God’s Sovereignty Over Human Events (Judges 5:1-31)                                                                               2009.01.25    Pastor Richard Yu

Both Judges 4 and 5 describes the same event of how the Israelites, under the leadership of Deborah, the prophetess, and Barak, the army commander, defeated the Canaanite king, Jabin, and his army commander, Sisera. Chapter 4 gives us the historical account of the battle, but chapter 5, the Song of Deborah, gives us a divine perspective on the battle; it looks beneath the surface of the historical specifics and sees God’s hand behind it all.

One of the key elements in this story is "When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves – praise the LORD!” (v. 2) The Hebrew word translated “praise” here means “bless.” Thus it is saying, “When leaders lead in Israel, when the people willingly offer themselves, bless the LORD!” To “bless” is “to providentially empower.” So when a human being “blesses” God he is saying that he “declares or acknowledges the origin or source of the providential empowerment,” hence, “to praise.” Israel praises God because the leaders actually lead, after years of little or no leadership at all. And because the leaders led, the people followed. Many different tribes volunteered to join in the fight against the Canaanites. Nevertheless, other tribes refused to join in and stayed away from the battle, and for that they were cursed by God.

Just as God graciously delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage when He displayed His power by elements of nature; here, too, Israel’s deliverance was due to God’s grace and power. The Israelites had no weapons and were powerless before the Canaanites and their chariots, but God intervened, employing nature to defeat the enemy.

He caused the stars joined in the fight against Sisera; pouring rain turned the river Kishon into a raging flood. The Canaanites’ chariots were immobilized in the mud and became “sitting ducks” for Israeli foot soldiers.

This Song is intentionally composed to emphasize the deliverance provided by the LORD. He is the One pulling strings, raising generals, deploying armies, dictating strategy, and effecting victory. God’s sovereignty over human events is clearly proclaimed. The passage encourages us to recognize God’s sovereign control over human history and our lives. Whether it is in His compassionate deliverance, in His chastening, in His material provision, or in His leading and guiding decisions, God is supreme over our lives, and He is at work bringing His plan to fruition.

So yes, God is autonomously in charge, His hand is behind every human affair. He freely employs means to accomplish what He wishes. And yet, I see another corresponding theme also at work – and that is that although God has the whole universe at His command to do His work, He often uses people – men and women – to accomplish His work. But when He wants to use us, we need to be willing.

Deborah’s willingness to be God’s spokesperson in calling Barak to deliver His people; Barak’s willingness to submit to Deborah’s leadership; and the willing participation of the tribes of Benjamin, Manasseh, Zebulun,  Issachar, Reuben, and Naphtali in the battle against the Canaanite king illustrate the faithfulness that God is seeking.

When we are called to serve, we may feel not adequate to the task. We may feel that because of our past bad experience, God cannot use us. We may feel unequipped in what He is calling us to do. In one way or another we may feel inhibited to be used by Him. Yet that’s precisely when we need to be reminded that often God uses the weaker things of this world to confound the strong; and He uses the foolish things to confound the wise. When we as Christians are not willing to be used by God, we lose out on the opportunity for God to work through us.

Today, the situation in the church is similar to Deborah’s day. There is a great deal that needs to be done in the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. There are fellowships to be organized , Sunday School classes to be taught, new believers to be discipled, evangelism and missions to be carried out, needy brothers and sisters and neighbors to be cared for, and on and on the needs go.

And yet today too often too few are willing to step forward and assume leadership positions. And there are few people who are willing to follow.  This Song tells us that when leaders are leading under the authority of the Lord Jesus, and when people are following willingly and submitting to the authority of the Lord Jesus, He will accomplish great things through the church.

What has God called you to do? Has He called you to serve? Then volunteer, and be a supportive follower. Do what needs to be done! Are you called to lead? Then do it, trusting in God to work through your weakness in a way that makes you strong.