A Song of Praise

O. T. #517  "A Song of Praise"
May 13, 2015
Judges 5
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

LET IT GLOW

Praise God and glory to His name! I thank my God for the blessings that He has showered upon our church! Not only were we able to build a new sanctuary and four classrooms debt free, but a new office for our pastor and music director. (Technology and sound systems not included) In addition to that, God blessed us with gifts of chairs for the sanctuary and beautiful furniture for the pastor's new office.
So the last three weeks I have been cleaning and moving furniture into other rooms which became vacant. The church office and children's church rooms were changed to better locations, a Wednesday night girls room was prepared for class, and decorations for VBS were moved into its own room. The clean curtains were hung. Now all that is left to do is paint the office and hang pictures. It is exciting to have these changes and improvements-these blessings of the Lord. I find myself singing praises to our gracious, gift-giving God with a grateful and rejoicing heart. Israel had a reason to sing, also. Do you recall what occurred in chapter 4? What happened after 20 years of oppression? 

This song was a tribute to God for victory told about in the previous chapter. Other songs are found in Scriptures written as a praise to God for His help-Moses' (Ex. 15), David's (2Sam. 23), and the Lamb's (Rev. 15). This poem/song was sung by Judge Deborah and Barak on that day.

What day? The day the heavens opened up and poured down rain, flooding the Kishon River. (verse 20) The stars fought against Sisera.

The MacArthur Bible Commentary explains: 

This was a poetic way to say that God used these heavenly bodies to help Israel. They are bodies representing and synonymous with the heavens, the sky from which He sent a powerful storm and flood of the Kishon River that swept Syrians from their chariots. God also hid the stars by clouds, decreasing Syrian effectiveness due to darkness.

Isn't it something the things God used to protect His children? Since He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, can't He do the same for us His children today?
Are we trusting God?

LET IT GROW

Although the death of Sisera, the military leader of the Canaanites was due to an act of murder by Jael, God used it as a great blessing flowing upon Israel. She is honored in verses 24-27. Her act of bravery is recorded in God's Word. She is blessed above women (verse 24). (Probably she was used to driving the pegs of the tent into the ground whenever her husband moved.)
Forty years of rest came because 10,000 men and two women were willing to be used by God.
Do we offer to God  our possessions and our abilities for Kingdom work?

Verse 31 ends the song with an intercessory prayer committed to God's will, with the aspects of:

• blessing God; (verse 2)
• praise; (verse 3)
• affirming God's work in tribute; (verses 4 and 20)
• voicing God's curse. (verse 23)   (MacArthur)

What keeps us from blessing and praising God? Do we share in testimony to His great workings in our life?

LET IT GO

Thank God for His blessings!

Praise God for He is gracious and merciful!