Judges 6:25 says, And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:  God instructed Gideon to tear down the altar of Baal, that had been built by his father.  We likewise need to tear down any altars that have been built by our fathers if the worship other gods.  These do not have to be actual altars, but can be anything that leads to the worship of anything other than God Himself.  Verse twenty-six states, And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.  Gideon was instructed to build an altar to God in place of the altar to Baal, and to offer a burnt sacrifice to God on it.  It is not enough to just quit worshipping false gods, but we must start worshipping the one true God instead.  Verse twenty-seven declares, Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father’s household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.  Gideon took ten men with him and did what the LORD had instructed him to do.  Because he feared His father, Gideon did this at night.  We need to trust in God day and night and not be afraid of those who oppose Him.  Verse twenty-eight says, And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.  The next morning, the men of the city arose early and saw what had been done.  People today should be able to see what we are doing as followers of Christ.  Verse twenty-nine adds, And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.  The men of the city asked who had done this, and were told that Gideon had.  Gideon may have done what God told him to do at night, but it was still known that he was the one who had done it.  People should know when we do what God instructs us to do today.  Verse thirty states, Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.  The men demanded that Gideon's father bring out Gideon so he could be killed for what he did.  We may find ourselves at danger if we oppose the false gods in the world, but God will always be with us no matter what happens.  Verse thirty-one declares, And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.  Joash, Gideon's father, basically said for them to allow Baal to judge Gideon for himself, since Baal was the one who was offended.  Though God can and does act for Himself, false gods will always need someone to act for them.  Verse thirty-two says, Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.  Gideon was called Jerubaal by his father then, because he stood against Baal.  We need to remember that these were God's people who were worshipping Baal.  Verse thirty-three declares, Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.  All the Midianites and Amalekites gathered to see what would happen.  Verse thirty-four states,, But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.  Then verse thirty-five adds, And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.  We are told that the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, then Gideon began to call for people from the other tribes of Israel to come and help him, even those who had just been calling for his death.  God can change the heart of a person in an instant.  Verse thirty-six declares,  And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,  Gideon put an if in front of obeying God.  He evidently still wasn't certain about God being with Him, but as followers of Christ can be certain that God will always be with us.  Verse thirty-seven adds, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.  Gideon proposed a test of putting fleece on the floor and having the floor all around be dry the fleece wet.  Gideon should have had faith in God without the test, but he was wanting to know for sure that it was God Who was speaking to Him.  We today need to know for sure that what we are doing is in accordance with God's will, but we should be able to come to this conclusion with any tests.  Verse thirty-eight adds, And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.  The next morning, the fleece was very wet, and Gideon should have had his answer.  Verse thirty-nine continues, And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.  Gideon still wasn't satisfied and proposed another test, this time with the fleece being dry and the floor wet.  Verse forty concludes, And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.  God again did as Gideon asked.  Hopefully, when God calls us to do something today we will act in faith without needing any sign.

Judges 6:11 says, And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.  An angel of the LORD came and sat under an oak near where Gideon threshed wheat by a winepress, while hiding from the Midianites.  I am not sure if Gideon was actually hiding from the Midianites or if he was just working where he was out of their way.  Verse twelve states, And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.  The angel tells Gideon that God is with him and that Gideon was a man of valor, which does not fit with a man who was hiding.  We should only have to hear that God is with us to make us people of valor.  Verse thirteen declares, And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.  Gideon questioned whether God was with them, since they were under the power of the Midianites.  Gideon had heard of the power of God from the older people of Israel, speaking of their deliverance from Egypt.  He evidently had not heard as much about their part in the covenant with God.  It is not enough to know about God's power unless we enter into a personal relationship with Him.  Verse fourteen proclaims, And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?  God's answer to Gideon was to go in might, which would be through the power of God, because God was going to save Israel through him.  If we are questioning the power of God, the first thing that He may do is to send us into the battle.  Verse fifteen says, And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.  Gideon did not see himself as a man of valor, but as the least of his family, which was a poor family.  We need to see ourselves as God sees us as we do what He calls us to do, and not as the world may see us.  Verse sixteen states, And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.  God said that He would be with Gideon and that He would be successful.  We have that same assurance as followers of Christ today.  Verse seventeen says, And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.  Gideon asked for a sign that God was with him.  We today do not need to ask for signs that God is with us, because if we are a Christian, then the Holy Spirit is with us to give us that assurance.  Verse eighteen says, Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.  Gideon asked that the angel remain until he brought him a present, and the angel said he would.  Verse nineteen declares, And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.  Gideon prepared a meal and brought it to the angel.  The only thing that we can bring to God that matters is our self.  Verse twenty states, And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.  Then verse twenty-one adds, Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes.  Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.  The angel told Gideon to take the flesh and cakes and put them on a rock, and then he touched the flesh and cakes and fire rose out of the rock to consume them.  Then the angel left.  This should have been sign enough for Gideon.  When God gives us signs today that He is with us, why do we not put our complete faith in Him at all times?  Verse twenty-two declares, And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face.  When the angel of the LORD left, Gideon cried out to God, since he had seen an angel of the LORD face to face.  We as followers of Christ have come face to face spiritually with Him, and He is much greater than any angel.  Verse twenty-three proclaims,  And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.  God told Gideon to be at peace, that he would not die.  We have an even  greater assurance from God today.  We  will not die spiritually if we put our faith in Christ, so we should be at peace in the world.  Verse twenty-four states, Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.  Gideon built an altar to God at that time.  We need to allow our hearts too be altars to God once we accept Christ as our Savioe and Lord.

Judges 6:1 says, And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.  The pattern continues to repeat itself.  God delivers Israel, they serve Him for a period of time, and then do evil in His sight once again.  God then removes His protection from them.  As followers of Christ, God has redeemed us forever, but too often we still do evil in His sight, and when we do, we cannot expect Him to protect us.  Verse two states, And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.  This time, it was the Midianites who would defeat the Israelites.  It was not always the same enemy that Israel faced, just as it is not always the same enemy that we face today.  Instead of being able to stand up to the Midianites through the power of God, the people of God fled to caves to hide.  Verse three declares, And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;  The Midianites were joined by the Amalekites in their war against Israel.  The enemies of God often unite in opposition to Him.  Verse four adds, And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.  The Midianites and Amalekites destroyed all of the food sources of Israel, as well as their animals that would be used to produce crops.  When people are without faith in God, and then all their food sources are cut off, it is much easier to defeat them.  Verse five says, For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude, for both they and their camels were without number, and they entered into the land to destroy it.  The Midianites and the others did not just come to raid Israel, but they came to stay.  They brought their cattle and camels with them and pitched their tents in the land.  If we allow evil into our lives today, it will come to stay as long as we are not following God's guidance in our lives.  Verse six says, And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.  Once the people of Israel were greatly impoverished, they again called out to God.  Nothing gets the attention of people like being in desperate need.  As long as the people of Israel were prosperous, they ignored God, but when God removed His protection from them and they were defeated, they called on Him again.  We need to serve God in the good times just as much as we do in the bad, but too often there is a tendency to forget Him, but we cannot afford to. or we will soon find ourselves in the bad times again, at least spiritually.  Verse seven declares, And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites,  Then verse eight adds, That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;  When the people of Israel called out to God, He heard them, just as He will hear us today when we call out to Him.  God began by raising up a prophet to remind them what He had already done for them.  He had brought them out of Egypt and the house of bondage.  We need to never forget that God has brought us out of the bondage of sin if we are followers of Christ.  Verse nine continues, And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;  God reminded them that He gave them the land.  They did not defeat their enemies by their own power, but by the power of God.  Verse ten concludes, And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.  God said there was a covenant between the people of Israel and Him, and that they broke it.  If we find ourselves struggling because of sin in our lives today as followers of Christ, it will be because we have ceased to be faithful to God.

Judges 5:24 says,  Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.  The song  now singles out one woman, Jael, the wife of Heber.  Not all the heroes of the Bible were men, and not all the heroes of Christianity today are men.  Verse twenty-five says, He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.  There is a recounting of what she did.  When Sisera asked Jael for water, she gave him milk, seemingly only wanting to do more than was asked of her.  Verse twenty-six adds, She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.  Jael drove a nail through the head of Sisera and then cut his head off.  He had escaped the battle and evidently felt safe where he was.  The enemies of God may feel safe where they are today, but they will not escape God's judgment, even if they feel that they have managed to save themselves.  Verse twenty-seven states,  At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.  This would imply that Sisera had bowed down to Jael, possibly in gratitude, and he fell where he bowed.  Sisera had been a powerful king, but he was killed by a simple housewife.  God can use those who seem the least powerful of people to accomplish His work.  Verse twenty-eight says, The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots?  We are told that the mother of Sisera looked out her window crying, wondering why his chariot was so long in returning.  She had expected a quick defeat of the enemy, because the army of Sisera seemed to be better equipped for the battle.  She forgot that Sisera and his army were opposing the people of God.  There will be much weeping for loved ones who do not accept Christ as their Savior and Lord when God's judgment comes, and there will be no place to run away and hide from His judgment.  Verse twenty-nine adds, Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,  The song says that the wise ladies of Sisera's mother answered her, but their wisdom was not from God, so it was of little value.  The answers from people who do not know God will never really be answers based on wisdom.  Verse thirty continues, Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?  Sisera's mother still expected him to return victorious with his army and the spoils of war.  Lost people of the world today still expect to be victorious over God and His people, but there will be no everlasting spoils of war.  They may look with hope, but only defeat is coming.  Verse thirty-one concludes, So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.  The song concludes with praise to God once again, asking that the enemies of God's people might fall.  This would be contingent on God's people being obedient, and evidently they were for forty years.

Judges 5:12 says, Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.  This is still a part of the song of Deborah to God.  This part simply is a reference to Deborah and Barak being called on to defeat their oppressors by the power of God.  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.  Then, there is an acknowledgment of God's power over the enemies of Israel.  We as followers of Christ are called to battle those who oppose God today, and we can be certain that we will be victorious through His power.  Verse fourteen states, 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.  The song then refers to the success of some of the other tribes.  Deborah was not giving credit to Barak and herself alone, but to all who had been   Just as others had evidently been in league with Jabin, so had Ephraim, Benjamin, and Zebulon been united with the rest of the people of Israel in the fight against them.  Verse fifteen says,  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.  Issachar and Reuben are now mentioned as also being united with Deborah and Barak.  No matter how powerful the enemy may be against God, when His people unite under His power, the victory is assured.  We may not always see it in this world, but we can still be certain of it.  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.  The tribe of Rueben, who lived beyond the Jordan, did nor join in.  They evidently felt safe where they were.  We today need to search our hearts to see if we are allowing the things of this world to have too much power in our lives and keep us from joining in with the rest of God's people who are struggling greatly against the power of evil in the world.  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.  Gilead and Dan also refused to participate in the battle it seems.  We cannot be divided in our battle against evil because some of us do not feel personally threatened.  As long as we are in the world, no matter how successful we may be, we are still to be united with our fellow Christians, if we are indeed followers of Christ.  Verse eighteen adds, Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.  The tribes of Zebulon and Nephtali were just the opposite.  They were mentioned for putting themselves in danger to do God's will.  We have a choice whether we will be know as people who rested in the security of the world or engaged the enemies of God even if it cost us everything.  Verse nineteen declares, The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.  The kings came and fought against the people of Israel.  Verse twenty adds, They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera. Verse twenty-one continues, The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.  Even the heavens and the elements were aligned with the people of Israel, since hail had rained down on their enemies and the river swept them away.  God works not only through His people to bring victory, but He can use all the forces of nature as well.  Verse twenty-two states, Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones.  Then verse twenty-three declare, Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.  Matthew Henry says this is probably a city in the land of Israel that refused to come to their assistance.  We cannot refuse to engage in the battle against evil in the world today if we are followers of Christ and expect to be held blameless.  Just like being a part of God's kingdom in that day required more than being born there, but required putting faith in God, so does being a part of God's kingdom today.  It is not enough to just proclaim ourselves to be a part of God's kingdom, but we must also follow Him in faithful obedience.

Judges 5:1 says, Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,  After the victory, Deborah and Barak sang a song of praise to God.  We should be singing our praises to God today, because He has given us an everlasting victory.  Verse two states, Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.  The song starts with proclaiming praise to God and says that the people of Israel willingly offered themselves to Him.  We must first willingly offer ourselves to God before we will ever have a reason to offer praises to Him.  It was only after the people of Israel returned to Him and called on Him for help that He sent Deborah to lead them to victory.  Verse three says, Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.  Deborah called on all the kings and princes to listen, because she was going to be singing praises to God.  These kings and princes may have felt powerful, but Deborah called on them to hear about God.  No matter how powerful a person may be in the world today, they need to not only hear about God, but also acknowledge His power and glory.  Verse four states, LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.  Deborah sings of God's power over what are often called the forces of nature.  The earth shook and the rain came down.  God does not need people in order to be victorious over the evil forces in the world, but He chooses to allow us to be a part of the victory.  Verse five adds, The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel.  Deborah sang that even the mountains could not stand before the power of God, so how could people.  I don't believe that every natural disaster that occurs is God's judgment of people, but I do believe that He can control the universe to accomplish His will.  Verse six says, In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways,  Here Deborah was speaking about the state of Israel before the LORD delivered them.  They were not free to come and go as they chose to do.  Verse seven adds,.The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.  Deborah sings that the people of Israel were under the power of other nations until she arose.  This was not singing praises to herself though.  Deborah was simply singing about what God had done through her.  When we sing praises to God, we need to make sure that it is God Who is praised and not we ourselves.  Verse eight proclaims, They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?  It was because of the idolatry of the people of Israel that God had allowed them to be defeated, and until they returned to Him they were helpless.  Anytime we allow ourselves to be caught up in the idolatry of the world we are not going to have God's protection in life, even as a follower of Christ.  If we have allowed this to happen, then we must repent and ask God's forgiveness once again.  Verse nine says, My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD.  Deborah sang of the governors of Israel who had willingly offered themselves to the people, and asked that God be blessed because of them.  No matter how much we may do for God and His people as followers of Christ today, we must always make sure that He receives the glory.  Verse ten states, Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.  This is a call for all the people to sing praises to God.  Verse eleven adds, 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.  They were to sing of the power of God in delivering them.  We today have everlasting deliverance through Jesus Christ if we have accepted Him as our Savior and Lord, so we should always sing praises to God.

Judges 4:11 says, Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.  Heber moved from where he had been.  Verse twelve states, And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.  Sisera was made aware of Barak gathering an army.  We, as followers of Christ, should hope that people are aware of what we are doing today, even if it makes them more determined to stop us.  If we are doing nothing for God, then there is really no need to stop us, since we have stopped ourselves.   Verse thirteen says, And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.  Sisera gathered nine-hundred chariots, evidently putting a lot of faith in his military superiority  Verse fourteen declares, And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.  Deborah told Barak that it was time to go and asked had God not delivered Sisera to him.  I don't believe that this was a question of whether this was true, but was a statement of fact.  We should never question God's ability to do what He says He will do, but should simply be ready to face the enemy at all times.  Verse fifteen states, And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.  We are told that God, not Barak was responsible for the defeat of Sisera, who abandoned his chariot and fled on foot.  Verse sixteen adds, But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.  Barak pursued Sisera and his army all the way to the land of the Gentiles, and all of them were slain, except Sisera himself.  Verse seventeen states, Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.  Heber comes into the story again, as Sisera went to the tent of Heber's wife to hide.  We may be at peace with some people who are not Christians, but we cannot be a place where they come to hide from God.  Verse eighteen adds, And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.  Heber's wife, Jael, told Sisera to come into her tent, and she hid him.  Verse nineteen says, And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.  Sisera asked for water because he was thirsty, and she gave him some milk, and he hid again.  We are called on to help our enemies in time of need, but we are never called on to do this so that they may attempt to hide from God's judgment.  Verse thirty states, Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and inquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.  Sisera told Jael to stand at the door and watch, and if anyone came inquiring if there was a man there that she was to lie and tell them no.  Sisera had gone from relying on his chariots to relying on the lie of a woman to protect him.  We can be certain that one day all the defenses of those who oppose God will be destroyed.  Verse twenty-one adds, Then Jael Heber’s wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.  Jael did not keep watch, but when Sisera was asleep she nailed his head to the ground.  Verse twenty-two adds, And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.  Barak was still chasing Sisera, and when he came to the tent of Jael, she said she could show him where he was, and he found Sisera dead.  We are never alone in our fight against evil in the world, and if we are followers of Christ, we can be certain that He will have already defeated our enemies if we put our faith in Him.  Verse twenty-three continues, So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.  God had defeated the enemies of His people, just as He does for us today.  Verse twenty-four declares, And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.  Once again, the people of Israel prospered, not because of their own power, but because of the power of God and their obedience to Him.  We will never prosper by our own power spiritually, but can only prosper by being obedient to God.