Matthew Henry Commentary Judges 5
Matthew Henry Commentary
Judges 5
Matthew Henry Commentary
Judges 5
"Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying, For that the leaders took the lead in Israel, For that the people offered themselves willingly, Bless ye Jehovah. Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, [even] I, will sing unto Jehovah; I will sing praise to Jehovah, the God of Israel. Jehovah, when thou wentest forth out of Seir, When thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, The earth trembled, the heavens also dropped, Yea, the clouds dropped water. The mountains quaked at the presence of Jehovah, Even yon Sinai at the presence of Jehovah, the God of Israel." — Judges 5:1-5 (ASV)
No time should be lost in returning thanks to the Lord for his mercies; for our praises are most acceptable, pleasant, and profitable, when they flow from a full heart. By this, love and gratitude would be more excited and more deeply fixed in the hearts of believers; the events would be more known and longer remembered. Whatever Deborah, Barak, or the army had done, the Lord must have all the praise. The will, the power, and the success were all from Him.
"In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, And the travellers walked through byways. The rulers ceased in Israel, they ceased, Until that I Deborah arose, That I arose a mother in Israel. They chose new gods; Then was war in the gates: Was there a shield or spear seen Among forty thousand in Israel? My heart is toward the governors of Israel, That offered themselves willingly among the people: Bless ye Jehovah. Tell [of it], ye that ride on white asses, Ye that sit on rich carpets, And ye that walk by the way. Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water, There shall they rehearse the righteous acts of Jehovah, [Even] the righteous acts of his rule in Israel. Then the people of Jehovah went down to the gates." — Judges 5:6-11 (ASV)
Deborah describes the distressed state of Israel under the tyranny of Jabin, so that their salvation might appear more gracious. She shows what brought this misery upon them. It was their idolatry. They chose new gods, with new names.
But under all these images, Satan was worshipped. Deborah was a mother to Israel, by diligently promoting the salvation of their souls. She calls on those who shared the advantages of this great salvation, to offer thanks to God for it. Let those who are restored, not only to their liberty as other Israelites, but to their rank, speak God's praises.
This is the Lord's doing. In these acts of his, justice was executed on his enemies. In times of persecution, God's ordinances—the walls of salvation from which the waters of life are drawn—are resorted to at the risk of the lives of those who attend them. At all times Satan will endeavor to hinder the believer from drawing near to the throne of grace.
Notice God's kindness to his trembling people. It is the glory of God to protect those who are most exposed, and to help the weakest. Let us notice the benefit we have from the public peace, especially the inhabitants of villages, and give God the praise.
"Awake, awake, Deborah; Awake, awake, utter a song: Arise, Barak, and lead away thy captives, thou son of Abinoam. Then came down a remnant of the nobles [and] the people; Jehovah came down for me against the mighty. Out of Ephraim [came down] they whose root is in Amalek; After thee, Benjamin, among thy peoples; Out of Machir came down governors, And out of Zebulun they that handle the marshal`s staff. And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As was Issachar, so was Barak; Into the valley they rushed forth at his feet. By the watercourses of Reuben There were great resolves of heart. Why sattest thou among the sheepfolds, To hear the pipings for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben There were great searchings of heart. Gilead abode beyond the Jordan: And Dan, why did he remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, And abode by his creeks. Zebulun was a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death, And Naphtali, upon the high places of the field. The kings came and fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan. In Taanach by the waters of Megiddo: They took no gain of money. From heaven fought the stars, From their courses they fought against Sisera. The river Kishon swept them away, That ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, march on with strength. Then did the horsehoofs stamp By reason of the prancings, the prancings of their strong ones. Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of Jehovah. Curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof, Because they came not to the help of Jehovah, To the help of Jehovah against the mighty." — Judges 5:12-23 (ASV)
Deborah called on her own soul to be in earnest. He who will set the hearts of others on fire with the love of Christ, must himself burn with love. Praising God is a work we should awake to, and awake ourselves to. She notices who fought against Israel, who fought for them, and who kept away.
Those who fought against them were obstinate enemies to God's people, and therefore the more dangerous. As for those who fought for them, the several tribes that helped are spoken of here with honor; for though God is above all to be glorified, those who are employed must have their due praise to encourage others. But the whole creation is at war with those to whom God is an enemy.
The river of Kishon fought against their enemies. At most times it was shallow, yet now, probably due to the great rain that fell, it was so swollen, and the stream so deep and strong, that those who attempted to pass were drowned. Deborah's own soul fought against them. When the soul is employed in holy exercises, and these are engaged in from the heart, through the grace of God, the strength of our spiritual enemies will be trodden down and will fall before us.
She observes who kept away and did not side with Israel, as might have been expected. Thus many are kept from doing their duty by the fear of trouble, the love of ease, and undue attachment to their worldly business and advantage. Narrow, selfish spirits do not care what becomes of God's church, as long as they can get, keep, and save money. All seek their own (Philippians 2:21). A little will serve as a pretense for those to stay at home who have no desire to engage in necessary services, because there is difficulty and danger in them.
But we cannot keep away from the contest between the Lord and His enemies; and if we do not actively endeavor to promote His cause in this wicked world, we will fall under the curse against the workers of iniquity. Though He needs no human help, yet He is pleased to accept the services of those who improve their talents to advance His cause. He requires everyone to do so.
"Blessed above women shall Jael be, The wife of Heber the Kenite; Blessed shall she be above women in the tent. He asked water, [and] she gave him milk; She brought him butter in a lordly dish. She put her hand to the tent-pin, And her right hand to the workmen`s hammer; And with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote through his head; Yea, she pierced and struck through his temples. At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay; At her feet he bowed, he fell; Where he bowed, there he fell down dead. Through the window she looked forth, and cried, The mother of Sisera [cried] through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the wheels of his chariots? Her wise ladies answered her, Yea, she returned answer to herself, Have they not found, have they not divided the spoil? A damsel, two damsels to every man; To Sisera a spoil of dyed garments, A spoil of dyed garments embroidered, Of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the spoil? So let all thine enemies perish, O Jehovah: But let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years." — Judges 5:24-31 (ASV)
Jael had a special blessing. Those whose appointed lot is humble, in a lowly and confined sphere, if they serve God according to the abilities He has given them, will not lose their reward.
The mother of Sisera looked for his return, fully confident of his success. Let us beware of indulging eager desires for any temporal good, particularly for that which feeds vainglory, because that was what she doted on here.
What a picture she presents of an ungodly and sensual heart! How shameful and childish were these wishes of an elderly mother and her attendants for her son! Thus, God often brings ruin on His enemies when they are most puffed up.
Deborah concludes with a prayer to God for the destruction of all His enemies, and for the comfort of all His friends. Such will be the honor and joy of all who love God in sincerity; they will shine forever as the sun in the firmament.
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