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Deborah and Barak, September 7
Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,
Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly
offered themselves.
Judges 5:1, 2
.
The Israelites, having again separated themselves from God by idolatry,
were grievously oppressed by these enemies. The property and even the
lives of the people were in constant danger. Hence the villages and lonely
dwellings were deserted, and the people congregated in the walled cities. The
high roads were unoccupied, and the people went from place to place by
unfrequented byways. At the places for drawing water, many were robbed
and even murdered, and to add to their distress, the Israelites were unarmed.
Among forty thousand men, not a sword or a spear could be found.
For twenty years, the Israelites groaned under the yoke of the oppressor;
then they turned from their idolatry, and with humiliation and repentance
cried unto the Lord for deliverance. They did not cry in vain. There was
dwelling in Israel a woman illustrious for her piety, and through her the Lord
chose to deliver His people. Her name was Deborah. She was known as a
prophetess, and in the absence of the usual magistrates, the people had sought
to her for counsel and justice.
The Lord communicated to Deborah His purpose to destroy the enemies of
Israel, and bade her send for a man named Barak, of the tribe of Naphtali, and
make known to him the instructions which she had received. She accordingly
sent for Barak, and directed him to assemble ten thousand men of the tribes
of Naphtali and Zebulun, and make war upon the armies of King Jabin....
Deborah celebrated the triumph of Israel in a most sublime and impas-
sioned song. She ascribed to God all the glory of their deliverance, and bade
the people praise Him for His wonderful works.—
The Signs of the Times,
June 16, 1881
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