The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-01-07
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDNSG1OOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR JANUARY 10
oeeoRAH AND eARAK DELIVER
ISRAEL.
Cny r. a SELLERS, Acting Director OF
Sunday school Course)
LESSON TExT-Judres ,:.-is


There are two inspired accounts OF
this victory one In prose (oh. - 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 G: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.
!. Deborah's Call - Service, w. 40.
As the people forsook God he .orsook
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 Held, yet because OF Is
rael's backsliding II is now strong
enough to become the ruler. II Is so
with shallow II TO exist and IL will
conquer. When. however. Israel re-
pented and cried unto God ". ~ he
raised up a deliverer and In this case
II was a mother In Israel" (ch. SD.
The word Deborah means bee" and
Il is suggested that she answered
her name by her industry. sagacity
and usefulness TO the public. her
sweetness 20 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 (Ex. 1913; Deut 17:S-l2D.
Judgment OF sin always precedes any
manifestation OF grace Il Cor 1881.
32). Deborah. the Judge. recognized
was not only Judge. but q prophecies
by divine appointment II Pet 1:2D.
When she called Barak at once recog-
nized her note OF authority ". 81.
Deborah gave Rarak explicit instruc-
ton and direction. In this chapter
only the two tribes most interested
are mentioned (5:i7. 49,.
Bold. sseacious Leader.
N. Barak's Conquest OF sisera, w.
to-t6. Barak was a bold. sagacious
leader and chose one OF the worlds
best and most famous battlenelds. 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 s IL appears that some came
to the battle from the tribes OF
.,a
that others were expected who failed
TO obey the summons (5;i5. III. From
the slopes OF Mt Tabor. Deborah and
Barak saw Slsera and his iron char
lots advancing across the plain. One
OF the descendants OF Hobab. Moses
brother-in-law (Num. 2i:22 r. V. m,
and Judges 1910 haa revealed the
place OF Barak's camp ". III. 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 II Il were done already. As
we read verses II and ~, together
with 5:l7-l9, Il 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 Baraks action. She depended
upon the ure word OF God and was
devoid OF fear from. SGD. She knew
that victory was certain. for God had
said so ". ~. Her charge, up.
Barakl" was a clarion call nd served
TO nerve the entire army OF Israel.
Verse Is tells us who II was that won
the battle that day (see also $50. 81:
Josh. 1910: Chron. i5:i5l7). Even
the stars fought against Sisera, mean
ing that God turned the elements 10 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. II
was most complete.
A brav1, outraged woman executed
a 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 In shirker. tn, 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 10
execution; though wrong reigns. Il
must and will lead through the power
OF the highest TO christ's glory (Eph.