The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-01-09
INTERNATIONAL
SUNlAYSQ1OOL
LESSON
By f. o. SELLERS. Acting Director OF
LESSON FOR JANUARY 10
DEBORAH AND >ARAK DELIVER
ISRAEL.
CBy f. o. SELLERS, Acting Director OF
Sunday School Course)
ON TEXT-Judges 4:4-l6.

Oue III pOeJTy NJuuSSS o. luey pie
sent different views of the same
event. Israel had been oppressed for
81 years under Jabin and Sisera. his
chief captain (4:2) though ii seems
to have been that the northern tribes
of Naphtali, Asher and Zebulun. the
Galilee of Christ's day, were chiefly
concerned.
Mother In Israel.
I. Deborah's Call to Service, w. 4-e.
AS the people forsook God he forsook
them, and they became easy prey. If
We withdraw from his service we also
withdraw from his protection. AL
though Joshua had burned Hazor
(Joshua HELD, yet because of Is
rael's backsliding 1t is now strong
enough to become the ruler 1t is so
with sin-allow it to exist and it will
conquer. When, however, Israel re-
pented and cried unto God ". 81 he
raised up deliverer and in this case
it was a mother in Israel (ch. SD.
The word Deborah means bee" and
it is suggested that she answered
I her name by her industry. sagacity
and usefulness to the public, her
sweetness to her friends and sharp
ness to her enemies (Matthew Hen
ry). Her husbands name is given,
But none of his achievements. From
her dwelling place at Jebus, as she
sat beneath palm tree she gave forth
10 i,,l 70 ha
pie who brought their difficulties be-
fore her zen. 1913: Deut. 11:S-l2).
Judgment of sin always precedes any
manifestation of grace II Cor. ll:31,
S2). Deborah. the judge. recognized
the gravity of the situation, for she
was not only judge, but prophecies
by divine appointment Gil Pet. 1:2D.
When she called Barak at once recog-
nized her note of authority ". 60.
Deborah gave Barak explicit instruc-
only the two tribes most interested
are mentioned (5:17, 49,.
Bold, sagacIous Leader.
u. Barak's Conquest of Sisera, w.
1916. Barak was a bold, sagacious
leader and chose one of the worlds
best and most famous battlefields, Es-
draelOn. Barak led his men to Mt.
Tabor, from which could be seen the
whole region where Sisera's armies
were spread out upon the plain. From
chapter 5 it appears that some came
to the battle from the tribes Of
Manasseh and Issachar (5:14, 49, and
that others were expected who failed
to obey the summons (5:15, ID. From
tie slopes of Mt. Tabor, Deborah and
Barak saw Sisera and his iron char
lots advancing across the plain. One
Of the descendants of Hobab, Moses
brother-in-law Mum. 24:22 r. V. m,
asd Judges 1910 had revealed the
place of Barak's camp ". ID. Heber
should have been in the land of Judah
and Simeon and not in such close
proximity to the enemies Of Israel.
Josephus says that when Barak saw
Sisera's army drawn up, and attempt
ing to surround the mountain Of his
encampment his heart failed him, and
he determined to retire to a place of
greater safety. Deborah, however,
urged Barak to attempt the battle,
for this is the day in which the Lord
hath delivered Sisera into thine
hand" The thing was as sure to be
done as If it were done already. AS
We read verses II and ~, together
with 5:17-19, it would look as though
Sisera seemed to have the advantage
against Barak and his ten thousand
men. Sisera did not, however. count
upon Barak's powerful ally-God. Us
not Jehovah gone out before them?"
Deborah had enthusiasm and zeal, but
needed Barak's action. She depended
upon the sure word of God and was
devoid of fear (Rom. SID. She knew
that victory was certain, for God had
said so ". y. Her charge, up,
Barak!" was clarion call and served
to nerve the entire army of Israel.
Verse Is tells us who 1t was that won
the battle that day (see also 500. 21;
Josh. 1910; l Chron. 15:15-17). Even
the stars fought against Sisera, mean
ing that God turned the elements to the
advantage Of lsrael's army. Showers
Of meteors have been recorded in this
land In recent times and 5:21 tells of
the floods of water that swept away"
overthrow, the chariots of Sisera. The
word discounted" we are told.
scarcely suggests the sudden terror
and confusion which fell upon Sisera's
army. Like all OF Gods victories. II
was most complete. BY this battle
the resistance of the Canaanites ia
completely overthrow and the Israel.
ties Secured the complete ascepdencv
over the land. Sisera fed northward |
toward Hazor, the capital city, along |
the same path followed by the Turks |
in 1893, when Napoleon and his allies
defeated their army on this same field.
Barak followed the main army and
the chariots and thereby missed the
chief prize. Sisera In his fight came
to q settlement of the Kenites, which
he thought he could trust, and turned
into the tent Of Jael, the wife of He
Der. Weary. he fell into a deep sleep.
which gave Jael her opportunity.
Taking a hammer and a tent Din abe
drove It through his temples into the
ground. completing the victory Of De-
borah and Barak, and fulfilling the
prophecy Of verse 9. We are told that
the Bedouin tents of the women are
always closed. whereas thoea NJ th.