Journal Through the Bible: Week 34 Tuesday

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Judges 4:1-5:31

A woman named Jael probably from the family of Moses' wife, Zipporah, killed the enemy that had enslaved the Israelites for over 20 years. (See Judges 1:16; 4:11, 4:17.) As the prophetess, Deborah, predicted to Barak a woman received the honor.

In the chapter that follows there is recorded a psalm of thanksgiving for deliverance. The woman received the honor but God received the glory.

Does God issue any commands in this passage?

• God does not speak in this passage.

Does God make any promises?

• God does not speak in this passage.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Barak was said to have led captivity captive (5:12). Jesus is said to have done the same in Ephesians 4:8. (The same is said of God in Psalm 68.)

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• In the song of Deborah and Barak the enemy captain, Sisera, is compared to Satan (5:19-20) in that the battle was seen as being fought even among the stars of the heaven. (Which could mean the war between the righteous and unrighteous angels who are so-called in Revelation 12:3-4.) Even Megiddo is mentioned. It is near Megiddo where the Battle of Armageddon takes place (see Zechariah 12:11 and Revelation 16:12-16). There really is nothing new under the sun. Satan and the LORD have been fighting in this region for millennia