Judges 4:4-9 [Barak, Who Wanted to Go with Deborah the Prophetess]

[Things to Meditate On]

1. The passage above is about Deborah, the only female judge in the period of the judges. At that time, because the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, God allowed Jabin king of Canaan to oppress the children of Israel mightily for twenty years (Judges 4:1-3). The children of Israel cried unto God again, as they had done before, and God raised up Deborah the prophetess and destroyed Jabin king of Canaan (Judges 4:23-24).

2. Deborah judged the children of Israel under the palm tree of Deborah (verse 5), and in the Bible, the palm tree can symbolize authority to rule. That is why, when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people welcomed Him with branches of palm trees, because the palm tree symbolized royal authority (John 12:13). Deborah called Barak the son of Abinoam and delivered to him the word of God, telling him to defeat Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, along with his chariots and his multitude (verse 7). When Barak heard this word, how did he answer Deborah (verse 8)? I believe that the heart contained in Barak's words is a heart that we today must surely learn from.

3. Just as Barak humbly desired to go together with Deborah, we also must always desire to walk together with Jesus. Even if we do not receive glory because of it (verse 9), we must seek to walk with Jesus to the end, with the heart that it is enough if only Jesus receives glory. Barak's earnest heart can be compared to the earnest heart of Ruth, who said to her mother-in-law that nothing but death would separate her from her.

Ruth 1:15-17 "15And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. 16And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."

[Decision and Application]

To believe in and follow Jesus means to forsake all that we have and live in obedience to the words of Jesus (Luke 14:33, Luke 9:23). Therefore, if we desire to walk together with Jesus, we must give up our own glory, just as Barak did. If Barak had thought of his own glory, he would not have tried to go together with Deborah. However, because Barak laid down his own glory and earnestly desired to go with Deborah, he was able to go with Deborah and gain victory in that battle. In the same way, when we also seek the glory of Jesus rather than our own glory, we can walk together with Jesus. And when we go forth in the name of Jesus, God will cause us also to triumph in every battle for the sake of that name.

1 Samuel 17:45-47 "45Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands."

Thus, unlike Goliath, who came out to fight trusting in his own strength and weapons, young David came out to fight for the name of God, which Goliath had defied, and God gave David victory in that battle. Through this great event, we can understand the meaning of the word, "whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Colossians 3:17). This is because, when we also seek to do everything in the name of Jesus, as David did, Jesus will be with us. Therefore, just as Barak sought to go together with Deborah even though he would not receive glory for himself, when we also think first of the glory of Jesus rather than ourselves and seek to do everything in the name of Jesus, Jesus will walk together with us, just as Deborah walked together with Barak. In the end, He will even cause us to receive the salvation of our souls (1 Peter 1:9).

Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

Acts 4:5-12 "5...If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole... 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Amen.