here come the judges part 5: deborah – an exceptional judge judges 4:11-24

Here Come the JudgesHere Come the Judges

Part 5: Deborah – An Exceptional JudgePart 5: Deborah – An Exceptional Judge

Judges 4:11-24Judges 4:11-24

Judges 4 is a Judges 4 is a twotwo act play based on a act play based on a truetrue storystory. .

Act One Act One

Scene TwoScene Two

God is in the God is in the detailsdetails

Now Heber the Kenite had separated from Now Heber the Kenite had separated from the Kenites, the descendants of Hobab the the Kenites, the descendants of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far away as the oak in Zaanannim, tent as far away as the oak in Zaanannim, which is near Kedesh. (4:11)which is near Kedesh. (4:11)


• Two important details:Two important details:• Heber “pitched his tent” which means “he Heber “pitched his tent” which means “he

established his established his newnew homehome” ”


• Two important details:Two important details:• Heber “pitched his tent” which means “he Heber “pitched his tent” which means “he

established his established his newnew homehome” ” • Heber was at Heber was at peacepeace with the King Jabin. with the King Jabin.

God enacts his God enacts his shockshock and and aweawe battle plan. battle plan.

When Sisera was told that Barak the son of When Sisera was told that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, Sisera Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, Sisera called out all his chariots, 900 chariots of called out all his chariots, 900 chariots of iron, and all the men who were with him, iron, and all the men who were with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the river Kishon. from Harosheth-hagoyim to the river Kishon.


And Deborah said to Barak, “Up! For this is And Deborah said to Barak, “Up! For this is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hand. into your hand. Does not the Lord go out Does not the Lord go out before youbefore you?” So Barak went down from ?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with 10,000 men following him. Mount Tabor with 10,000 men following him.


And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army and all his army before Barakbefore Barak by the edge of by the edge of the sword. And Sisera got down from his the sword. And Sisera got down from his chariot and fled away on foot. chariot and fled away on foot.


And Barak pursued the chariots and the army And Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of to Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a man was left. (4:12-16)man was left. (4:12-16)


And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army before Barak by the edge of and all his army before Barak by the edge of the swordthe sword (4:15) (4:15)


1. Israelites forces assemble near 1. Israelites forces assemble near MtMt. . TaborTabor. . (v.12)(v.12)

When Sisera was told that Barak the son of When Sisera was told that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount TaborAbinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor


2. Canaanite forces, commanded by Sisera, 2. Canaanite forces, commanded by Sisera, assemble near Megiddo (v.13) assemble near Megiddo (v.13)

Sisera called out all his chariots, 900 chariots Sisera called out all his chariots, 900 chariots of iron, and all the men who were with him, of iron, and all the men who were with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the river Kishon.from Harosheth-hagoyim to the river Kishon.


3. Their will be no 3. Their will be no surprisesurprise attack. attack.


4. Canaanites move into position to 4. Canaanites move into position to defeatdefeat the the Israelites below Mt. Tabor.Israelites below Mt. Tabor.


5. Israelites 5. Israelites attackattack on a on a rainyrainy day. (v.14). day. (v.14).

And Deborah said to Barak, “And Deborah said to Barak, “UpUp! For this is ! For this is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hand. into your hand. Does not the Lord go out Does not the Lord go out before youbefore you?” So Barak went down from ?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with 10,000 men following him.Mount Tabor with 10,000 men following him.


6. The Canaanite forces 6. The Canaanite forces breakbreak in in panicpanic; their ; their chariots chariots stuckstuck in the in the mudmud (v.15a) (v.15a)

And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army and all his army before Barakbefore Barak by the edge of by the edge of the sword.the sword.


• 7. Since the Kishon river blocks them from 7. Since the Kishon river blocks them from retreating south, they go retreating south, they go westwest along the along the Kishon.Kishon.


8. The Israelites 8. The Israelites pursuepursue them and them and destroydestroy them. them. (v.16)(v.16)

And Barak pursued the chariots and the army And Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of to Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a man was left.man was left.


9. Sisera runs away to the 9. Sisera runs away to the easteast probably Hazor. probably Hazor. (v.15b)(v.15b)

And Sisera got down from his chariot and fled And Sisera got down from his chariot and fled away on foot.away on foot.

Act TwoAct Two

Scene One Scene One

Sisera seeks Sisera seeks protectionprotection from from an an oldold friendfriend

But Sisera fled away on foot to the tent of But Sisera fled away on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite (4:17)and the house of Heber the Kenite (4:17)

The Canaanite commander is The Canaanite commander is disarmeddisarmed and put to and put to deathdeath

• Sisera responds to a Sisera responds to a deviousdevious invitation. (v.18) invitation. (v.18)

And Jael came out to meet Sisera and said to And Jael came out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Turn aside, my lord; turn aside to me; him, “Turn aside, my lord; turn aside to me; do not be afraid.” So he turned aside to her do not be afraid.” So he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug. into the tent, and she covered him with a rug.


Sisera makes two requests:Sisera makes two requests:• His first request is for a His first request is for a pressingpressing physicalphysical

need need

And he said to her, “Please give me a little And he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink and covered him. (v.19)and covered him. (v.19)


Sisera makes two requests:Sisera makes two requests:• His second request is for His second request is for selfself--preservationpreservation..

And he said to her, “Stand at the opening of And he said to her, “Stand at the opening of the tent, and if any man comes and asks you, the tent, and if any man comes and asks you, ‘Is anyone here?’ say, ‘No.’” (v.20)‘Is anyone here?’ say, ‘No.’” (v.20)


• Sisera Sisera diesdies (v.21) (v.21)

But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. Then she and took a hammer in her hand. Then she went softly to him and drove the peg into his went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground temple until it went down into the ground while he was lying fast asleep from while he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died.weariness. So he died.

Act TwoAct Two

Scene TwoScene Two

Barak tries to Barak tries to findfind what he what he lostlost

And behold, as Barak was pursuing Sisera, And behold, as Barak was pursuing Sisera, Jael went out to meet him and said to him, Jael went out to meet him and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man whom “Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking.” (4:22)you are seeking.” (4:22)


So he went in to her tent, and there lay Sisera So he went in to her tent, and there lay Sisera dead, with the tent peg in his temple. (4:22)dead, with the tent peg in his temple. (4:22)


• The enemy king is The enemy king is subduedsubdued and and destroyeddestroyed

So on that day God subdued Jabin the king of So on that day God subdued Jabin the king of Canaan before the people of Israel. And the Canaan before the people of Israel. And the hand of the people of Israel pressed harder hand of the people of Israel pressed harder and harder against Jabin the king of Canaan, and harder against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they destroyed Jabin king of Canaan. until they destroyed Jabin king of Canaan. (4:23-24)(4:23-24)

Bottom Line:Bottom Line:

This is a story about God who incorporates This is a story about God who incorporates the activities of human beings into His plan the activities of human beings into His plan for His glory and the salvation of His people.for His glory and the salvation of His people.

For those not yet living Jesus-centeredFor those not yet living Jesus-centered

• What you think is What you think is safesafe just might be just might be deadlydeadly..

For those not yet living Jesus-centeredFor those not yet living Jesus-centered

For those living Jesus-centered livesFor those living Jesus-centered lives

• Don’t dismiss Don’t dismiss insignificantinsignificant events in your life events in your life – God’s work doesn’t always – God’s work doesn’t always makemake the the headlinesheadlines..


• Everything the Bible Everything the Bible reportsreports is not is not recommendedrecommended..


• Your enemies are no match for God’s Your enemies are no match for God’s wordword but they might test your but they might test your loyaltyloyalty..


• Your enemies might test your Your enemies might test your loyaltyloyalty..


• Live in the Live in the victoryvictory God has provided. God has provided.

here come the judges part 5: deborah – an exceptional judge judges 4:11-24

Documents

mount tabor slide

army of sisera

awe battle plan

new home slide

lord routed sisera

chariots of iron

important details

new home heber