Judges 5 is the Song of Deborah, a victory hymn sung by Deborah and Barak after Israel’s triumph over King Jabin and Sisera’s army. The song praises God for His power and intervention, recounting how Israel’s leaders and volunteers courageously fought while some tribes hesitated. It describes God’s role in the battle, as floods from the Kishon River aided Israel’s victory. The song highlights Jael’s bravery in killing Sisera, contrasting her heroism with the anguish of Sisera’s mother, who awaited his return in vain. It concludes with a call for God’s enemies to perish and His followers to shine, celebrating 40 years of peace in Israel.
On the surface, it may appear that this is just a song or poem highlighting past events. However, when digging deep into the style and meaning, this chapter becomes highly complex and even controversial. Part of the confusion lies in the fact that it is part ballad and part hymn. Scholars have analyzed it through and through to try and come up with a consistent flow and meaning to the “song.” Practically, this chapter reveals new, more detailed information about the story from Judges 4.
During the time of Israel’s oppression under the Canaanites, we realize just how horrific life had become for the Israelites. The roads were abandoned, trade collapsed, and village life ceased due to fear and violence. These hardships occurred during the days of Shamgar and Jael, as Israel suffered under God’s chastisement for turning to the false Canaanite gods. The people were disarmed, weak, and in desperate need of deliverance.
In my opinion, the focus of Judges 5 takes a new direction to the events of Judges 4. Although the narrative was about glory being taken away from Barak and given to a woman, this song puts the emphasis on all those tribes and individuals who have come to support Yahweh. By contrast, it rebukes those who oppose Him. The build-up of the song brings focus to God going before the people and winning the battle before they even set out. As we know, He still does this today.
There have been several situations where I find myself crippled or paralyzed by what I see in front of me. There have been times in my life when I have felt completely helpless and desperate for an intervention. It is in those moments when I find myself crying out to God like never before. It is an acknowledgment that I am powerless to change the current situation because life has become completely unmanageable. In Judges 5, we are reminded that those cries do not go unheard. The Lord goes out before us and accomplishes what we could never do.
He will fight our battles. He is fighting your battle right now. Do you believe that today?
Jesus has already fought THE battle when He conquered sin and death at the cross. Even when things do not go as we want them to, we can find hope in His eternal victory. It should lead us, as it did in Judges 5, to sing songs in worship of the Almighty King.
“Why are we not always glad, strong, and victorious? Is it not because we look to our moods, we relax our close walk with God, and we set up the images of Baal in our hearts? We are then reduced to the plight described here and in Hag 1:6. Why are there not more conversions in the Church? Why is there so little difference between the Church and the world? Why is so much of our Sunday-school teaching ineffective? Ah, the Midianite is in our midst and we acquiesce! The urgent, primal need of the present day is for the Church to realize her true condition, and cry mightily unto God for help.”
F.B. Meyer