Village Schools of the Bible

RASCALS USED BY GOD
A Devotional Study of Judges
by Max Frazier, Jr.

DEBORAH AND BARAK: HARMONY IN SERVICE
Judges 4 and 5

Deborah is a name which is familiar to many of us. Perhaps at least one of you joining us today has that as your name. I have known several Deborah's in my lifetime, including a young niece who lives in California. But how many of you have known of a man with the name of Barak? Personally, I have never met anyone with this name. A recent Prime Minister of Israel is named Barak.

In Judges chapters 4 and 5, we read the story of this outstanding woman and this army general and the great victory which God accomplished through their lives. In our study today, I want to share some insights into who Deborah and Barak were, and then, tomorrow I will share some of the truths which come from their lives.

Through the years, the Canaanites had become rebellious of the claims Israel was making upon their land. They had become tired of paying the annual tribute to the Israelite leaders. They had been frightened during the days of Joshua, but after seeing what Mesopotamia and Moab had done, there was no longer any fear. United under the leadership of Jabin, king of Hazor, a large city in the far north of Galilee, and under his able military leader Sisera, who was stationed with the troops just at the foot of Mount Carmel in the west, the Canaanites decided to rebel. And rebel they did, oppressing Israel for twenty years.

God heard the cries from His people and raised up two very different people to act as His instruments of deliverance. Deborah was a prophetess. People knew that she spoke for God. People came to her for counsel and guidance. The situation in Israel had reached such a stage where the people no longer respected the court or governmental systems. But they did respect Deborah.

This thought cause me to give consideration to how I speak and what people hear when I speak. When I share through classes or even through these Village Line chats, am I merely speaking for myself, sharing my own philosophies and ideals? Or am I speaking for God? Friends, I can assure you that I am constantly addressing those two questions. It would be easy to share my own ideas. But God has called me to share His thoughts.

I want to thank you for remembering me daily in your prayers. Continue to pray that God would give me the heart of a servant and that I would be careful to only speak what God would lay upon my heart. Pray that I would have the spirit of this great woman called Deborah.

Barak was very capable military leader. Ten thousand men responded to his call and he organized and trained them. His men were to march into the very strength of the enemy. Deborah and Barak: two people working together in harmony in order that the work of God might be accomplished. And God used both to bring a stunning victory over Sisera and Jabin

Father, I want to praise You for the gifts which You have bestowed upon Your Body. And I praise you for those victories which occur when we all learn to work together in harmony. Israel's victory needed a Deborah and a Barak. One was no more important than the other. I thank You for each friend of the Village Schools. Father, each one is so vitally important to the work of sharing the Word of God. Encourage the hearts of the Deborahs and the Baraks of the Village Schools today. And I give You all the praise in Christ's name. Amen.

MORE FROM DEBORAH AND BARAK
Judges 4 and 5

In our last study, I introduced you to Deborah and Barak, two very gifted people whom God used to accomplish a great victory over the Canaanites. As I have evaluated their lives, I have discovered three truths which I want to share with you in this brief study.

First, Deborah was willing to get involved. She was not merely content to sit under the palm tree and give orders. She got into the action. This reminded me of the actions of the prophet Elijah many years later. He decided to get involved with the wicked King Ahab in a contest on Mount Carmel. I also thought of Daniel who was willing to get involved with his prayer life even though it meant getting tossed into the lions den. Or, how about the story of Moses, who was convinced by God to get involved in the release of the Israelites from Egypt.

I believe God would desire for each of us to get involved for Him. Now I am not saying that we need to fight a war like Deborah did, but you and I can get involved in the lives of our neighbors by encouraging them with visits and calls. We can get involved in the lives of our communities by writing notes of praise and letters of encouragement. I am reminded of a lady in one of my former churches who wrote cards of sympathy and encouragement to those whose obituaries she had read in the newspaper. Her acts of love and encouragement reached an entire city. God does not ask us to do everything, but He does ask us to do something. What can you do for God today?

Second, both Deborah and Barak were willing to use their talents. Deborah could not fight, but she could inspire others. Barak could not prophesy, but he could fight. Victory could not have been achieved without the involvement of either. Paul reminds the Corinthian church, in 1 Corinthians 12, that God has given a gift to every believer and that He wants that gift to be used to build others up.

Third, God gave the victory through His Spirit. We read these words in Judges 4:23, On that day God subdued Jabin, the Canaanite king, before the Israelites. In order to accomplish victories, you and I need to have the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We need to be filled each day and to walk daily in the power of the Spirit. To wage spiritual warfare without the presence of the Holy Spirit is like fighting a war with no chain of command. It leads to total defeat.

Well, this ends another study. Next, our focus will be upon one of the most familiar of the judges, a man by the name of Gideon. Until then, may our great God encourage and bless each of you.

Father, I thank You for the stories of these little known leaders whom You used to accomplish Your purposes. Lord, so many of the friends of the Village School I have never met, and yet Lord, how thankful I am for each one. They are my Deborahs and Baraks. You have used them as an encouragement to me. I would pray that You would bless each one in very special ways these days. Allow them to experience the joys of Your presence. And, together we shall all give You the praise and the thanks for what You have chosen to do. Amen.

Judges 3 Return to the Table of Contents Judges 6