Judges 5:9

Judges 5:9 says, My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD.  Deborah sang of the other governors of Israel who had like herself under her leadership tried to call the them back to God and were willing to die in war for Israel.  Not every governor was bad during the bad times of Israel, and not every government official is bad today.  Verse ten adds, Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.  These were the nobility or rich people of Israel who had been blessed by Israel's redemption, and she called on them to judge fairly.  Verse eleven continues, They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates.  Deborah continued by referring to those who had been delivered from the noise of war reminding them that God had delivered them and that they should follow the righteous acts of God before they sat in judgment.  We as Christians have been delivered from the power of sin and death, and we need to follow the righteous of God in all that we do.  Verse twelve states, Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.  Deborah called on Barak and herself to awake and be stirred up for following through on the victory and praising God for it.  We as followers of Christ already have the victory today, but we at times may be lax in praising God and need to awaken to praising Him.  Verse thirteen adds, Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty.  Deborah then said God had appointed those who had dominion over the people of Israel, and she was appointed to have dominion over the mighty.  Since we still refer to ourselves as a Christian nation, it would be nice if our leaders were those appointed by God, but sadly this often isn't the case.  Verse fourteen says, Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.  Deborah then began to sing of those of different tribes of Israel who had served in different ways to bring about victory.  She started by referring to the tribe of Ephraim, who had cut off the Amalekites from helping Jabin, then of the tribe of Benjamin, Machir (half the tribe of Manasseh) and Zebulun.  Many kings allied themselves against the people of Israel, who had no king except God Himself.  We today as Christians have many forces allied against us, and we may be without an earthly leader, but God Himself is our leader.  Verse fifteen adds, And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.  Deborah sang that Issachar was with Barak as he fought in the valley.  Verse sixteen states, Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.  Deborah then sang of the people of Israel who refused to help out during the war.  Many people today, even those who call themselves Christians, want to simply sit out the war against evil in the world today because they are personally safe.  Verse seventeen adds, Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.  She asked why the tribes of Gilead, Dan and Asher had not helped.  Verse eighteen continues, Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.  Then she referred to the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, who had been willing to die to free themselves from oppression.  Verse nineteen concludes, The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.  They were not fighting for material gain, but for freedom from bondage.  We today should likewise never serve God for material gains.