The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-01-09
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDYSOOOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR JANUARY 10
DEBORAH AND BARAK DELIVER
ISRAEL.
tBy E. o. SELLERS, Acting Director Of
Sunday School Course.)
LESSON rExT-Judges ASA

mere are Two inspired or
this victory, one in prose (ch. 4) 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, we're chiefly
concerned.
Mother In Israel.
l.. Deborah's Call to Service, w. 40.
AS the people forsook God he forsook
them, and they became easy prey II
we withdraw from his service we also
withdraw from his protection. AL
though Joshua had burned Hazor
Joshua 11:1-11), yet because Of Is
rael's backsliding It 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 a d%eliverer and in this case
1t was a mother in Israel" (ch. $50.
The word Deborah means "bee," and
1t 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 a palm tree she gave forth
her wisdom and judgment to the peo-
pie who brought their difficulties be-
fore her (Ex. 1913; Deut. 17:S-12).
Judgment of sin always precedes any
manifestation of grace q Cor. 1881,
32). Deborah, the judge, recognized
the gravity Of the situation, for she
was not only a Judge, but a prophecies
by divine appointment (I1 Pet. 1:21).
When she called Barak at once recog-
nized her note Of authority ". g..
Deborah gave Barak explicit instruc-
ton and direction. In this chapter
only the two tribes most interested
are mentioned (5:17, 1S).
Bold, S~agaeious Leader.
H.. Barak's Conquest Of Slsera, 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 seer 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 we're expected who failed
to obey the summons (5:15, 10. 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
brotherin-law Mum. 24:22 r. v. 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 q 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 1t 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. rs
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 from. 8:31). She knew
that victory was certain, for God had
said SO ". y. Her charge, up,
Baraki" was a clarion call and served
to nerve the entire army Of Israel.
Verse Is tells us who it was that won
the battle that day (see also $40, 81;
Josh. 1910; l Chron. 15:15-1T. Even
the stars fought against Sisera, mean
ing that God turned the elements to the
advantage of Israel's army. Showers
of meteors have been recorded in this
land in recent times and 5:21 tells of
the foods 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, 1t
was most complete. BY this battle
the resistance of the Canaanites is
completely overthrow and the Israel
ties secured the complete ascendency
over the land Slsera fed northward
coward 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 a 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 pin she
drove It through his temples into the
ground, completing the victory OF De-
borah and Barak, and fulfilling the
prophecy of verse Q. We are told that
the Bedouin tents OF the women ara
always closed. whereas those Of the
men are always open on one side.
For a man to enter the tent of a
woman, other than that of his wife. IN
punishabIe with death.