FHBC Sermon Notes

This chapter is the song and poetic account of the battle which in chapter 4 is given in prose. Interestingly it gives some details not found in 4 and vice versa. This song is particularly a song of praise of Yahweh, for God was in fact the victor of this battle, not Barak and not Deborah. God brings salvation, he ends 20 years of occupation, defeating utterly Sisera's armies, setting up 40 years of peace.

Just like from the story of Exodus, God works are worthy of praise. Whether to show mercy, to give deliverance, or to judge and bring destruction.  All of God's works are worthy of praise.  Was God required to show Israel mercy, even in light of what may not even be true repentance.

What do we see from this in like of the gospel, we understand that ultimately Jesus is the New Israel, for in him all these things are fulfilled.

This song praises God, for his power, for his deliverance, and for the way he glorifies his own name. He acts for his interests and glory.  He is still the greatest gift we have in life. This is the only song of praise in the book of Judges.

Side note: Contrast Jael, the wife of Heber, to Rachel the wife of Jacob, and how they were and were not faithful to Yahweh as they move away from the covenant people and to the covenant people respectively.

Interesting features: It is full of allusion to Canaanite mythology. Many of their gods were weather oriented. Rain, the sun, the moon. The song brings to light that Yahweh is the God of all these things, that the Canaanite gods are nothing to this. v.4 and v.22 We see that God used the very heavens and weather to defeat them. Think of all the rain we've had here recently. Now think of driving your car through it. The rain and floods in this song were God's soldiers. God as a warrior indeed!

More to be continued next time...