FAITH
Text: Hebrews 11
Lesson Twenty – V.32
Examples of the ancients who were commended for their faith: (Cont’d.)
BARAK: V.32 – And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,
See Judges 4 and 5.
Judges 4:1 – After Ehud died, the Israelites once again did evil in the eyes of the LORD.
Let us thank the Lord that He is instructing us to heed:
Romans 6:1-2 – What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
1 Thessalonians 5:22 – Avoid every kind of evil.
1 Peter 3:10-12 – 10For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 11He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Judges 4:2-3 – 2So the LORD sold them into the hands of Jabin, a king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth Haggoyim. 3Because he had nine hundred iron chariots and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, they cried to the LORD for help.
(V.3) – … cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years – Resulting in Judges 5:6-8 – 6“In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the roads were abandoned; travelers took to winding paths. 7Village life in Israel ceased, ceased until I, Deborah, arose, arose a mother in Israel. 8When they chose new gods, war came to the city gates, and not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.
Let us thank the Lord that He is using this to warn us of the terrible consequences of sin.
They cried to the LORD for help – Let us thank the Lord that “He is our Helper” (Hebrews 13:6). Note:
Psalm 149:4 – For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.
Hosea 6:1-3 – “Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. 2After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. 3Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”
Hosea 14:1-2 – Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall! 2Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.
1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
See Judges 4:4-10 – Here is the account of Barak being summoned by the prophetess Deborah to be informed of the Lord’s command, and being accompanied by Deborah on the expedition, at his request.
Let us thank the Lord that from these verses He is reminding us to: (1) Accept the words of genuine prophets – 1 Thessalonians 5:20 – do not treat prophecies with contempt. (2) Be mindful of Galatians 3:28 – There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Judges 4:14 – Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the LORD has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the LORD gone ahead of you?” So Barak went down Mount Tabor, followed by ten thousand men.
Compare “The Great Commission” – Matthew 28:18-20 – 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Let us thank the Lord for His abiding presence. John 14:15-18 – 15“If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever–17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Judges 4:15 – At Barak’s advance, the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword, and Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled on foot.
Note Judges 4:13 – Sisera gathered together his nine hundred iron chariots and all the men with him, from Harosheth Haggoyim to the Kishon River.
Let us thank the Lord as He directs us to Psalm 20:7-8 – 7Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. 8They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
Judges 4:23 – On that day God subdued Jabin, the Canaanite king, before the Israelites.
God subdued – Note Judges 5:20-21 – 20From the heavens the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera. 21The river Kishon swept them away, the age-old river, the river Kishon. March on, my soul; be strong!
Let us thank the Lord for the promise of Romans 16:20 – The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
Judges 4:24 – And the hand of the Israelites grew stronger and stronger against Jabin, the Canaanite king, until they destroyed him.
Let us thank the Lord for continuing to remind us of 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (Contemporary English Version) – 3We live in this world, but we don’t act like its people 4or fight our battles with the weapons of this world. Instead, we use God’s power that can destroy fortresses. We destroy arguments 5and every bit of pride that keeps anyone from knowing God. We capture people’s thoughts and make them obey Christ.
Judges 5:31 – “So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But may they who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.” Then the land had peace forty years.
Then the land had peace forty years – Let us thank the Lord for John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Let us also thank the Lord for reminding us of the following excerpt from Lesson Nineteen.
Judges 8:28 – Thus Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head again. During Gideon’s lifetime, the land enjoyed peace forty years.
The land enjoyed peace forty years – Let us thank the Lord for His promise of perpetual peace to us. Matthew 11:28-30 – 28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
(MSG) – “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (CEV) – 6Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. 7Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.