The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-07-15
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
DEBORAH
Sunday, July 16.
By HIGHT G. MOORE

Sunday, July 16.
Golden Text-God is our ref
uge and strength. a very present
help in trouble.-Psalm 46:1.
The twelve tribes had been in
Canaan for a century and a half,
For 20 years Jabin, king OF
Canaan, had exacted tribute from
Israel. He especially oppressed
the northern tribes of Issachar,
Zebulun, and Naphtah, cutting
them off by well-fortified garri-
sons from their southern breth-
rem. He had a magnificent army
under command of General Sis
era, whose war record was bril-
liant. His military equipment in
Guided 900 chariots of iron. His
sway over Israel was absolute
and abject was their servitude to
him. In deep agony the crushed,
Impoverished, famine stricken
tribes looked up to Jehovah for
help. Who will rise to throw off
the CALLING yoke?
JUDGING THE PEOPLE
Judges -
Justice for the people found a
place in the midst of oppression.
In the hills of Ephraim dwelt a
modest citizen, Lappidoth by
name. His wife was both a
poetess and a prophecies. The
fires of patriotism kindled her
soul into holy ardor. Her verses
rang through the land, rousing
the people from their lethargy
and promising victory over their
oppressors. Soon she became
recognized as the judge of Israel,
to her seated under a stately
palm which grew between Ramah
and Bethel, the children of Israel
came up for judgment. The wis
dom of her decisions was unques-
toned and her fame extended as
q wise ruler. But the tribes were
like so many independent states
and their neighbors on the north
were nightly oppressed. 1t was
time for breaking the power OF
Jabin; penitent Israel must be
free.
COMMANDING THE ARMY
Judges ~
Patriotism for the country found
a following in the face of odds
Deborah summoned Barak, a gal.
liant but cautious general from
Kedesh, a city of the subjugate6
territory. She babe him, under
divine impulse, to collect ter
thousand men and rendezvous or
the bare summit of Mount Tabor
overlooking the valley of Esdrae'
lon. She foresaw that Sisera
would be drawn thither and a vic
tory for Israel would follow. But
Barak shrank from the task. How
ever, he agreed to undertake it il
Deborah would accompany him. Sc
she did, and the requisite force
was quickly gathered. Though
some of the tribes were not rep
resented, yet the interest in this
conflict was more general anC
unanimous than ay similar event
for more than a hundred years.
: CONQUERING THE ENEMY
Judges -
Victory over the oppressors
crowned the courage of the pa,
triots. In due time the forces OF
Sisera appeared in the valley be-
low. They seemed innumera6le
and invincible. 1t is said by
Josephus that the forces on
Mount Tabor, even including
Barak himself, were whiteneo
with fear and on the point OF
yielding without a blow. But De-
borah inspirited them; she declar-
ed the fit moment for the con-
flict was at hand, and babe the
ten thousand sweep down upon
their enemies. So the two armies,
so unequal in numbers and equip
ment, faced each other. The bat
tie began with all the fury OF
ancient hand-to-hand conflict,
But another power was united
with that of Israel. The rising
clouds brought on a terrific
storm which beat with all its
force in the faces of the Canaan
ties; but falling upon the backs
of the Hebrews, it not only did
not blind them but pressed them
forward upon their oppressors.
The iron chariots of Jabin stuck
fast in the mud. The horses
trampled down the warriors. The
soldiers in confusion turned upon
each other. Hundreds fell into
the swollen river Kishon, were
drowned and swept out to sea.
jSisera was defeated and he saw
there was no hope for his armies
but in precipitate flight. He or
dered it, he himself fleeing on
foot, until weary and hungry he
sought shelter in the tent of He
Der, the Kenite, a friend of ia
bin. But Jael, the wife, was true
to Israel, and so slew the Canaan
itish general by driving a nail
through his temples. Thus the
enemy was routed and Deborah's
victory was decisive.
PRAISING THE LORD
Judges s.
Gratitude to the Lord was eX-
pressed in Deborah's song of tri-
umph which remains one of the