Pray: "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law."

1. 1

   What do you learn about God (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) from this chapter? His thoughts, ways, or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

2. 2

   This chapter is a song of poetry that Deborah and Barak sang. According to verse 1, when did they sing this song? (Hint: look at 4:23.) Ponder: do we immediately praise the Lord when He moves on our behalf?

3. 3

   According to verse 2, how did the people offer themselves to the Lord? In verses 3-5, Deborah sings of the Lord's deliverance of Israel from the oppression of the Egyptians. What did the Lord use in His deliverance?

4. 4

   Verses 6-9 describe what life was like for the Israelites in the days of Shamgar. Remember Shamgar was a judge after Ehud, briefly mentioned in 3:31. What did the people of Israel do to avoid their Canaanite oppressors? In verse 8, life among the Canaanites led the people of Israel to choose what? As a result, there was internal conflict among the Israelites: those who followed the Lord versus those who turned to new gods. In verse 9, again Deborah appreciated those who willingly offered themselves to service for the Lord and drew their attention to the Lord.

5. 5

   According to verses 10-11, what led to the people marching down to the gates? Ponder: how does remembering what the Lord has done inspire people to stand firm for the Lord?

6. 6

   Verses 12-22 describe the tribes of Israel as they followed God, through the leadership of Deborah and Barak, into battle against their Canaanite oppressors. Which tribes did not go into battle? Which tribe thought long and hard about it but ultimately did not join? As in verses 3-5, how did God fight for the people of Israel? Note: The Canaanite gods were supposedly over the storms and stars. Deborah is mocking their gods and declaring the God of Israel as the true God of all.

7. 7

   In verses 23-27, there is a stark contrast between the people of Meroz (a village in the tribe of Naphtali's land) and Jael. What is the contrast?

8. 8

   In verses 28-30, Deborah imagines how the mother of Sisera felt as her son delayed to return home. In verse 30, we see insight into the mindset of the Canaanites' depravity. The mention of "a womb or two for every man" refers to the raping of the women they take captive. The Canaanites were depraved people who terrorized the people of Israel. When Jael kills Sisera, she is killing a man who would likely have raped her if he had lived, since this was the pattern of their conquests. Is it any wonder why Deborah ends her song wanting the Lord to destroy all His enemies as He has done this day.

9. 9

   Ponder: The People of Israel lived among people who rejected God, turned to other gods, and were morally depraved. Sound familiar? Isn't our culture much the same? We are even beginning to encounter threats within our borders from those who want to radically change our nation and reject Christianity. We are not Israel, but as believers we will face those who hate us simply because they hate the God we serve. How can this chapter model for us how we should react to those who hate the Lord? We are not called into physical war against those who hate God, but we can stand firm. Romans 1:16 states, "I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of salvation…" If we believe this, we are called to declare it to a dying world. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 says, "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." Will we remember and declare praise to God for His victories in the past? Will we willingly serve the Lord and stand firm, with boldness and love, against those who hate Him? Or will we act like those who did not go into battle; maybe we will think about it, but then take no action? Or will we keep our faith to ourselves like those in Meroz? How does this lead you to pray?