Sermon Tone Analysis

*JUDGES 5:1-31*

The song of Deborah and Barak after the death of Sisera: “then sang Deborah and Barak…” [5:1].

§         The tone and theme of the song is praise to the Lord:  “/I will sing praise to the Lord/…” [5:3].

§         “To sing” and “to make music” represents her definition of the verb “/praise/” [5:2], Wkr]B, ‘bless’.

Deborah is without doubt the most honourable human figure in the Book of Judges and one of the most remarkable characters in the entire Old Testament.

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*THE CONTEXT *

*1.        **The Oppressor  *

The enemy was Sisera: “/The Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera/…” [4:2].

§         Length of oppression: “/twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel/” [4:3].

*a.        **military Strength *

The military strength of Hazor: “/all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with them/…” [4:3; 4:13].

*2.        **People *

Israel was oppressed: “/lead your captivity captive/…” [5:12].

§         ^y>b.v - “/your captivity/” [5:12], ‘to take captive’; 

*a.

**Inactivity*

The people were characterised by inactivity: “/the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through/…” [5:6-7a].

§         tAxr'a - “/highways/” [5:6], ‘to wander’; ‘to journey’; ‘caravan’; ‘winding caravan routes’;

§         Wld>x' - “/unoccupied/” [5:6], ‘to cease’; ‘to stop’; a figure of speech for ‘deserted’; Israelite /caravaneers/ have ceased to travel on their normal trade routes for fear of attack; roadways were deserted;

*i.              **Out of Sight *

Any activity is done out of sight: “/walked through byways/” [5:6].

§         tALq;l.q;[

- “/byways/” [5:6], ‘to bend’; ‘be crooked or twisted’; taking to travelling on ‘evasive side routes’;

*b.        **Fear *

The people were characterised by fear: “/the villagers ceased/…” [5:7].

§         Wld>x - “/ceased/” [5:7], to cease’; ‘to stop’; a figure of speech for ‘deserted’; Israelite villages in the hill country were unfortified; defence was based on their hill-top location; farmers refused to go out into the fields and trade among the tribes of Israel came to a standstill

§         Restricted to the hill country of Palestine, they reside in un-walled settlements without defensive weapons and are vulnerable to outside harassment; afraid of attack from the enemy, these folks stayed at home.

*3.        **The Conflict  *

There was war and conflict: “/there was war in the gates/…” [5:8].

§         ~~yrI['V - “/gates/” [5:11], serves figuratively for the fortified cities of the Canaanites;

*a.        **Military Strength *

Military strength was limited: “/was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel/” [5:8].

*Application*

The people were ‘paralysed’ into inactivity because of fear.

§         They were hemmed in: “/oppressed them and vexed them/” [2:18].

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*Reversal *

The *first main theme* in the song is the greatness of God in the victory he accomplished.

*1.        **Leadership*

Israel’s response to the oppression: “/Israel// cried unto the Lord/…” [4:3].

§         Wq[]c.Y - “/cried/” [4:3], ‘to cry help’; ‘to call out’;

*a.        **Deborah*

The oppression continued until God raised up Deborah: “/until that I Deborah arose/…” [5:7].

§         yTim.Q;v - “/arose/” [5:7b], ‘to arise’; ‘to stand’;

§         ~~a - “/mother/” [5:7b], ‘she brought loving guidance, concern and direction to the people of God; 

*i.

**Prophetess *

Deborah: “/prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth/…” [4:4].

§         hr'Abd - “/Deborah/” [4:4], ‘a bee’;

§         tAdyPil - “/Lapidoth/” [4:4], ‘torches, flashes’; 

§         If any significance is to be attached to the name, it probably points to Deborah as a brilliant light in the dark days of the governors.

*ii.

**God’s Chosen*

Deborah was chosen by God: “/he chose new leaders/…” [5:8].

§         rx;b.y - “/they chose/” [5:8], third person masculine singular; it seems more natural to treat “/God/”, ~~yhil{a, as the subject of the verb, and

§         ~~yvid'x - “/new leaders/” [5:8], as the object.

*b.        **Barak *

God called Barak: “/sent and called Barak/…” [4:6].

§         qr'b - “/Barak/” [4:6], ‘lightening’;

*i.              **Hesitant*

Barak was hesitant and feared the way: “/Barak said to her, If you will go/…” [4:8].

§         Promise: “/I will surely go with thee/…” [4:9].

*2.        **Action of Leadership *

The leadership is called to lead: “/Awake Deborah…arise Barak, and lead thy captivity captive/…” [5:12].

§         hbev - “/take captive/” [5:12], qal imperative, ‘to take captive’;

§         ryvi-yrIB.D - “/utter a song/” [5:12], literally ‘speak a song’; referring to the moment of her own call of Barak [4:4-10] or her summoning of the army to battle [4:14].

§         This was the turning point in the struggle with the oppressor.

*Application*.

The cycle of the lifestyle of this generation: “/it repented the Lord because of their groanings/…” [2:18].

§         The appointment of leadership, in response to, and suited to, the people’s need.

§         How do you recruit ten thousand men to march against hopeless odds, to a almost certain death?

§         The call of the leadership; response to the commission of our Lord Jesus;

 

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*RESPONSE OF ISRAEL TO THE CALL*

The *second main theme* of the song is the response of God’s people to God’s challenge.

*1.        **Volunteers*

There was the volunteer spirit: “/when the people willingly offered themselves/” [5:2].

§         tA[r'P.

[;ropB - “/avenging of Israel/” [5:2], ‘to lead’; ‘to act as leader’; literally ‘when B, , leaders led’;

§         bDen:t.h

- “/willingly offered/” [5:2; 5:9], ‘to make willing’; ‘free-will offering’; ‘to present oneself’; ‘to volunteer’; ‘to let go~/abandon everything’ for the battle;

§         Indicates something done freely, voluntarily and eagerly;

*a.        **Risk Takers*

The volunteers were clearly risk takers: “/Zebulun and Naphtali were a people who jeopardised their lives/…” [5:18].

§         @rex - “/jeopardised/” [5:18], piel perfect, ‘to defy, to taunt’; ‘to be sharp’; hence ‘to treat badly with sharpness’;

§         tWml - “/unto death/” [5:18],

§         hd,f' ymeArm - “/high places of the field/” [5:18], where the battle occurred: “

*b.        **Motive *

What was it that moved these men to service in such impossible circumstances?

*i.              **Attitude Towards God*

The people who volunteered: “/them that love him/…” [5:31].

§         wyb'h]a - “/love/” [5:31], qal participle, the love that corresponds to God’s covenant love for his people: “/I //have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee/” [Jer.31:3].

§         Our relationship with the Lord: “/Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God/” [Jos.23:11].

*ii.

**Attitude Towards Service *

They had the correct attitude to service.

We notice that there was one tribe: “/curse ye Meroz…because they came not to help of the Lord/…” [5:23].

§         tr;z>[ - “/help/” [5:23], ‘to support’; ‘to come to one’s aid to provide what is lacking’: “/I will make a help meet for him/…” [Gen.2:18].

§         It is the attitude of giving to the Lord: “/for me to live is Christ/…” [Php.1:21];

“/nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me/…” [Gal.2:20].

§         It was not a matter of helping Deborah or Barak!

The volunteered in order to assist: “/the help of the Lord/…” [5:23].