The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-06-04

LESSON TEXT-Judges 4A-5:sl
GOLDEN TExT-GOd is our refuge and
strength. a very present help In trouble
rs. 4GI
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL Judges
4:l-3. Heb. ll:32. 90,
PRIMARY Z Plea Brave Woman
Helping a General
JUNIOR TOPlc-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 10 his Word, hut tie
very next generation went into apos-
tasy. Their dccIension may be ac-
counted for as follows:
l. Failure 20 drive the Canaanites
from their midst.
.. Their amalgamation with the Ca
naanitcs Their close proximity to
The people had its leayening effect, for
they soon mternarrled 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. Idoatry Tntermarrlage with the
heather was soon followed by the
worship Of the heather gods. Thus Is
rael's power was gradually weakened,
50 that instead Of being conquerors
they became the conquered.
In chapter > go is given a synopsis
OF the book of Judges
/. The sin of the people wv. 6-13).
.. Gods Judgment for their sin wv.
H. 80.
3. Repentance of the people 800.
4. Gods deliverance at the hands of
the judges wv. 16-19).
A repelii ion of an. oppression by the
enemy, repentance on the part of the
people, and Gods deliverance, is the
story of the book CT Judges.
1. The Judgeship of Deborah a:
A. -.
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
.,..,,o hoI,,ln.e for tI,a ana,1,y hod ono
chariots of iron. Deborah was an
unique character God raised her up
for such Il time as this. Under palm
tree she held An open court for the
administration of justice.
II. Deborah Summons Barak a:
G-10.
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 cali 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
Ssera, 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 a 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 a
woman.
3. Barak's rebuNe wv. 8, 10). 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.
11-1G)
Sjsera, the captain, gathered a
mighty army and went forth with full
assurance OF victory, but he made
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
". 14). Through supernatural inter
position the enemy became panic
stricken (see 5:20).
". Sisera Killed by a Woman wv.
1920,
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 and sung in cell
ebration of the marvellous victory
which God had wrought.
Robhjno Real Inward ife