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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 its 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.” To top it off, this chapter reveals new, more detailed information about the story from Judges 4.
In my opinion, the focus of this song takes a new direction to the events from the previous chapter. 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.
In many situations, I find myself crippled or paralyzed by what I see in front of me. I cry out to God. Here, we are reminded that those cries do not go unheard. The Lord goes out before us and accomplishes what we could not do. He will fight our battles.
More importantly, he 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 this eternal victory. It should lead us, as it did in Judges 5, to sing songs in worship of the Almighty King.