-a-half tribes made the altar, and ALL of Israel came to bear on them.

Here there are two, maybe three tribes who join in the battle.

Many of those who were not there are called out in Deborah’s song.

As with Israel, so with us.

When we move away from God, we move away from each other. Party spirit, in-fighting, politicking, bickering – on and on.

We drift toward the broad road, and our relationships suffer, our societies start breaking apart.

As with Israel, so with us.

WE NEED JESUS, ALL OF US.

It is folly to think our need for Jesus ends with Him saving us.

Remember that He is even now seated at the right hand of God the Father in power, interceding for us His people.

This is our King Jesus, and we need Him today. Every moment.

Let us remember Him!

* God Above,

You have saved us from death to life, from enemies to friends, from not-Your-people to Your people.

Thank You Lord!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Deborah and Barak are in a similar relationship as Moses and Joshua. Joshua trusted the Word of the Lord through Moses the prophet of the Lord – Barak does not trust the Word of the Lord through Deborah the prophetess of the Lord! This is the major difference. God is gracious to Barak and to Israel.

SJA Notes

* Dear God, let those who seek after our life be put the shame and dishonor, those who devise evil against us be turned back and disappointed.

“Then the people of Israel cried to the LORD for help, for he had 900 chariots of iron and he oppressed the people of Israel cruelly for twenty years.”

900 chariots of iron!

Probably comparable to the weaponry available to super-powers today. A great deal of military might.

From the world’s point of view, unbeatable.

Often we can be bound up in what the world’s view is.

Science. Politics. Story-telling. Sport. Intellect. The list goes on – We listen to what the world tells us.

Deborah’s words ring true for us today as they did for Barak then,

“Does not the LORD go out before you?

The Lord goes out before us! What a thought this is, what a truth to wrestle with and grasp hold of.

God goes out before us!

* Father God,

We are told here that You go out before us, to protect and win the victory.

Please help us believe, to trust in this – That You go out before us, that You are the one who saves.

Amen.