Carthage courier. (Carthage, Tenn.) 1913-current, 1920-04-08
LESSON FOR APRIL II
DEBORAH AND BARAK DELIVER
ISRAEL.

LESSON TExT-Judges 4:4-5:3L
GOLDEN TEXT-God is our refuge and
strength. very present help in trouble
Ps. 46:1
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL - Judges
Alb; Heb. 1892 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 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 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 declension may be ac-
counted for as follows:
/. Failure to drive the Canaanites
from their midst
2. Their amalgamation with the Ca
naanites Their close proximity to
the people had its 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.
3. Idolatry. Intermarriage with the
heather was soon followed by the
worship of the heather gods. Thus IS
rael's power was gradually weakened,
fhof of hninO
they became the conquered.
In chapter 2 $50 is given synopsis
OF the book Of Judges:
1. The sin of the people wv. 6-13).
2. Gods judgment for their sin (vv.
Il, 15).
8. Repentance of the people e :0).
4. Gods deliverance at the hands Of
the judges (vv. 1919.
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 Judgeship of Deborah a.:
A. s..
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
were helpless, for the enemy had 900
chariots of iron. Deborah was an
unique character God raised her up
| for such time as this. Under palm
| tree she held an open court for the
administration Of justice.
| II. Deborah Summons 5arak 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, .. It 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.
2. 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 q well-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.
8. Barak's rebuke wv. 8, 1O). 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 a woman"
III. The Defeat Of Jabin's Army (vv.
1H-16).
Sisera, the captain, gathered a
mighty army and went forth with full
assurance of victory. but he made
sad mistake he did not consider that
1t was the Lords battle ". 15). At the
psychological moment Deborah gave
the signal to charge, assuring Barak
] that the Lord would give the victory
! ". 14). Through supernatural inter-
position the enemy became panic
stricken (see 5:20l.
~. Sisera Killed by Woman wv.
1920.
In his flight he took refuge in JaePs
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 Vie
tory (chap. 81.
This was composed and sung in eel.
ebration of the marvellous victory
which God had wrought.
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