Written by: John Sernaque
Call to Worship
Judges 4:6
4:6 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?
God Instructed Deborah to Call Barak—
The Lord communicated to Deborah His purpose to destroy the enemies of Israel, and bade her send for a man named Barak, of the tribe of Naphtali, and make known to him the instructions which she had received. She accordingly sent for Barak, and directed him to assemble ten thousand men of the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun, and make war upon the armies of King Jabin (The Signs of the Times, June 16, 1881). {2BC 1002.4}
In the period of Judges, Deborah, a prophetess, judged over Israel. The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD after Ehud had died. The LORD had sold them into the hand of Jabin, king of Canaan. The captain of his army was a man named Sisera. By the prophetess Deborah, the LORD called on Barak to bring ten thousand men to battle against Sisera to deliver Sisera and his army into Barak’s hand. Barak was hesitant and distrustful, not in God, rather on the condition of the Israelites going forth against Sisera’s mighty army of nine hundred chariots. Barak would not go unless Deborah went with them. Therefore, Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. Deborah said to Barak this day the LORD has delivered Sisera into his hand, and the LORD has gone out before them. That day, the sword cut down Sisera’s men. However, Sisera fled on foot and came upon the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. She provided him with a blanket and a drink and he lay down to sleep. Once she realized who he was, Sisera, the enemy of God and His people, she took a tent spike and drove it through his temple, pinning him to the ground. When Barak came upon the tent, Jael showed him Sisera, as he lay dead, killed by the hand of a woman.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
We come humbly yet boldly to the foot of Your throne of grace. We thank You for this privilege, and yet another opportunity to be in Your presence. We thank and praise You for being with us, watching over and protecting us and keeping us safe. We thank You for going out before us to do battle with the enemy, the dragon and his minions, and making us more than conquerors. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against Satan and his demons. Thank You for giving us the whole armor of God. For if, You are with us, who can be against us. Thank You for Your wonderful promise that You will never leave us nor forsake us. We pray for the continual outpouring of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us and keep us on a safe path that leads us to Your glorious heavenly kingdom. We pray You speak to us and we hear Your voice to follow
wherever You lead, as You led Deborah and Barak. Let there be no doubt or unbelief among Your people. We pray that You help us. Increase our faith and help our unbelief. Help us to fear not, and only believe. Help us as we meditate on Your Word. Grant us Your wisdom and understanding as we search the scriptures. Help us to receive Your strength and courage to go forward as You have commanded us. Help us to walk by faith and not by sight. Please remove the obstacles in our way, as You did for Moses and the Israelites while crossing the Red Sea. Help us to pass through the waters and not overtaken and to pass through the fire and not be burned. Deliver the enemy into our hand and give us rest. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayers, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
