The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-07-09
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
SUNDMSQIOOL
LESSON
(By REV. r. b. FITZWATER. ID. D..
Teacher OF English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute OF chicago.l
Copyright. 1920. Western Newspaper Unonl
LESSON FOR APRIL II
DEBORAH AND BARAK DELIVER
ISRAEL.

LESSON TEXT-Judges 4A-5:3l.
GOLDEN TEXT--God Is our refuge and
strength. very present help in trouble
Ps. 46l.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL - Judges
4:l-S; Heb. 1872 SO.
PRIMARY 1~PIC-A Brave Woman
Helping a General.
JUNIOR TOPIC--A story OF a Hero
and a Heroine.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Fighting on Gods Side.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Services OF Women in National
Leadership.
The book Of Judges covers the pc.
rlod from the conquest Of Canaan and
death OF Joshua to the judgeship Of
Samuel While Joshua and the eld-
ers of his generation lived the people
in some measure remained faithful to
God In obedience to his Word, but the
very next generation went into apos-
tasy. Their declensOn may be ac-
counted for as follows:
1. Failure to drive the Canaanites
from their midst
>. Their amalgamation with the Ca
naanites. Their close proximity to
the people had IFS leavening effect, for
they soon intermarried with the heath
en-. Tolerance with the enemy is close
~ followed by union Herewith, and
quick disaster comes in the wake of
such union.
g. Idolatry. Intennarriage With the
heathen was soon followed by the
worship Of the heather gods. Thus Is
rae's power was gradually weakened,
so that instead Of being conQuerors
they became the conquered.
In chapter 300 is given synopsis
of the book Of Judges:
/. The sin of the people wv. 6-13).
.. Gods judgment for their sin wv.
IA, 49,.
3. Repentance of the people $50.
A. GODS deliverance at the hands of
the Judges wv. 1919.
A repeti ion of ssn, oppression by the
enemy, repentance on the part OF the
people, and Gods deliverance, is the
story of the book CT Judges.
I. The Judgeship of Deborah a:
4, 81.
Her name means "Bee," suggesting
orderly instincts. AS suggested by an
ether, "She answered her name by her
industry, sagacity, and great use to
the public" The period was marked
by awful oppression. The Israelites
we're helpless. for the enemy had 900
chariots Of iron. Deborah was an
unique character God raised her up
for such time as this. Under a palm
tree she held an open court for the
administration of justice.
II. Deborah Summons Barak a:
6-10.
Baak means "Nghtning." Deborah,
being a prophecies, was able TO select
the man whose gifts would enable him
to rally the forces needed to gain the
Victory over the formidable foe.
/. Deb0rah's call wv. 6, y. 1t was
Gods call through her. She gave def
mite instruction as TO the number of
men and the strategy to be enfs20yed,
assuring Barak that God would deliver
Sisera, the captain Of Jabin's army,
into his hand.
=. BarakS reply ", 81. Expression
of unwillngness to go unless Deborah
would go with him should hardly be
considered rs coWardice or weakness,
as it is well-recognized fact that the
presence of q woman, especially the
prophecies, would inspire courage on
the part of the warriors However, he
should have believed Gods ability to
give the victory without the aid OF a
woman.
3. Barak's rebuKe wv. 8, 10). De
horah yielded his request, but made it
plain to him that it would detract from
his honor as Il conQueror, for the
Lord shall sell SiSera into the hand
OF woman"
M. The Defeat of Jabln's Army wv.
11-16)
Sisera, the captain, gathered a
mighty army and went forth with full
assurance OF victory, but he made a
sad mistake; he did not consider that
it was the Lords battle ". 15). AT the
psychological moment Deborah gave
the signal to charge, assuring Barak
that the Lord would give the victory
". 14l. Through supernatural inter
position the enemy became panic
stricken (see 5 .20(.
w. Sisera Killed by a Woman wv.
1T-24).
In his flight he took refuge in Jael's
tent. Under the guise Of friendship,
she committed the most heinous muir
der She fastened his head to the
ground by means of a tent pin.
V. Deborah and 5arak's Song OF Vic
tory (chap. 81.
This was composed aud sung in eel
ebration of the marvellous victory