5.1-3 The Song of Deborah. This chapter is a poetic song of the battle in chapter 4. The avenging of Israel is a Hebrew phrase that is difficult to translate. It is about people who volunteer and willingly and spontaneously give of themselves freely.

5.4-10 Deborah sings to Kings to announce the greatness of the victory, and also serve notice this victory was of God. She recounts the event leading up to the great victory during the days of Shamgar and Jael. To all who ride on white asses (royalty), be advised God fights for Israel.

5.11-13 awake. This admonition repeated twice for emphasis means to open the eyes. Israel had been spiritually asleep and the prophetess calls for a national awakening. This is one of the prominent roles of all prophets in the Bible. To awaken those who have fallen asleep. Then the call is to arise. The call to act follows the call to awake. To awake and not act is pointless. This is echoed in the New Testament in relation to faith. James declares faith without works is dead. Faith in Jesus Christ is just an awakening. Obeying the New Testament plan of salvation is action. This principal is always true in God’s economy and is illustrated many times by Jesus and the Apostles. Our actions do not save us but our faith is of no effect unless we act.

5.14-18 the accolades of the battles are now bestowed upon the tribes who fought. One trait of God is He never forgets to reward His servants. Deborah also chides the tribes who looked on without coming to aid in the battle. The prophet’s role is to reward and to admonish.

5.19-24 the kings. All the advantages of the heathen kings were nullified by God. God took away their advantages. Isaiah would say seven centuries later that no weapon formed against you shall prosper. The strength of the Canaanite’s army became their arrearage.

5.25-27 The song adds a detail that the report of battle leaves out. Jael cut off Sisera’s head after she drove the tent stake through his head. This practice was not unusual in the Bible: example David and Goliath.

5.28-31 With a nod of the head to the mother of Sisera as one woman to another, Deborah stays true to her purpose as a prophetess. This type of song would be common among the cultures of this era of time. Many countries have such odes to commemorate epic victories. The difference here is, God chose to have this song entered into the eternal record. While other ballads will fade in the morning glory of the dawn of eternity, The Song of Deborah shall ever be sung throughout the ages, a tribute to God and to those who willingly gave themselves.

Thanks for reading today…