Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1920-04-08

GOLDEN TEXT-God is our refuge and
strength. very present help in trouble
Ps. 4s:l
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL Judges
4:l-3: Heb. l1:3o, 49,
| PRIMARY 1~PIC-A Brave Woman
Helping General.
| JUNIOR TOPIC-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 as follows:
1. Failure to drive the Canaanites
from their midst.
| .. Their amalgamaton with the Ca
NANTES. Their close proximity to
they soon intermarried with the heath
en-. Tolerance with the enemy is close
ly followed by union Herewith. and
quick disaster comes in the wake of
such union.
\ 3. Idolatry. Intermarriage with the
heather was soon followed by the
worship of the heather gods. Thus Is
rael's power was gradually weakened,
so that instead of being conquerors
| they became the conquered.
In chapter 1863 is given synopsis
of the book of Judges:
l. The sin Of the people wv. 6-13).
| 2. Gods judgment for their sin wv.
IA, 15).
3. Repentance of the people go.
4. Gods deliverance at the hands OF
the judges wv. 16-19).
| A repetition of sin. oppression by the
enemy, repentance on the part of the
people, and Gods deliverance, is the
story of the book of Judges.
I. The Judseship 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 Israelites
we're helpless. for the enemy had 900
| chariots of iron. Deborah was an
unique character God raised her up
Tor such a time as this. Under palm
| tree she held an open court for the
administration Of justice
II. Deborah Summons Barak "a:
6-1O).
Barak means lightning" 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.
1. Deborah'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 employed,
| assuring Barak that God would deliver
Sisera, the captain Of Jabin's army,
| into his hand.
| @. Barak's reply ". 81. Expression
| of unwillingness to go unless Deborah
would go with him should hardly be
considered as cowardice or weakness,
as it is well-recognized fact that the
presence of 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.
8. Barak's rebuke wv. 9, 10Y. De-
borah yielded his request, but made it
plain to him that it would detract from
his honor as conqueror, "for the
| Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand
| of woman
| III. The Defeat of Jabin's Army wv.
11-16).
Sisera, the captain. gathered
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
1 ". 14). Through supernatural inter
position the enemy became panic
stricken (see 5 :20).
w. sisera Killed by Woman wv.
1929.
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 tent pin.
v. Deborah and Barak's Song of Vic
tory (chap. 81.
This was composed and sung in Gel
ebration of the marvellous victory
which God had wrought.
Robbing Real Inward Life.
He who is rich for himself. laying
up treasure for himself, is by so much
robbing his real inward life of its re-
sources.