Judges 4:1

Judges 4:1 says, And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.  After Ehud died, the people of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD.  Verse two adds, And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.  This time, God allowed them to be defeated by Jabin, king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor.  Joshua had defeated a king by that name in a city by that name, so this was probably an ancestor, after the city had been rebuilt.  We often face the same sin once again, even when we think we have totally destroyed it from our life.  Verse three continues, And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.  The people of Isreal once again cried out to God, because Jabin had nine hundred iron chariots and he mightily oppressed them.  He oppressed them for twenty years. There are many countries with a lot of powerful armies today, some of which are oppressing and killing Christians, but we need to make sure that God isn't allowing it because of our sinfulness as professed followers of Christ.  Verse four states, And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.  Deborah who was called a prophetess, was the judge of Israel at this time.  She was intimately acquainted with God and inspired by the Holy Spirit.  I believe that God still works through both men and women to reach the world with His gospel, and all Christians are indwelled by the Holy Spirit and are empowered by Him if they are obedient to God's word.  Verse five adds, And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.  Deborah lived under the palm tree that would become known by her name.  Matthew Henry says she either had a house under the palm tree, or it was a seat of judgment for her.  Either way, the people of Israel came to her for direction, not because she was the head of the government, but because she was directed by the Spirit of God. We need to not look for the government to solve all our problems, but we need to look to God and His leadership through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Verse six says, And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of  Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?  Deborah called Barak and asked him had not God called on him to take ten thousand men of the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun and go toward Mount Tabor.  Evidently he had, but hadn't acted on it.  When God calls on us to do something for Him today, we need to act and not wait for someone else to point out what we need to be doing.  Verse seven adds, And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.  Deborah continued by asking Barak if God had not promised to draw Sisera, the head of the army of Jabin to him with his chariots and to deliver him into Barak's hand.  We as followers of Christ have already been given the power to defeat all our enemies spiritually, yet we often fail to live as though we believe this.  Verse eight states, And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.  Barak said if Deborah would go with him he would go, but if she wouldn't, he wouldn't.  We need to follow God's direction even if we go alone into the battle against evil in the world today.  Verse nine adds, And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.  Deborah said that she would go with him, but that when she did, Barak would receive no honor, but people would say that Sisera was delivered into the hand of a woman, and she went with him.  We need to go and do what God calls us to do without demanding that someone else goes with us.  Verse ten continues, And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.  Barak called the army as God had commanded, and Deborah went with him.  Since we as followers of Christ are all a part of God's army, we need to obediently go where He sends us.