God's Unlikely Instruments
Open turn with me to Judges chapter number 4. As we have.
Been studying the Book of Judges, we got finished through with the Book of Joshua. Not that we just go right into the Book of Judges. And here we are already in chapter number 4.
Course right. After Israel, conquered canaanland, the promised land and Joshua has passed away. As Judges chapter 1 houses. Israel was was lead in rule by a different judges for about four hundred years and we come to chapter 4 will be looking at God's unlikely instruments, specifically looking at the judges of Deborah Brock and JL wasn't a judge, but she did have a part in judgment, as we shall see. Let's reach the scripture. Read, just the first three verses right now, then will read as we go through this chapter more. Judges chapter 4 verse 1. Says, when he had was dead or memory HUD was the judge just previously in chapter 3 who killed eglon, the king of the the moabites and I was a very gruesome death, very graphic death. As it's told in chapter 3 so we need Hood. The previous judge was dead. The children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord sold them into the hand of jabin king of Canaan who reigned in Hays, or the commander of his army was Cicero. Who dwelled in Harris Harris, Chef Hagan in and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, for Jaden had 900 Chariots of iron. And for 20 years he had harshly oppressed the children of Israel. Let's pray together. Our Father, we thank you Lord for this evening or does just gathering together and fellowship and singing hearing your word. Father, I pray as we studied this. This ancient book, this ancient history, this biblical narrative father, I pray that we would glean the Eternal truths that you would show us and that you would apply these truths are hard in our life. Father, I pray that you would bless each and every person who is here and those who are unable to be here y'all, we just ask you to bless the prayer time that will follow. We ask all these things in Christ name. Amen. So be looking at this this evening, God's unlikely instruments and it is a passage of scripture that's really unfair. Holds a tale that we have seen time and time again, will look at the Book of Judges, that is a tale of how Israel sins and the cause of their seeing they become oppressed. And then the cause of their oppression, they cry out to God a repentance and then God sends a deliver. And so it's almost just the same song, different verse type things. We enter into chapter number 4. That's we do inter into this new chapter. We will discover the faithfulness of our God, even in the midst of the darkest moments, I noticed, first of all, this cycle of human weakness, the cycle of human weakness. Let's look at verse one, where it says, when he heard was dead, the previous judge the children. Again, a children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord. So again, and judges here, we see this reoccurring pattern of the Israelites falling into sin facing oppression and as a result being so oppressed, and they cry to God for deliverance. And here in 4:1, we find the Israelites again, doing evil in the sight of the Lord, which has led to their oppression, And what this cycle reveals to us is that this cycle reveals the innate weakness and the Fallen nature of humanity. That's what we see here. That Humanity will is just Chrome to wander prone to fall. We see this evening on our own country, right? It is a country that was very moral, at one point. Had a sense of godliness, but over time we have fallen well, such is Humanity. We are prone to weakness. We're prone to fall because of our fallen Human Nature. And it reminds us that apart from God's intervention. We are powerless to break free from the grip of sin. Hey, here in the situation, we're going to see that Israel could not just will themselves free from the bondage that that they were in. Now, they needed a deliver, a device deliver, who is ultimately God? Now let's look deeper into these versus verse 1 through 3. We see Disobedience and consequences. First one begins by stating that after the death of e HUD the Israelites, once again did evil in the sight of the Lord. Of course, this refers to their Disobedience to God's commands. This refers to their turning away from him to follow their own sinful desires. And to really begin worshipping false gods, And as a result of their Disobedience, God allow them to face the consequences of their sin. Which leads to Divine discipline. We noticed here that the Lord sold them into the hand of Javen King Of Painting and he'll press the Israelites for 20 years. And so hear this highlights God's sovereignty and his use of foreign powers to even bring discipline to is people. And again it serves as a reminder, that God, even in his Justice allows the consequences of sin to play out. The Israelites oppression under Javen and his Commander sisera was a direct result of their Disobedience and departure from God's ways. So we could say that as Galatians, 6:1 tells us God is Not mocked for whatsoever. A man soweth that shall he? Also reap. There are consequences to man's sin. So Disobedience leads to Divine discipline. Which then leads to the cry for deliverance. Verse 3 says that in their distress and under the weight of Oppression, the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help. And here this demonstrates, their recognition of their own weakness. And their acknowledgement of God as their only source of Deliverance. They're crying is also a plea for God's mercy and intervention even in their dire circumstances. And here they cried out to the Lord
And still, I am afraid that we're living in a country that sees that the solution to the problems that we are having is the government. Just need to fix the government. Instead of crying out to the Lord, we're trying to cry out to other means as being a savior to us, but the only savior is going to be God himself. May the Lord move us to cry upon him.
We look at also in verse 3, the severity of Israel's oppression. We see the severity as it emphasizes the strength of jabin's army. I particularly its noting that there were 900 Chariots of iron 900 Chariots of iron which was a state-of-the-art military asset at that time. It would be like a stealth bomber today. F-16 the Canaanites had f-16s, and we didn't have anything, but really the Chariots up and up until that time for the four Israel were made out of wood. And so they look down and they see 900 chariots made of iron.
It just really highlights the intensity and of Israel's oppression making their proper Deliverance. All the more urgent and desperate, they could not get out of this oppression by themselves. They had to have a Divine help. And I'll with a reminder that just has the Israelites cried out to the Lord, we too are to cry out to him. Recognizing our dependence on his grace and seeking his intervention in our times of need. Now, let's look at Verses 4 through 8.
And we see God's Sovereign choice. Merce, Portales us now. Deborah A prophetess, the wife of life. It off was judging Israel at that time. And she would see it under the palm tree of Deborah between Roma and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. She sent and call for Barack the son of, I've been home from Kadesh and that's why it said to him has not the Lord God of Israel commanded go and deploy troops at Mount. Tabor take with you ten thousand men of the sons of my natural life and of the sons of zebulun and against you. I will deploy Sesser the commander of jabin's army with his chariots and his multitude at the river cuz Sean and I will deliver him into your hand. Have noticed versus 8 and Barack said to her. If you will go with me, then I will go. But if you will not go with me, I will not go. It's all in the midst of Israel's oppression here gone raises up, an unlikely instrument of Deliverance. He raises up a woman. He raises up a lady by the name of Deborah, who was a prophetess and judge. so, here we see that this Divine appointment gone calling Deborah It showcases God's Sovereign choice in selecting individuals to accomplish his purposes. Deborah's leadership is a testament to God's faithfulness and his ability to use unexpected instruments to bring about deliverance. And as you see in verse number 8, the Reason God raised up a woman to lead. Was because Israel was dominated by weak men. Weak men. So weak. Hear Barack says, and Burnside. Well, if you will go with me, then I will go. But if you will not go with me, I will not go against showcasing that there was a a depletion of masculinity.
In Israel.
And maybe. in the next few weeks will look at That more in detail. Why God, why would why there was such a low number of masculine and masculine men? Godly men during that time. We noticed first five, it's very interesting. It says and she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah. Between Roma and Bethel. And I believe that does have a have some symbolic semblance to it. And while the specific reason, why Deborah chose a specific location is not explicitly stated in this text. We can draw some insights from the broader Biblical context and symbolism associated with palm trees. First of all, We see the symbol of a palm tree stands for a brightness and stability of rightness and stability. Palm trees are known for their upright. Stature, even after a major hurricane, you normally see palm tree, still standing. Deeply rooted in the ground. Will in scripture? The symbolism is often associated with righteousness and spiritual stability as a person has their Roots grounded in Christ and grounded in the word of God. The importance of living. Upright lives and remaining steadfast in. Our faith, are rooted in the unchanging. Truth of God's word. And so Here, Deborah, a possible possible. Symbolism to be, that she is an upright person who is stable and God's word a second Lee palm trees were a symbol of Victory and Triumph A palm branches were used in ancient times as a symbol of victory. And the New Testament we know that palm trees were used and waved during the triumphal of Jesus entry into Jerusalem, right? So the imagery of Victory is consistent with the theme of Deliverance and Triumph that seen throughout the story of Deborah and Barak in chapter 4. It's all dimension of out of the palm tree could be seen as a subtle foreshadowing of the Victory and deliverance that God would bring through Deborah and Barak. I notice also we seeing verses 9 through 10 faith and obedience.
Remember 8, Brock is asking the question? Well I'll go if you'll go, if you don't go I won't go. Verse 9. So she said, I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, there will be no glory for you in the journey. You are taking for the Lord will sell. Cesura into the hand of a woman. Then Deborah arose and went with Brock to titas and Barack call Zebulon an app to lie, to keep it and went up with ten thousand men under his command and Debra went up with him. And so, we see Deborah in her role as a leader exhibits. Unwavering faith in God's promises. She calls upon Barack to lead the Israelite Army against the Canaanites, but as we have seen Barack hesitates He's expressing his need for Deborah's presents. And really, this is interaction teaches us. Something about God's promises and importance of faith in those promises. I think it's also important to note that Barack statement may also reflect a lack of full Trust And God ultimately as he is depending more upon houthis, depending more upon Deborah's presents and he is God's presents. Very interesting there. However, God in his face, want to steal, use Barack to bring about the defeat of the canine Army. It's a broad statement serves as a reminder that even in our moments of doubt and uncertainty God can still work through our imperfect and hesitant even though we are in perfect, can even hesitant at times. I noticed versus 14. We see a Divine strategy and deliverance.
It says then Deborah said they're brought up for. This is the day in which the Lord has deliver sisera into your hand has not the Lord gone out before you sober Rock, went down from Mount Tabor With 10,000 men, following him and the Lord routed cesura, and all of his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barack, and Cesery from his Chariot and fled away. But Barack pursued the Chariots and the Army as far as parishes hanging him. And all the arm SS Rafael by the edge of the sword. Not a man was left however Sesser I had fled away on foot to the tent of jail, the wife of Heber the kenite There was a piece between Javen King out to meet tessera and he said to him, turn aside my Lord turn aside to me, do not fear. And when he had turned aside with her into the tent, she covered him with a blanket. And then he said to her. Please give me a little to drink for I'm thirsty. And so she opened a jug of milk. Gave him a drink and cover him. And he said to her, Staying at the door of the tent. And if any man comes inquires of you and says, is there any man here? You shall say, no. Ben Jael heber's wife. Took a tent Peg and took a hammer in her hand and went softly to him and drove the peg into his Temple. And it went down into the ground for he was fast asleep and weary so he died. And then, as Barack Pursuits, as Sarah JL, came out to meet him and said to him, come, I will show you the man whom you seek. And when he's not moving and when he went into her tent there, lay cetera Dead with a peg in his Temple. Wow. So here's Sesser the commander of the Canaanites, he's seeking Refuge. You find this house with Jay else there. Does he hide me? Hide me and then he tells her he give me something to drink. I'm thirsty he's tired. He has been in battle. He is running from the Israeli Army. She gives him Refuge. He is fast asleep. The Bible tells us that she softly comes into him once he's out, he's she is sneaking. And she takes a tent Peg there in the temple and runs it through his entire head into the ground. Now he said, my goodness, she was good with a hammer, right? Don't mess with those women. That's right. but in in those days, in ancient Israel, It was the lady's job. To put the tents up in to drive the the tent pegs into the ground. So the next time we go camping, I want to have a man to sit the tent up and say, hey look, this is just Bible baby
That's right. I'll just hide all the Hammers.
Yeah, right. I'll go to sleep wearing a helmet.
We won't be camping anytime soon.
Logan was getting excited there.
That's true, that's right there. A lot of manly women wasn't it? But it's, it is interesting that Jael was JL was, was not a Jew. She was not an Israeli. She was a kid night which were non-israelite. Say we're descended from Jethro, the father of father in law of Moses, but they were not Israeli. So it seems that it is that if that it's, it seems, as if Jal New, the Canaanites have lost. and if Israeli Army found, Sethra in jails home. They both would have died. Okay. Her neck said, hey, I can save my life if I kill this dude, because if I don't, then we're both probably going to die. But in either case,
We, we see here.
How God use women? Even in the Old Testament. To do Great and Mighty things to do things. That men would not even do and so is it's really amazing here and we could talk more about that. But the judges is pretty graphic. Is it not reach after 3? The end of chapter 3? It's pretty graphic. Let's look at the fourth. We trusting in God's sovereignty. Obviously God is the ultimate deliver. Here he is the one who raises up the unlikely, instruments even women in this day and time to carry out his Sovereign will And you know what? We're called to trust in God's armor to even when the odds are stacked against us, even when the storms are going through and the trials were going through, are like Chariots of iron. So I pray that the Lord would take this Old Testament narrative story. This ancient story. Are the God would use it that we can draw strength from this passage of scripture. And just remember that God is always at work. He's always working. Now even in the midst of our country that has lost all its senses guy still at work. We got to remember that, that's why we pray, that's why we trust in his sovereignty. That even in these crazy days, God is still orchestrating events to bring about things for his glory and fought for our ultimate good. So I pray that your help in a blessing to you, as you Consider what a lot of times is very rarely preached, very, really taught is the Book of Judges. All right, we'll take a few moments for prayer request.