The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-08-21
IMPROVED UMFoRM INTERNATIONAL
SUNMSGIOOL
LESSON
By REV. r. b. FITzWATER. ID. D.
Teacher OF English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute OF Chicago.l
Copyright. 1890. Western Newspaper unionl
LESSON FOR APRIL II
DEBORAH AND eARAK DELIVER
ISRAEL.

LESSON TExT-Judges 4:4-5:2L
| GOLDEN TEXT-God is our refuge anC
strength, a very present help in trouble
/ PE. 46.i.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL Judge,
t:l-3; Heb 1872. 80
PRIMARY 1~PIC-A Brave Woman
Helping General
JUNIOR TOPTC-A Story OF 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
Rod from the conquest Of Canaan and
death Of Joshua to the judgeship Of
Samuel While Joshua and the cid
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 declension may be ac-
counted for rs follows:
]. Failure 10 drive the Canaanites
from their midst
,. Their amalgamation with the Ca
NANTES. Their close proximity to
the people had It's leayening effect, for
they soon intermarried with the heath
On. Tolerance with the enemy is close
~ followed by union herewith, and
quick disaster comes in the wake of
such union.
3. IdoIatry. Intermarriage Tith the
heather was soon followed by the
worship of the heather gods. Thus Is
raels 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. 6-15).
,. Gods Judgment for their sin wv.
n, 49,.
3. Repentance of the people 800.
4. Gods deiverance at the hands of
The judges wv, 16-19).
A repetition of atn. oppression by the
enemy, repentance on the part of the
people, and Gods dcliverance, 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
other. "She answered her name by her
industry, sagacity, and great use to
the public" The period was marked
by awful oppression The Tsraelites
were helpless, for the enemy had 300
chari0ts of iron. Deborah was an
unique character. God raised her up
for such a time as this. Under palm
tree she held an open court for the
administration OF Justice.
II. Deborah Summons Barak a:
6-l0).
Barak means "hghtning" Deborah,
being 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.
I. Deborah's caG wv. 6, y. 1t was
Gods call through her. She gave def
mite instruction US to the number of
men and the strategy to be employed,
assuring Barak that God would deliver
SiSera, the captain of Jabin's army,
into his hand.
>. Barak's reply ". 81. Expression
Of unwil!ingness to go unless Deborah
would go with him should hardly be
considered as cowardice or weakness,
as it is q weli-recognized fact that the
presence of a 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
woman.
3 BarakS rebuKe wv. 9, 10Y. De-
borah yielded his request, but made it
plain to him that it would detract from
his honor as a conqueror, "for the
Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand
of woman"
IN. The Defeat of Jabin's Army (vv.
l1-l6)
Ssera, the captain gathered q
mighty army and went forth with full
NSSuIdIlCt OA NlNlOiSs bul hC iA0OC u
SAD mistake; he did not consider that
it was the Lords battle (v. 15). AT the
psychological moment Deborah gave
the signal to charge, assuring Barak
that the Lord would give the victory
". l4). Through supernatural inter-
position the enemy became panic
stricken (see 5.20).
~. Sisera Killed by Woman (vv.
1920.
In his flight he took refuge in Jaers
tent. Under the guise of friendship,
she committed the most heinous MUIR
der. She fastened his head to the
ground by means of tent pin.
V. Deborah and 5arak's Song of Vic
tory (chap. 81.
This was comprised and sung in eel
ebration of the marvellous victory
which God had wrought.
/