A Song of Deliverance
Judges 5
Judges 5 is a song of rejoicing and celebration that Deborah, the current Judge of Israel, shares as she recounts God’s faithfulness and triumph over Sisera and the Canaanites following their oppressive rule. Before Judges 5, we see Barak hesitate to obey out of fear, allowing Jael and the nation of Israel to be blessed due to obedience. Jael willingly allowed God to work in her life amidst unfortunate circumstances, and due to Jael’s obedience, many were delivered to freedom. Deborah’s song is one of reverence for a trustworthy God and adoration of a faithful King. Israel has a reason to praise.
There is joy and blessing in being a willing instrument of God; to let Him use you to accomplish His will is a high honor and a wild kind of grace He extends to us. Our Heavenly Father doesn’t need us to accomplish His plan, but He willingly partners with us so that we may experience a new intimacy with Him, in awe of His character and mighty power. Despite the hardship of leadership and the burden it may appear to be at times, through obedience and leading others, we get to engage with our Father in a new way, making the hard parts worth it. In Judges 4, we see Jael leave behind her safety and social customs of welcoming a guest into her home so that she could
Who or what is leading your life? Do they lead you to fall to your knees in adoration and worship of the Father and His steadfast character, or do they blind your eyes to His everlasting goodness?
Deborah recounts the number of times the Israelites chose what they thought would be better for them than their Creator, those who stood for God’s will and those who did not, all the while worshipping God through remembrance and song. So often, we get caught up in what we are doing for God, miss what He’s already done, and fail to honor Him through surrendered praise.
If we viewed the circumstances of the Israelites through our human eyes, we could be confused as to why God would commit to the deliverance of a people who didn’t consistently choose Him, obey Him, or sit in awe of His power and might. The triumph God allowed the Israelites to experience as they relied on Him once more and experienced victory over their enemies reveals His character and the extent of His mercy. He allowed them to get to a place where they were weaponless, “Not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel” (v.7), to reveal to them once more that apart from Him, they could truly accomplish nothing. The God who went before Israel in battle is worthy of praise, regardless of whether or not they won. With God, we need little; With God, we lack nothing, for He is all we need. We get the honor and privilege of worshipping a God who never fails us, despite our undeserving nature, sin, disobedience, and ever-wandering heart.
Do you believe God’s goodness can and will cover your darkness? Do you count your service to Him as a blessing or burden? Do you believe that He alone is worthy of your never-ending praise?
How is this a song of worship? Where is the surrendering of their lives & how is that worship? Deborah points out that Irasel should obey God as worship. It is not just a choice of serving God but wholly worshiping Him. Because of Barak's hesitancy to obey, Jael is blessed, and God uses her to deliver Israel.
