Peter Barnes | Judges 4-5
SERMON NOTES
THE DEADLY FEMALE OF THE SPECIES
(Judges 4-5; part 1)
– Barak is mentioned in Hebrews 11:32.
1. Rebellion.
– 4:1; character is what we are when no one is looking.
2. Repression.
– 4:2-3; Jabin was king in Hazor in the north which was originally taken in the days of Joshua (Joshua 11:10-11)
– trade routes blocked (5:6), daily life collapsed (5:7), defenceless (5:8), rape accepted by the Canaanites (5:30)
3. Remorse.
– 4:3; just a sorry day
4. Rescue.
– 4:4-5; Deborah is both judge and prophetess (note Ex.15:20; 2 Kings 22:14; Isa.8:3). She gives the word to Barak (4:6-7). Barak is weak in not going without her (4:8-9).
– J. B. Payne: this means that women could hold any office in Israel. No, it does not: they could not be priests or elders; same in the New Testament (Luke 2:36; Acts 21:9); note Deborah’s faith in 4:14.