Sun.’s Devo - The Battle is the Lord’s -

Read: Judges 4:1-4:31; Luke 22:35-53; Psalm 94:1-23; Proverbs 14:3-4 After Ehud died, the people went back into sin so God turned them over to King Jabin, who Joshua had defeated in Joshua 11. King Jabin of Hazor’s name means “he will understand enclosures.” In other words, he would understand how to enslave people. The commander of his army was Sisera who oppressed Israel with his 900 iron charitots for 20 years. Finally the people cried out to God and he sent them Deborah. Deborah lived in the hills Ephraim and was a wise judge of the people and many would come to her to settle their arguments. She could be found sitting under a palm tree and was the “Judge Judy” of her day. One day, God moved upon her to send for Barak who lived in Kedesh in the land of the Naphtali. Kedesh was a city of refuge so Barak might have been a priest or a person who was seeking asylum there. She told Barak to gather an army of 10,000 from Naphtali and Zebulun and have them meet at Mt. Tabor. She would tell Sisera to go to the Kishon River which was at the bottom of Mt. Tabor. It was also a place of quick sand which would make it impossible for Sisera’s iron chariots to be functional. This was also the place where Elijah killed the false prophets of Baal. Deborah told Barak that God would give him victory over Sisera and his army. Barak was afraid and refused to go unless Deborah was went with him. Deborah agreed but told him that because he relied on a woman then a woman would get the victory. On the day of the battle, the army of Sisera came to Kishon and were attacked by the army of Barak. They were thrown into a panic. When Sisera realized his predicament, he ran away on foot. I think his chariot got stuck in the quicksand. Barak’s men chased the army of Sisera and killed them. Only Sisera got away alive. He ran to the tent of Jael. Her family lived outside of the town of Kedesh because they had disassociated themselves with the city and its people. They were on friendly terms with King Jabin of Hazor so Sisera was not afraid to come in when Jael invited him. She gave him water and some milk and covered him with a blanket. She stood at the door to keep watch while he fell asleep from exhaustion. Jael crept up to him and drove a tent peg through his temple nailing him to the ground. When Barak arrived, she showed him where Sisera lay dead. Deborah sang a song commemorating the whole event. She called Reuben out for being so indecisive that they didn’t help. She called out Dan for not helping. And, she called out Asher for staying safe in their harbors. But, she commended Zebulun and Naphtali for going to battle and she gave the victory to Jael who killed the king. They had peace for 40 years. In Luke, Jesus explained why they would now need a sword. Before, the enemy was afraid to arrest them but after that day, the disciples would be considered rebels since they associated with Jesus. He led his disciples to the Mt. of Olives where he asked them to pray that they not be led into temptation. He asked God to take his cup of suffering away, yet he wanted God’s will above his own comfort. He sweat drops of blood, he was in such torment of soul. His disciples ended up sleeping until Judas arrived with the soldiers. Judas kissed Jesus and they were about to take Jesus away when Peter remembered what Jesus had said about the sword. He took his and struck at the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear. Jesus touched it and it was healed. Jesus did ask the men who came for him why they hadn’t done this in the day light. He pointed out that they did this at night because they were children of the night and night was when the power of darkness reigns. Lord, may we follow your commands and fight when you say to fight and pray when you say to pray.