Sat.’s Devo - The Sword of Victory

Read: Judges 4:1-5:31; Luke 22:35-53; Ps. 94:1-23; Proverbs 14:3-4 Once Ehud died, the people went into idolatry again. God gave them over to Jabin, the king of the Canaanites who oppressed them for 20 years. The Canaanites had recovered their strength in the north from Joshua’s victory. This was the greatest oppression Israel had been made to endure. Jabin’s army had 900 chariots of iron and was led by Sisera. *** Deborah was the judge for Israel and would sit under a tree between Ramah and Bethel to judge the people. She had Barak sent to her and asked him why he hadn’t obeyed the word of the Lord. God had commanded him to take 10,000 of his men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun and meet Sisera, the commander of the Canaanites by the Kishon River so God could give them the victory. Barak said he wouldn’t go unless Deborah went with him. It was customary in the east for a warrior to take something dear to them to war for good luck. Deborah finally agreed to go, but told him that the glory for their victory would go to a woman, since he leaned on a woman. Little did he know, the woman would not be Deborah. *** The descendants of Hobab, Moses’ father-in-law lived near by. They were known as the Kenites. *** Sisera and his army met Israel’s army at the Kishon River where they fought. Barak’s army killed everyone of Sisera’s men and Sisera fled on foot. *** He ended up at the tent of Jael’s a woman married to Heber the Kenite. Thinking they were allies, he asked if he could hide in her tent. She let him in and gave him some milk to drink. He collapsed on her bed from exhaustion. God put him into a deep sleep and while he was sleeping, Jael drove a tent peg through his temple in his head. When Barak arrived, she showed the now dead Sisera to him. *** Deborah and Barak sang a song about their defeat. In the song they give praise to the Lord for their victory. They explain the sad state Israel was in for abandoning their God. They were thankful for the godly leaders who rose up in God’s strength to fight their enemies, and to God who gave them the victory. They rebuked Reuben for hearing the sound of battle, but instead of fighting they chose to sit peacefully at home. The people of Gilead, Dan and Asher also chose not to help. But, Zebulun, Naphtali risked their lives for their country and fought without seeking the rewards of conquest. *** In heaven, the angels fought against Sisera as men fought on earth. The enemy was defeated near streams of the Kishon. The ones that fled had to cross the deep and marshy bed of the rushing river, but the Lord had sent a heavy rain, causing the waters to suddenly rise. Many warriors died in the quicksands, and others were drowned or washed into the sea. *** The Lord cursed Meroz, a city within Issachar and Naphtali which lay on the way of the fleeing army of Sisera. The people in the city refused to help fight them. *** He blessed Jael for overcoming her fear to fulfill her destiny. What a contrast to Sisera’s mother who waited for Sisera to bring her embroidered fabric. *** After this great victory, Israel experienced peace and rest for 40 years. *** In Luke, Jesus explained to his disciples that something had shifted, and before when he told them not to take money, provisions and a sword, he was now telling them to take all these things. *** Jesus took his disciples with him to the Mount of Olives and told them to pray that they wouldn’t enter into temptation. Then he prayed that God would remove this cup of suffering from him, but added that he wanted God’s will above his own. Angels came down and strengthened him. Jesus prayed so earnestly that he sweat drops of blood. *** Jesus went to check on his disciples and found them sleeping. While he was talking to them, the crowd, led by Judas, was approaching. Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss and Peter took his sword and cut off the servant of the high priest’s ear. Jesus stoped him and touched the man’s ear and it was healed. Jesus made a point that they could have done this in the day, but they chose to do this at night. He was exposing their sins which are done in darkness. This was not lost on them who were the teachers of the law. *** Lord, in our times of greatest temptation and trials, may we not be found sleeping. May we always carry our sword of the spirit and be ready and willing to use it. May we walk in the light.