Yesterday, we recalled the exciting story of Judge Deborah, with military leader Barak, leading the Israelites into battle against Sisera, as recorded in Judges 4. The battle ends with the death of Sisera at the hands of Jael, a housewife married to a Kenite (non-Israelite, apparently).

Then while he was fast asleep from exhaustion, Jael wife of Heber took a tent peg and hammer, tiptoed toward him, and drove the tent peg through his temple and all the way into the ground. He convulsed and died. (Judges 4.21, MSG)

It’s such a great event that Judges Chapter 5 records the song Deborah and Barak led in celebration. (Click the link: it’s worth the read in its entirety.)

It ends the same as chapter 4 with Jael’s heroics.

Most blessed of all women is Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of homemaking women. He asked for water, she brought milk; In a handsome bowl, she offered cream. She grabbed a tent peg in her left hand, with her right hand she seized a hammer. She hammered Sisera, she smashed his head, she drove a hole through his head. He slumped at her feet. He fell. He sprawled. He slumped at her feet. He fell. Slumped. Fallen. Dead. (Judges 5.24 – 27, MSG)

I wish I knew the tune! “…she drove a hole through his head. He slumped… He fell. He sprawled. He slumped… He fell. Slumped. Fallen. Dead.”

In addition to Jael, the song focuses on God’s exploits and the heroic responses of warriors from Ephraim, Benjamin, Zebulon, Issachar, and Napthali. For example:

Zebulun risked life and limb, defied death, as did Naphtali on the battle heights. (Judges 5.18, MSG)

BUT, the song also includes this damning section:

But in Reuben’s divisions there was much second-guessing. Why all those campfire discussions? Diverted and distracted, Reuben’s divisions couldn’t make up their minds. Gilead played it safe across the Jordan, and Dan, why did he go off sailing? Asher kept his distance on the seacoast, safe and secure in his harbors. (Judges 5.15 – 17, MSG)

• Reuben: “diverted and distracted…couldn’t make up their minds”
• Gilead: “played it safe across the Jordan”
• Dan: “why did he go off sailing?”
• Asher: “kept his distance on the sea coast, safe and secure in his harbors.”

That’s not a list I’d want to be on! Significant women (yesterday), insignificant men today. There’s a battle going on. Judges makes it clear from the beginning:

Here is a list of the nations the Lord left in the land to test the new generation of Israel who had not experienced the wars of Canaan. For God wanted to give opportunity to the youth of Israel to exercise faith and obedience in conquering their enemies… (Judges 3.1, 2, TLB)

We’re supposed to exercise faith and obedience in conquering enemies. Recently Christianity Today reported on a few song writers collaborating on a new stanza for How Great Thou Art.

Until that day

When heaven bids us welcome,

And as we walk this broken warring world,

Your kingdom come,

Deliver us from evil,

And we’ll proclaim our God how great You are!

Some day heaven will bid us welcome. In the meantime, “we walk this broken warring world.” And we’ll need to “exercise faith and obedience in conquering our enemies.”

May we be more like Deborah, Barak, Jael, Zebulon, and Issachar and less like Reuben and Gilead.