Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-01-16
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNlMS0lOOL
LESSON
CBy Z. o. SELLERS, Acting Director Of
Sunday School Course-)
LESSON FOR JANUARY 10
DEBORAH AND BARAK DELIVER
ISRAEL.
LESSON TExT-Judges 4:4-16

There are two inspired accounts of
this victory, one in prose (ch- ~ and
one in poetry Judges 81 They pre-
sent different views of the same
event. Israel had been oppressed for
20 years under Jabin and Sisera, his
chief captain (4:2) though it 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. 40.
AS the people forsook God he forsook
them, and they became easy prey. If
we withdraw rom his service we also
withdraw from his protection. Al
though Joshua had burned Hazor
(Joshua 11:1-1D, yet because of Is
raePs backsliding it is now strong
enough to become the ruler. 1t is SO
with shallow it to exist and it will
conquer When, however, Israel re-
pented and cried unto God ". 81 he
raised up a deliverer AID in this case
it was mother in Israeli (ch- SD.
The word Deborah means "bee," and
it is suggested that she answered
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
her wisdom and judgment to the peo-
pie who brought their difficulties be-
fore her eek. 1913; Deut. 17:S-12).
Judgment of sin always precedes any
Of 1T 81
32). Deborah, the judge, recognized
the gravity of the situation, for she
was not only judge, but a prophecies
by divine appointment Oh Pet 1:2D.
When she called Barak at once recog-
nized her note of authority ". 81.
Deborah gave Barak explicit instruc-
ton and direction. In this chapter
only the two tribes most interested
are mentioned (5:17, 1S).
Bold, Sagacious Leader.
N. Barak's Conquest of Sisera, W..
1915. 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, 15) and
that others were expected who failed
to obey the summons (5:15, I'D. From
| the 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 (Num. 24:22 r. ". M,
! and Judges 1:16) had revealed the
place of Barak's camp ". ~. 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 IL and IL, 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
1 needed Barak's action. She depended
upon the -ure word of God and was
devoid of fear (Rom. S:31). She knew
that victory was certain, for God had
said so ". -. Her charge, up,
| Barak!" was clarion call nd served
to nerve the entire army of Israel.
| Verse Is tells US who it was that won
the battle that day (see also $50, Fl;
Josh. 1910; Chron. 15:15-1O. Even
| the stars fought against Sisera, mean
ing that God turned the elements to the
advantage of IsraePs 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 5uggests the sudden terror
| and confusion which fell upon Sisera's
| was most complete
A brave, outraged woman executed
a sentence which some male member
| of her eami'v would certainly have
been bound to carry out
The curse of Meroz" (5.23) is that
bestowed upon tn shirker, the cow
ardly and idle. II is the curse of use
| lessness, the causes of which are
cowardice, false humility and indo-
lence. The work of the Avenger is q
necessity
Evil stalks the world on the way to
execution; though wrong reigns, it
| must and will lead fhroueh fho v,o-ar