Judges 4-5: What God Deserves

Tommy Meador

Broken Heroes • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

Judges 4–5

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Transcript

Introduction

· You know my story – music major – plans to head up north after college and pursue a career as a musician. In the lounge of the music building were brochures and catalogs for different graduate schools – one that I looked at several times was NOBTS. It was out of place – Mercer was a liberal college – the exact opposite of NOBTS. Why would anyone go to NOBTS? Then, God changed my path – NOBTS still wasn’t on my mind. SEBTS was. Good reputation, closer to home, beautiful area; not the armpit of America. However, I ended up at NOBTS – Remember mom going with me to help me move and dropping her off at the airport. What am I doing here? But, best thing that could ever have happened to me. The surprise of God.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pennsylvania-walmart-bed-bugs_n_5e138caee4b0b2520d260243

Bedbugs is not what you expect from Walmart!

Speaking of unexpected - in Judges God does the unexpected over and over again.

If you’ve walked with Jesus very long, you’ve experienced God doing the unexpected in your life. For some, your salvation was unexpected. For others, unexpected blessings, unexpected healings, etc.

Question: What does God deserve from you because of His unexpected work? Or, how should we live before our good and faithful God that works in our lives for our good?

· God works in surprising, unexpected ways – and if we were to go around the room – you’d tell me a surprising way God has worked in your life.

What does God deserve? Church attendance? A few extra bucks in the offering plate? A “Thank you, God?”

· is surprising – completely unexpected – a story where we are supposed to stand back and say, “Wow, only God can bring about victory in this way.” Chap. 4 – gives the details – Chap. 5 – gives the story through spiritual eyes.

is surprising – completely unexpected – a story where we are supposed to stand back and say, “Wow, only God can bring about victory in this way.” Chap. 4 – gives the details – Chap. 5 – the response to what God did.

· Judges – cycle – sin, oppression, cry out, God raises up a hero. Heroes are flawed. Points to our need for a greater hero.

This story shows us what God deserves: Two ways we must live before God in response to His unexpected goodness in our lives.

· – a female judge – and two other main characters. 3 lessons we must learn about our surprising God.

Story:

People again do what is evil in the eyes of the Lord – the Lord sold his people into the hand of Jaban – king of Canaan. Sisera – the commander of his army. 900 chariots. A fierce army with technological advances.

· People again do what is evil in the eyes of the Lord – the Lord sold his people into the hand of Jaban – king of Canaan. Sisera – the commander of his army. 900 chariots. A fierce army with technological advances.

Deborah – an unexpected judge – a woman God raised up. In a male-dominated society, for God to raise up a woman was to treat Israel like little children who needed a mommy…

· Deborah – an unexpected judge – a woman God raised up. But, she’s unlike the other judges. She’s not a warrior, she’s a prophetess. She leads through giving godly counsel and speaking on behalf of God.

Deborah not like judges. She’s a prophet, not a warrior. She leads through giving godly counsel and speaking on behalf of God.

· She calls for Barak – he’s a military commander and the one God has chosen to lead Israel to victory over Sisera’s army. His name means lightning. That’s the name you want for a military leader. The plan was to set a trap. Take 10,000 soldiers to Mt. Tabor – that will draw out Sisera’s army – Sisera’s army would surround Mt. Tabor with the chariots thinking it would be an easy victory, then God would give Sisera’s army into Israel’s hand.

She calls for Barak – he’s a military commander and the one God has chosen to lead Israel to victory over Sisera’s army. His name means lightning. That’s the name you want for a military leader. The plan was to set a trap. Take 10,000 soldiers to Mt. Tabor – that will draw out Sisera’s army – Sisera’s army would surround Mt. Tabor with the chariots thinking it would be an easy victory, then God would give Sisera’s army into Israel’s hand.

· Barak wants to go – but he’s hesitant. He’ll only go if Deborah will go with him. Why does he need Deborah? He’d already been given all he needed – the promise of God. But, that wasn’t enough assurance. Deborah agrees to go, but tells him that God would get the glory for the victory by selling Sisera into the hand of a woman. God would work surprisingly. The victory wouldn’t come by the hand of a mighty warrior but at the hand of a woman. A woman would defeat the leader of a massive army with 900 chariots! That would have to be a God thing! We expect it to be Deborah. Barak goes, and Deborah goes with him.

God chose the leader. God chose the place of battle, God chose the plan for His army to follow, and God guaranteed victory! God is writing Israel’s story of deliverance.

Barak wants to go – but he’s hesitant. He’ll only go if Deborah will go with him. Why does he need Deborah? He’d already been given all he needed – the promise of God. But, he needed Deborah. He wanted her guidance. What if he got to Tabor and things didn’t go as planned? What if he needed to hear from God again? God’s Word not enough. Deborah agrees to go, but tells him that God would get the glory for the victory by selling Sisera into the hand of a woman. The victory wouldn’t come by the hand of a mighty warrior but at the hand of a woman. A woman would defeat the leader of a massive army with 900 chariots! Talk about an unexpected victory! Stop right there. We expect Deborah to be the woman who gives Israel victory as she agrees to go with Barak.

· RANDOM DETAIL? Heber the Kenite? Who is he? He apparently had a feud with his kinsmen, and moved away from them – out in the country. Pitched his tent. Will get back to this family.

Vs. 11 - RANDOM DETAIL? Heber the Kenite? Who is he? His family allies of Israel (1:16) He apparently had a feud with his kinsmen, and moved away from them – out in the country. Pitched his tent. Will get back to this family.

· Vs. 12 – Sisera told about Barak – gathers troops at Tabor and all 900 chariots. An easy victory, but God intervenes. “Up! The Lord goes out before you!” The Lord routed Sisera and his chariots. Jabin’s army is slaughtered, Sisera escapes. Remember, God is going to use a woman to bring justice to Sisera, but which woman? Deborah doesn’t get him.

Vs. 12 – Sisera told about Barak – gathers troops at Tabor and all 900 chariots. An easy victory, but God intervenes. “Up! The Lord goes out before you!” The Lord routed Sisera and his chariots. Jabin’s army is slaughtered, Sisera escapes. Remember, God is going to use a woman to bring justice to Sisera, but which woman? Deborah doesn’t get him.

· Sisera escapes to the tent of Jael – Heber’s wife. Peace between Heber and King Jabin. Now we find why Heber had moved away from the Kenites – he had formed an alliance with King Jabin.

Sisera escapes to the tent of Jael – Heber’s wife. Peace between Heber and King Jabin. Heber had formed an alliance with King Jabin.

· Sisera thinks he is safe. Jael comforts. “Do not be afraid.” She gives him milk to drink, and coves him. He falls fast asleep. As he sleeps, Jael takes a tent peg and a mallet, and she drives the tent peg through his temple. Gruesome! The equivalent of hitting him over the head with a frying pan. Took what she had lying around the tent and used it to kill him. She’s not a warrior – she’s a vicious housewife! Her husband might have been loyal to King Jabin, but she’s not.

Sisera thinks he is safe. Jael comforts. “Do not be afraid.” She gives him milk to drink and covers him.

vs. 20 - “Do not tell anyone I’m here...” Maybe she knew he was fleeing from the Israelites - allies of her family! She chooses to stand with Israel, not King Jabin.

As Sisera sleeps, Jael takes a tent peg and a mallet, and she drives the tent peg through his temple. Gruesome! Worse than hitting him over the head with a frying pan! Took what she had lying around the tent and used it to kill him. She’s not a warrior – she’s a vicious housewife! Her husband might have been loyal to King Jabin, but she’s not.

· Barak comes to her tent in search of Sisera, and Jael shows him Sisera’s dead body. What Deborah had prophesied came to fruition. This gave Israel the confidence to ultimately defeat King Jabin. God gave Israel victory in an unexpected, surprising way.

Barak comes to her tent in search of Sisera, and Jael shows him Sisera’s dead body. What Deborah had prophesied came to fruition. This gave Israel the confidence to ultimately defeat King Jabin. God gave Israel victory in an unexpected, surprising way.

1. God has written the story of your salvation.

God has written the story of your salvation.

God chose the leader. God chose the place of battle, God chose the plan for His army to follow, God guaranteed victory, and God gave victory. God wrote Israel’s story of deliverance.

If Israel had written the story of their victory over King Jabin and Sisera, it would have been different. Women taking the lead? Their army retreating to a mountain to wait for their enemy? Their story was God’s story – to deliver them and to bring glory to Himself!

God is writing your story in such a way that you will look back and say, “There is no way I would be where I am right now without God’s work in my life.”

· God has written the story of your salvation so He might get the glory and so that you might live for Him by becoming more like His Son. If you could write the story of your life you’d write it much differently than God. You would write your life story in such a way that your life was comfortable and full of happiness. But, God is not as interested in your comfort and happiness as He is in you knowing His glory and you becoming like His Son.

If you wrote your life story it might have been much different - for your comfort and happiness. But, God wanted more for you. He has arranged your life in such a way that He would use all your circumstances to prove His faithfulness to you.

· This means that God knows – He knows every obstacle, every trial, and every twist and turn your life will take. Nothing takes God by surprise. What is unexpected to you is simply a tool in God’s hand to accomplish His purpose in your life. What is surprising to you is intended by God for His glory and your good.

God knows every obstacle, every trial, and every twist and turn your life will take. Nothing takes God by surprise. What is unexpected to you is simply a tool in God’s hand to accomplish His purpose in your life. What is surprising to you is intended by God for His glory and your good.

· When the unexpected comes a long – no need to worry. No need to panic. You can have peace because you know that even during unexpected seasons God is at work. Don’t be surprised when life doesn’t go your way. God has written the story. He knows what He is doing. Don’t worry when life doesn’t go your way. God has written the story. He knows what is best for you. He knows how He is making you more like Christ.

When the unexpected comes a long – Don’t panic. In unexpected seasons God does unexpected good works in your life God has written the story. He knows what He is doing.

· Ch. 5 – Song of praise – As she reflects, Deborah understands that God was at work in the life of Israel. You may not see clearly right now what God is doing in your life, but if you are a follower of Jesus, know God is not wasting any experience. Sometimes you best see God’s plan for your life when you look back. We all have experiences when we look back, and we see how God was specifically working in our lives. We see how He was with us, protecting us, leading us, and teaching us. God has written the story of your salvation. He knows what He is doing. Don’t panic. Don’t worry. Don’t be surprised.

Since God has written your story for your good, what does He deserve from you?

2. God deserves your bold faith.

God deserves your bold faith.

· If God has written the story of your salvation, you don’t have to worry. You can trust Him, and you can walk in bold faith. In fact, He deserves your bold faith.

If God has written the story of your salvation, He doesn’t deserve your worry or hesitation. Instead, He deserves your bold faith.

What is bold faith? NOT necessarily serving as a missionary in Africa or the Middle East, or giving away all your possessions to the poor. Bold faith is listening to the Word of God and doing it in simple obedience. Bold faith = “God, I want to hear your voice and do what you tell me regardless of how it affects my comforts or circumstances.” Bold faith is saying, “God I’m available.” Availability is more important than ability. Bold faith is raising children with a biblical worldview when the world is cramming another worldview down their throats. Bold faith is giving generously for Kingdom work even when you have other financial obligations. Bold faith is sharing the Gospel with your neighbor because you know you are the only Christian influence he has in his life. Bold faith is simply doing what you know God wants you to do without hesitation, without complaining, without questioning.

Bold faith is raising children with a biblical worldview when the world is cramming another worldview down their throats. Bold faith is giving generously for Kingdom work even when you have other financial obligations. Bold faith is staying committed to your marriage when it gets hard. Bold faith is sharing the Gospel with your neighbor because you know you are the only Christian influence he has in his life. Bold faith is doing what you know God wants you to do without hesitation, without complaining, without questioning.

No conditions. Barak – He’s a man of faith. He does what God wants him to do. He’s in – but his faith is like ours. It’s flawed. Did you notice his hesitation? “I’ll go if…” He placed conditions on his faith. The reality: he didn’t need Deborah to go with him. God had already promised him victory. That was enough.

What conditions are you putting on your faith? “God, I’ll serve you if…” If you don’t make me go to a crazy place. If you don’t take away what I love – my comforts. I’ll serve you as long as it’s safe. I’ll serve you as long as it doesn’t cost too much.

· What conditions are you putting on your faith? “God, I’ll serve you if…” If you don’t make me go to a crazy place. If you don’t take away what I love – my comforts. I’ll serve you as long as it’s safe. I’ll serve you as long as it doesn’t cost too much.

· A faith evaluation. What conditions are placing on your faith? A conditional faith will never enjoy the blessing of full partnership with the work of God, and a conditional faith will never enjoy the full joy of obedience. (You’ll live with regrets… “I should have…”) AND, each condition you place on your faith exposes what you love most. What does your conditional faith say about where your heart belongs?

No sitting on the sidelines. Chapter 5 - Deborah’s song of praise as she looks back on how God delivered. . Who are these people? Probably Hebrews who lived in a town in Barak’s tribe of Naphtali who refused to assist in the battle. They sat on the sidelines!

Sitting on the sidelines is not bold faith! But, how many of us are still sitting on the sidelines? We’re watching the work of God through His church, but we’re not joining His work. Jesus didn’t say, “Watch me.” He said, “Follow me.” Are you watching or following? Are you a spectator to God’s work or are you in God’s work?

3. God deserves your unceasing praise.

God deserves your unceasing praise.

In Deborah’s song of praise, one line sticks out: vs. 24 – “Most blessed of women be Jael.” Unlikely hero – last person you would expect God to use to defeat the general of the powerful Canaan army. She has no ability – she’s a housewife. All she has is a tent peg, but she’s available for God to use. She had bold faith fighting for Israel.

Another “blessed woman.” Mary – nothing special about her. No ability, but she was available. “Let it be to me according to your word.” Bold faith – she listens, and she obeys.

Birth of a son – and God’s story of redemption is unexpected. A baby born to a peasant girl in the backwoods of Israel. He does what we cannot do – lives perfectly for us. We have all rebelled and all deserve punishment for our sin. But Jesus lives a perfect life on our behalf then goes to the cross and gives His life for our life. He gets the death we deserve for our rebellion, and we get the righteousness that He earned (we didn’t earn it.) He dies our death, and then rises from the dead three days later to give us victory over death. Our enemy has been defeated by the Ultimate Judge – He has delivered us from what was killing us. Now, through faith and repentance, all of our sins are forgiven and we are given new and eternal life.

· Birth of a son – and God’s story of redemption takes a surprising twist. Everyone looking for a great King to deliver Israel, but instead, a baby born to a peasant girl in the backwoods of Israel. But, He does what we cannot do – lives perfectly for us. We have all rebelled and all deserve punishment for our sin. But Jesus lives a perfect life on our behalf then goes to the cross and gives His life for our life. He gets the death we deserve for our rebellion, and we get the righteousness that He earned (we didn’t earn it.) He dies our death, and then rises from the dead three days later to give us victory over death. Our enemy has been defeated by the Ultimate Judge – He has delivered us from what was killing us. Now, through faith and repentance, all of our sins are forgiven and we are given new and eternal life.

· Mary new the significance of the child that she carried in her womb – that He would deliver His people. So, she does the same thing Deborah does after being delivered, except she does it based on a promise of deliverance – she praises God.

Mary knew the significance of the child that she carried in her womb – that He would deliver His people. So, like Deborah, Mary sings. Deborah sings after being delivered. Mary sings expecting deliverance from the child she carries. Luke 1:68-69

We are a people delivered because of the child that Mary sang about. Delivered from sin and death! All of our sins forgiven, made new, the hope of eternal life. What do you think God deserves? Our unceasing praise! The God who has written the story of our salvation deserves our bold faith and our unceasing praise!

· Now, here we are 2000 years later – people who are delivered. Not delivered from a human enemy and not looking forward to deliverance like Mary – but having experienced real deliverance in Jesus Christ. All of our sins forgiven, made new, the hope of eternal life. What do you think God deserves? Our unceasing praise! The God who has written the story of our salvation deserves our bold faith and our unceasing praise!

We easily forget that in Jesus, we are delivered, we are blessed, we are rich, and we are loved. Like Israel, we were hard-headed people who rebelled against Him. But God did not fail us. He delivered!

He deserves your unceasing praise!

Instead of unceasing praise, God gets a head nod every now and then.

How do we give God unceasing praise?

Talk to yourself. You need to be your own favorite preacher - constantly reminding yourself of what God has done for you.

Talk to God. Give Him thanks! Pray the Psalms.

Talk about God to others. Powerful when you give God credit for what He has done in your life. We talk about what matters most. How often is Jesus on your lips?

This morning - experience deliverance for first time.

This morning, a new commitment to give God what He deserves.

This morning as we end – let’s practice praising Him – by thanksgiving. By repenting. (of conditional faith, specific sins, etc.) By obeying Him. (where are you disobeying God right now?)

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