Judges 4:1-10

Deborah Sends Barak

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1After Ehud died, the Israelites again did evil in the sight of the LORD.

2So the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his forces was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim.

3Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, because Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron, and he had harshly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years.

4Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.

5And she would sit under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, where the Israelites would go up to her for judgment.

6She summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “Surely the LORD, the God of Israel, is commanding you: ‘Go and march to Mount Tabor, taking with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun.

7And I will draw out Sisera the commander of Jabin’s army, his chariots, and his troops to the River Kishon, and I will deliver him into your hand.’”

8Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.”

9“I will certainly go with you,” Deborah replied, “but the road you are taking will bring you no honor, because the LORD will be selling Sisera into the hand of a woman.” So Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh,

10where he summoned Zebulun and Naphtali. Ten thousand men followed him, and Deborah also went with him.

Berean Standard Bible

Read aloud

For twenty years, Jabin king of Canaan has oppressed Israel harshly. His commander Sisera has nine hundred iron chariots. When Israel cries to the LORD, Deborah is already serving as a prophetess and judge, receiving people who come to her for judgment beneath a palm tree.

Deborah summons Barak with a command from the LORD: gather ten thousand men from Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor. God will draw Sisera's forces to the River Kishon and deliver them into Barak's hand. The command comes with a promise that the enemy's military strength cannot overturn.

Barak says he will go only if Deborah accompanies him. She agrees, but tells him that the honor will not be his: the LORD will give Sisera into the hand of a woman. Barak then gathers the men, and Deborah goes with him.

Her willingness to accompany him does not cancel the seriousness of her warning. Barak receives faithful support, and he still has to answer the LORD's command. The promised victory rests on what God will do.

Questions

1 What work is Deborah already doing?

AnswerShe is a prophetess and judge. Israelites come to her beneath the Palm of Deborah for judgment.

2 What command and promise does she give Barak?

AnswerHe must gather ten thousand men at Mount Tabor. The LORD promises to draw Sisera’s army to the Kishon and deliver it into his hand.

3 How does Deborah answer Barak’s condition that she accompany him?

AnswerShe agrees to go, but says the honor will not be his because the LORD will give Sisera into the hand of a woman.

4 How could we help someone face a responsibility they fear?

AnswerWe could accompany them when they need to tell the truth or make an apology. Our support can help them act without speaking or deciding everything for them.

What This Means for Us

There are times when standing beside someone is better than giving them another speech about courage. Offer practical company for a difficult, right action. We do not have Barak's particular military command or promise, but we can help one another obey the commands Scripture makes clear, including honesty, mercy, and reconciliation.

Prayer

Lord, give us courage to obey even when we need faithful help. Keep us humble enough to receive support and responsible enough to act on Your command. Amen.

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