The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-01-08
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNDGSOIOOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR JANUARY 10 !
DEBORAH AND BARAK DELIVER
ISRAEL.
(By e. o. SELLERS, Acting Director OF
Sunday School Course)
LESSON TEXT-Judges 4:l.l6.

LESSON TExT-Judges 4a-l6
GOLDEN TEXT-The righteous cried.
and Jehovah heard and delivered them
out Of all their troubles.-Ps. aH II. V.
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 1t seems
to have been that the northern tribes
Of Naphtai, Asher and Zebulun, the
Galilee of Christ's day, were chiefly
concerned.
Mother In Israel.
!. Deborah's Call to Service, w. 40.
AS the people forsook God he iorsook
them, and they became easy prey. II
we withdraw rom his service we also
withdraw from his protection. AL
though Joshua had burned Hazor
Joshua 11:1-1D, yet because of H.
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
1t was mother in Israel" (ch. $50.
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 lex. 1878; Deut. 17:8-12).
Judgment of sin always precedes any
manifestation of grace Il Cor. 1881,
92). Deborah, the judge. recognized
the gravity of the situation, for she
was not only Judge, but prophecies
by divine appointment QI Pet. 1:2D.
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, SagacIous Leader.
II. Barak's Conquest Of Slsera, w.
1915. Barak was a bold, sagacious
leader and chose one of the worlds
best and most famous battlef1elds, Es-
draelon. Barak led his men to Mt.
Tabor, from which could be seen the
whole region where Sisera's armies
we're spread out upon the plain. From
chapter 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, ~. 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. v. m,
and Judges 1:16l had revealed the
place of Barak's camp ". IL. 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,
"fcr this is the day in which the Lord
hath delivered Sisera into thina
hand" The thing was as sure to be
done as if it we're done already. AS
we read verses II 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. "Is
not Jehovah gone out before them?"
Deborah had enthusiasm and zeal, but
needed Barak's action. She depended
upon the 'ure word of God and was
devoid of fear (Rom. 8:31). She knew
that victory was certain, for God had
said so ". y. 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 $40, 81;
Josh. 1910; Chron. 15:15-17). 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 floods of water that Swept away"
overthrow, the chariots of Sisera. The
word discounted" we are told,
scarcely .uggests the sudden terror
and confusion which fell upon Sisera's
army. Like all of Gods victories, it
was most complete.
A bravo, outraged woman executed |
sentence which some male member |
Of her .am''v would certainly have
been bound to carry out.
The curse Of Meroz" (5:23) is that
bestowed upon tn shir5er, the COW.
ardlY and idle II "a the ctIraa NJ uaa- |