Pro 7:1-27

“Keep My Commandments, and Live”

[Study Aired Jan 2, 2024]

“Blessed are they who read, hear, and keep the sayings of this book” (Rev 1:3) includes this seventh chapter of Proverbs, and there is not one section of scripture that does not have some application to what God is doing in His workmanship that we are (2Ti 3:16 , Eph 2:10).

We are only “reading, and hearing and keeping the words of God” if we have been blessed to have been given eyes that see and ears that hear those words (Mat 13:16).

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Mat 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

These opening verses of (Pro 7:1-5) are full of admonition for God’s elect to be wholehearted in our pursuit of truth as we present our lives to God as living sacrifices (Rom 12:1-2), knowing that with such a heart and desire we will be kept “from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words”, which represents Babylon’s flattering words and ways, described in these verses, (Pro 7:6-12), that consist of her two hundred million lies (Rev 9:16-18).

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Rev 9:16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. 

Babylon promised our head, Jesus Christ, all the abundant riches that she possesses, through Satan (Pro 7:13-21 , Mat 4:4-11 , 1Jn 4:17). Christ rejected all such abundance, and the church would later confirm that all the riches of this world are not to be compared to the glory of knowing God and his Son Jesus Christ (Php 3:8-9).

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Then, the next section of Proverbs we will look at, (Pro 7:22-23), reminds us that we are all overtaken by Babylon and go into her, so that we can ‘come out of her my people’, Lord willing in this age. Christ is typified by Moses having gone into Egypt, the world, the flesh realm, and was called out of it (sinful flesh), called to lose his life as we are, in order to find it (Mat 16:25 , Rev 18:4). Moses is typical of Christ who is the author and finisher of our sojourn of faith (Heb 12:2) that takes the Israel of God out of Egypt, out of Babylon (Hos 11:1 , Gal 6:16 , Rev 18:4).

Hos 11:1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt (1Jn 3:1).

Gal 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people [the Israel of God], that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

The final admonition for God’s elect in this seventh chapter is found in (Pro 7:24-27), where we’re commanded to make our ways ‘straight’ (Mat 7:13-14).

Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction (Mat 7:26-27), and many there be which go in thereat: (Mat 22:14)
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.(Mat 22:14)

Pro 7:1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
Pro 7:2  Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple^H380 of thine eye.

This section of scripture gives us instruction on how to wholeheartedly serve the Lord. First and foremost we are to “keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee“(Rev 1:3 , Mat 6:33-34 , Rom 10:17 , Eph 6:16).

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

If we take anxious thought for the morrow, that will become our focus, as opposed to seeking the kingdom of God first, and so it is only when we keep God’s commandments that we can truly enter into life (Mat_19:17), by making His law the apple^H380 of our eye. When we have a singular focus on Christ, looking to the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2), we are putting that relationship of faith above all other relationships. In other words, if we make Christ’s example the apple of our eye, we will find Him, and God will make His strength perfect through those who abide in the truth, which is where our Father and Christ will make their abode (Rom 12:1-3 , Mat 6:33 , 2Co 11:3 , Joh 14:20-23).

2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity [singleness]^G572 that is in Christ.

Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Joh 14:22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

apple H380. ‘ı̂yshôn

BDB Definition:

1) pupil of the eye
2) middle of the night (that is the deepest blackness)

Part of Speech: noun masculine
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: diminutive from

simplicity  G572   haplotēs hap-lot’-ace

From G573; singleness, that is, (subjectively) sincerity (without dissimulation or self seeking), or (objectively) generosity (copious bestowal): – bountifulness, liberal (-ity), simplicity, singleness.
Total KJV occurrences: 8

Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is (2Co 4:7), there will your heart be also.
Mat 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single^G573, thy whole body shall be full of light.

Pro 7:3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
Pro 7:4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
Pro 7:5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

There is a saying in the earth that goes, “blood is thicker than water”. In other words, Adamic relationships with our family should take precedence over all other physical relationships we have in the world. In principle this is true, “if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1Ti 5:8).

For God’s elect however, [spiritual] water must become thicker than [adamic] blood, through a miraculous relationship that Christ and his body have, where we are commanded to, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Gal 6:10), but not to the exclusion or neglecting of our own physical families. We can take care of the world as we have opportunity, but we can only be washed with the water of the word, or the blood of Christ, via the body of Christ who are our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Joh 13:14 , Eph 5:26, 1Jn 5:8 , Mat 12:48-50).

Joh 13:14  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 

1Jn 5:8  And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 

The way we interact and treat our physical families is a reflection of our faith or lack of faith with the body of Christ. At the same time having said this, Christ admonishes us that we must be willing to put Christ and His words above every relationship in the flesh, if we are to become disciples indeed of our Lord (Luk 14:26-27 , Joh 8:31-32 , Act 5:29).

Luk 14:26  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 
Luk 14:27  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Act 5:29  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 

Seeking the kingdom of God first and his righteousness, is symbolized by these words, “Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart“, that reflect a life that has been bound to the altar of God (Psa 118:27). 

Psa 118:27  God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

It is when we have this type of relationship with God and Christ (Joh 17:3) that we can begin to say to Christ, who is our wisdom (1Co 1:30), that “you are our sister”,  through the church, and “our kinswoman”,  through the church, who ‘brings us understanding’ (Act 9:5): “Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman“. Those words of eternal life that we receive through the church, should be the pearl of great price in our hearts that have us looking nowhere else (Joh 6:68), as they alone can keep us “from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words“.

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 

Joh 6:68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 

Pro 7:6  For at the window of my house I looked through my casement^H822,
Pro 7:7  And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, 
Pro 7:8  Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, 
Pro 7:9  In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: 
Pro 7:10  And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. 
Pro 7:11  (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: 
Pro 7:12  Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) 

We see in these, verses what happens when we are void of understanding, causing us to be overtaken by the harlotries that are found in the churches of this world. 

It is only when we are in the house of the Lord that we can look back at our spiritual adulteries as we see our former conversations (Eph 2:1-3) being played out in others, as we look “through my casement^H822“.  The only other use of the word ‘casement’ is in (Jdg 5:28), where the mother of Sisera, whose name is not given, is lamenting over the death of her son, the former commander of the Canaanite army of King Jabin of Hazor who was killed by Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite, in the infamous tent peg episode, that was driven through his skull (Jdg 4:8-22). 

No commentators recognize the lack of leadership that Israel possessed when Deborah became the fourth and only female judge of Israel. It was through her leadership that God would cause Israel to go on to prosper and prevail against the king of Canaan, “on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel. And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan” (Jdg 4:24).

It all sounds like a good story for Israel, to see these two woman taking charge where there was a lack of leadership in the nation, Jael who killed Sisera and Deborah who was now the female judge in Israel. However getting back to our study of proverbs, we need to consider that this only other use of the word casement^H822 in God’s word is with another person who is looking through lattice and beholding a male figure being overcome by the harlot going into her house, which is typified by Sisera going into the house of Jael who was the wife of Heber the Kenite. 

What happens when men don’t rule their house well is that women, who typify the church, negatively in this instance, take charge. God gave Israel leaders because they rejected Him as their sovereign leader (1Sa 8:7), and this leadership of Deborah and emboldened actions of Jael is symbolic of how Babylon make strides in this world, even when the leadership roles are reversed, the female being the head and not the man (1Co 11:3). God answers us according to the idol of our hearts, and when men don’t lead by submitting to Christ, it won’t be long until women assume the role of leadership, which is a manifestation of the flesh being against God (Mal 2:14). 

1Sa 8:7  And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 

1Co 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. 

Mal 2:14  Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. 

With these thoughts in mind, let’s look at what we see when we look through the ‘lattice’ of our windows regarding the condition of the Babylonian churches today. ‘Looking through the lattice’ in verse 6 here represents those who are going onto maturity, and looking back and seeing now the harlot system we’ve been called out of. What we see of course is a memory of our simple, misguided and veiled view of God’s word (2 Co 3:13-14) that had us “Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house“. It is “In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night” that we meet this woman, as our heavens are not illuminated, but carnal and blind. This is the status of our minds when we meet “a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart“. That woman is stubborn and convinced that she has done no wrong (Pro 30:20), and these activities are happening on every street corner as the glebes of our world demonstrate, lying in wait to make proselytes of those who come near her door (Mat 23:15).

Pro 30:20  Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

Mat 23:15  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. 

Pro 7:13  So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, 
Pro 7:14  I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. 
Pro 7:15  Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. 
Pro 7:16  I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. 
Pro 7:17  I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 

This is a very descriptive way of speaking regarding the Harlot church of Babylon that we come out of in (Rev 18:12-13). 

Rev 18:12  The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, 
Rev 18:13  And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. 

She snares us and kisses us with a Judas-like kiss (Luk 22:48) that is only to further our deception and perception of what we are truly looking at. Her face is impudent or hardened, like the beast that she plans to ride (Rev 17:7), not knowing that one day that beast will turn on her and destroy her (Rev 17:6). She is full of flattery and claims to know the way of peace (Jer 6:14) as she offers up the conditions that she believes will bring peace, again not in subjection to her head at all, Jesus Christ, who is our peace (Eph 2:14).

Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 

She is quick to tell us of the many wonderful works she’s done by saying, “I payed my vows“, in other words, ‘I’m a good person and I’m even a fisher of men and not a harlot who “comes forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee“‘. 

‘Come on in and look at all the beautifully deceitful things I have to offer’, is what these alluring coverings of tapestry, with carved, and fine linen of Egypt represent. It is the sensual, devilish things of the earth, the twisted word of God (Jas 3:15 , Mat 4:3), that the devil always tries to use to draw us away from the fidelity of the true bread from heaven, given to those who are likened unto a virgin who is espoused unto one husband (2Co 11:2-3).

2Co 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 
2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  

The defiled bed that Satan perfumes is likened unto “myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon“, which are symbols of the deceitfulness of corrupt spiritual riches that control the churches of this world, with their sensuality tied to devilish, earthly practices (2Pe 2:19-21).

2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 
2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

Pro 7:18  Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. 
Pro 7:19  For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: 
Pro 7:20  He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed. 
Pro 7:21  With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. 

It is when Satan seduces people into thinking that we won’t reap what we sow (Gal 6:7-9), and that there is no accounting for all our actions (Rom 14:12), including every idol word that we speak (Mat 12:36), that we become careless and give the wicked one the foothold into our lives that we must never let happen (Eph 4:27).

Eph 4:27  Neither give place to the devil. 

The pleasures of sin for a season (Heb 11:25) are described for us with these words, “Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves“, and they manifest when we refuse to believe that Christ “the goodman” has truly never gone anywhere (Heb 13:5), and like the father of the prodigal son, can see a far off all our actions (Luk 15:20 , Mat 10:29). He is ‘gone away’ in the same sense that the parable of the vineyard discusses how God is not intervening in the affairs of this world at this time (Mat 20:1-16), not that he does not have power at any given moment to put an end to any and all evil (Joh 19:11 , Mat 26:53).

The “long journey” does typify Christ’s being with the Father now in the fulness, and the ‘bag of money’ that he has typifies the true riches of his Word that He holds fast to, and calls the elect to do the same, until the appointed time that He returns to give reward to the elect (Rev 11:18).

Rev 11:18  And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. 

Without God’s spirit in our lives, we all initially succumb to the lies of the devil and through the church, “With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him“.

Pro 7:22  He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; 
Pro 7:23  Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. 

We are all overtaken by Babylon and go into her, so that we can come out of her my people, Lord willing, in this age. We go “as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks“, telling us this is an evil experience, which the Lord has ordained (Pro 16:4) that we go into and come out of by God’s grace. We are meant to have the fiery darts of Satan (Eph 6:16) ‘go through our liver as we haste to the snare’, the traps of the carnal church, not knowing that God created that evil day for our good, and not even seeing it coming as we head straightway into spiritual disaster, defiling the temple of God so that our first man can be destroyed by the brightness of His coming when that glorious day occurs (1Co 3:17 , 2Th 2:7-8).

1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

Pro 7:24  Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. 
Pro 7:25  Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. 
Pro 7:26  For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. 
Pro 7:27  Her house is the way to hell^H7585, going down to the chambers of death. 

These final admonitions in (Pro 7:24-27) are telling us what we read in (Rev 18:4)

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Our hearts can very subtilty “decline to her ways” when we think above what is written (1Co 4:6). ‘Going astray in her paths’, is following another Jesus, another way that leads to death. Many have “been slain by her“, and she has “cast down many wounded: yea, many strong“(Mat 24:14), telling us that Satan can easily sift us like wheat (1Co 10:12-14). But for the grace of God, demonstrated by the faith of Christ that God’s elect are given, we look through our lattice, and look behind us as John did in the temple, on the day of the Lord, the day of our judgement (Rev 1:10 , 1Pe 4:17), to recognize that we’ve come out of “Her house is [which is] the way to hell^H7585, going down to the chambers of death“, where the dead bury their dead (Luk 9:60).

H7585  she’ôl    she’ôl  sheh-ole’, sheh-ole’

BDB Definition:
1) sheol, underworld, grave, hell, pit
1a) the underworld
1b) Sheol – the OT designation for the abode of the dead
1b1) place of no return
               1b2) without praise of God
1b3) wicked sent there for punishment
1b4) righteous not abandoned to it
               1b5) of the place of exile (figuratively)
1b6) of extreme degradation in sin
Part of Speech: noun feminine
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H7592 [ask, enquire, borrow, beg]

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Jdg 5:1-31 Praise Ye the Lord for the Avenging of Israel

[Study Aired March 22, 2021]

Jdg 5:1  Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying, 
Jdg 5:2  Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves. 
Jdg 5:3  Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel. 
Jdg 5:4  LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water. 
Jdg 5:5  The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel. 
Jdg 5:6  In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways. 
Jdg 5:7  The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel. 
Jdg 5:8  They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? 
Jdg 5:9  My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD. 
Jdg 5:10  Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way. 
Jdg 5:11  They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates. 
Jdg 5:12  Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam. 
Jdg 5:13  Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty. 
Jdg 5:14  Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer. 
Jdg 5:15  And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart. 
Jdg 5:16  Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. 
Jdg 5:17  Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches. 
Jdg 5:18  Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field. 
Jdg 5:19  The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money. 
Jdg 5:20  They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera. 
Jdg 5:21  The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength. 
Jdg 5:19  The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money. 
Jdg 5:20  They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera. 
Jdg 5:21  The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength. 
Jdg 5:22  Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones. 
Jdg 5:23  Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty. 
Jdg 5:24  Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent. 
Jdg 5:25  He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish. 
Jdg 5:26  She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples. 
Jdg 5:27  At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead. 
Jdg 5:28  The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots? 
Jdg 5:29  Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself, 
Jdg 5:30  Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil? 
Jdg 5:31  So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years. 

This chapter shows us that we need to show appreciation to the Lord for what He has done for us as He continues to give us victories over the flesh. The song sang by Deborah and Barak is similar to the song Moses and the children of the Israelites sang when the Lord delivered them from the Egyptians after the Lord made a way through the Red Sea for the Israelites to pass.

Exo 15:1  Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
Exo 15:2  The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
Exo 15:3  The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.
Exo 15:4  Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.

What is most insightful about these songs sang by the Israelites in the case of Moses and Deborah is that victory against the enemy within is the work of the Lord. Our Lord is the man of war, and He wins the battle for us. This should encourage us to fight the good fight of faith because we know that once He has started defeating the enemy on our behalf, He is able to bring it to completion. Let’s look at the details of the song sang by Deborah and Barak as they show us how our Lord trains our hands for war.

Psa 18:34  He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

Jdg 5:1  Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying, 
Jdg 5:2  Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves. 

Since the scriptures were written for our admonition, we need to learn to show appreciation by giving praise to the Lord for the victories He wins on our behalf on daily basis. As we die daily, we are winning the war. In verse 2 here, it is said that the people willingly offered themselves. However, we know from the sum of God’s words that it is God who works in us to make us willing to offer ourselves as instruments to be used to win this war.

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Here in this verse we are given the reason for praising the Lord.  That is, the Israelites were praising God for setting them free from their enemies. We all must learn to praise the Lord for the victories He wins for us on daily basis. As the elect, we must continually offer praise to our Lord.  Apart from the fact that we are commanded to praise God, praising our Lord grants us access to God as we can only enter His presence (gates) with thanksgiving in our heart and enter His courts with praise. Praising God also chases away despair as we exchange our spirit of heaviness with a garment of praise.

Psa 150:6  Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Psa 100:4  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Isa 61:3  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

We must remember that the Israelites praised God with songs and since Babylon (the church system we are coming out of) is under the law, it also praise and worship the Lord only through singing. For those who are being delivered from Babylonian captivity, we not only praise and worship the Lord through singing as we offer the fruits of the lips, but more importantly, we offer spiritual praise and worship which means offering our bodies as living sacrifice. Offering our bodies as living sacrifice is not being conformed to the standards of the world but being transformed by the renewing of our minds. This is like a sweet smelling offering that pleases the Lord.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Jdg 5:3  Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel. 

The scriptures were written for the Kings and the princes. The question is, “who are the kings and the princes who are required to pay attention to this song sang by Deborah and Barak”? We, the elect are the royal priesthood as explained by Peter.  If that is so, then we are the kings and princes that are supposed to pay heed to the words of God.

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Jdg 5:4  LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water. 
Jdg 5:5  The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel. 

These verses are to show us what the Lord does for us in delivering us from the world (Seir) to serve Him. Seir represents the land the Lord gave to Esau and his descendants the Edomites. Esau represents the world and so does Seir. After Israel met the Lord at Mount Sinai, they could have taken an eleven-day journey through Mount Seir to reach the promised land, but the Lord took them through a different route because the Lord did not want them to invade the Seir territory. For the Lord has given the Edomites in Mount Seir to Esau for period of time until the kingdom is firmly established in the promise land. It was during the reign of King David that the Edomites became his servants. This means that it takes a mature elect (King David) to defeat the Edomites, representing a type of the flesh.

Gen 32:3  And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

Gen 36:9  And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir:

Deu 1:2  (There are eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadeshbarnea.)

Deu 2:4  And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore:
Deu 2:5  Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.

2Sa 8:14  And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

What God does for the elect to defeat the Edomites is what is given in verse 4 and 5. They are as follows:

1. The earth trembles – That is earthquake which signifies God’s judgement. 
2. Both the heavens and the clouds drop water. The hearts and mind (our heavens) of the elect (clouds) distil water gradually. That is, our heavens are cleansed with the word of God.
3. Mountains melt from before the Lord. Our mountains are the obstacles that prevent us from knowing the Lord. These obstacles are dealt with as our eyes are being opened and our ears are hearing (getting to know the Lord).

Jdg 5:6  In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways. 
Jdg 5:7  The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel. 

The days of Shamgar reflect the time period when the Israelites were being oppressed by the Philistines, and the days of Jael were times when Jabin, the king of Canaan, also oppressed Israel. So the days of Shamgar and Jael reflect our time in Babylon when we are under the sway of the enemies within.  During this time period, we desert the highways that lead to God because we break our covenant with God, despise the church (the assembly of God’s people) and have no regard for the elect. In this way, we rather opt for our own righteousness (byways) which brings us to more darkness.

Isa 33:8  The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.

In the biblical times, most villages had no walls and therefore they became an easy prey for enemies. Villages therefore represent the gathering of God’s people who are yet carnal and are yet to know the doctrines of Christ which serve as a wall against any infiltration of false doctrines. In verse 7, the villages are deserted and are counted as the fields of the country (Lev 25:31). We know that the field is the world so what verse 7 means is that when we are under the control of the beast within, we end up being worldly. This continues until God drags us to the New Jerusalem (the assembly of God’s people) represented by the rising of Deborah in verse 7. That is when we are redeemed as we go out in our jubilee.

Lev 25:31  But the houses of the villages which have no wall round about them shall be counted as the fields of the country: they may be redeemed, and they shall go out in the jubilee.

Jdg 5:8  They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? 

In our depravity in Babylon, we choose another Jesus (new gods). However, if God has destined for us to become overcomers, then there will be war at our gates, that is, God will judge us. The question, “Was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand?” is a rhetorical question which means the answer is obviously no. So the question is another way of saying that there is no righteous person in the churches of this world (Babylon). A shield symbolizes faith, and spear or sword represents the word of God. The number forty-thousand is 4x10x10x10. So the number forty thousand signifies the whole of the God’s people in the churches who have no faith and do not know the word of God and are carnal or fleshy. Without having faith therefore, it is impossible to please God.

Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Jdg 5:9  My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD. 
Jdg 5:10  Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way. 

As indicated earlier, the sum of God’s word is that it is He who works in us both to will and to do His good pleasure. Therefore the governors cannot offer themselves willingly except the Lord works in them to do that. According to Strongs, the governors of Israel here are the scribes. The governors offering themselves willingly means they offered to encourage the people to engage the enemy and assured them of the victory from the Lord. As God’s elect (governors), we are to offer ourselves willingly for the flock by speaking the fiery words which is able to save us. This is emphasized in verse 10 where those who ride on white asses and sit in judgment and walk the way are all part of the description of the elect who are admonished to speak the word.

Jdg 5:11  They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates. 

Verse 11 continues the description of the elect as those who have been delivered from the noise of archers in places of drawing water. The noise of archers here are the propagators of false doctrines. Being delivered from the noise of archers is being given eyes to see and ears to hear such that one is able to test the spirit to see if it is from God.

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Our assembling together are the places of drawing water.  It is here that we rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord. The rehearsing of the righteous act of the Lord is the speaking of the fiery words of the Lord which is able to bring us out of Babylon (inhabitants of the villages in Israel) such that we are prepared to go to the gates to wage war with the beast within.

Isaiah 51:16: I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’

Deut 5:27: Go near and hear all that the Lord our God says; then speak to us all that the Lord our God speaks to you, and we will hear and do it.’

Jdg 5:12  Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam. 
Jdg 5:13  Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty.

We are being admonished to wake up from our slumber as our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. It is only when we are awake that we can lead captives out of bondage just as Christ took many captives and gave gifts to his people.

As Paul explained, being awake from our sleep is casting off the works of darkness and putting on the armour of light. Putting on the armour of light is putting on the Lord Jesus Christ and making no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts. Verse 13 in a simplified version of the Bible is as follows:

Jdg 5:13  Then down marched the remnant of the noble; the people of the LORD marched down for me against the mighty. (ESV)

So waking up from our slumber is putting on the armour of light, and in this way, we, as the remnant of the nobles (the elect) or the people of God can wage war against the mighty enemy within.

Eph 4:8. This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” (NIV)

Rom 13:11  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Rom 13:12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Rom 13:13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Rom 13:14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Jdg 5:14  Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer. 
Jdg 5:15  And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart. 
Jdg 5:16  Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. 
Jdg 5:17  Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches. 
Jdg 5:18  Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field. 

These verses talk about two categories of the tribes of Israel.  Those who were willing to wage war with Jabin King of Canaan and those who refused wage war with the enemy. Those willing to wage war against the enemy symbolize those of us who are ready to leave Babylon to wage war against the flesh.  There are also those that remain in Babylon who preferred to hear the bleatings of the flock. The tribes that supported Barak and Deborah in this fight were Ephraim, Benjamin, Zebulun, Issachar and Naphtali. In verse 18, its say that these tribes risked their lives unto death to ensure victory. That is the same as saying that they lost their lives to gain them. On the other hand, if we gain our lives, we will end up losing them.  From the word of God, we have come to understand that those that lose their lives to gain them is because it has been written in their books to do so. In other words, it is not of him that wills nor of him that runs but of God that shows mercy.

Mat 10:39  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Now, let’s look at those who did not participate in the war with Jabin and Sisera and the reasons given. The tribes that did not take part in the war were Reuben, Dan, Asher and Gad (Gilead). The reasons given were as follows:

Reuben – Remained in the sheepfold to listen to the shepherds whistling for the flocks. In addition, they deliberated on the call to join their fellow Israelites to war against Jabin and came to the conclusion that it was better they stayed where they were. Remaining in the sheepfold and listening to the shepherds whistling for the flock is another way of saying that in Babylon, the shepherds speak of the world and we hear them because at that time we were of the world. We therefore subject everything to reasoning like the Reubenites.

1Jn 4:5  They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1Jn 4:6  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Dan – They remained in ships. These represents us at a certain stage of our walk where we have the peddling mentality just like the ministers of Babylon who sell their false doctrines to the masses that make up the sea of mankind.

Asher – They remained on the sea shore. As we are aware, sand is unstable and cannot be relied upon as a foundation for anything as demonstrated by Jesus. So remaining on the sea shore signifies hearing Christ’s words but simply not see the need to tremble at His words.

Mat 7:26  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Gad (Gilead) – Gad received all the towns of Gilead as inheritance and so in some passages of the scriptures, the terms Gilead and Gad are used interchangeably (see Judges 5:17). The land of Gilead was known for its balm, a liquid rosin that flowed or dripped from certain trees such as pine, cedar, cypress, or terebinth. Because of easy access to medicinal ingredients, many physicians made their homes in Gilead. This helps us understand Jeremiah 8:22, which says, “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?” Thus, because of the medical resources God had given to Gad, they did not want to wage any war. Spiritually, the blessings that God has bestowed on us can serve as a stumbling block for us to come out of Babylon to wage war against the flesh.

When the Promised Land was divided among the twelve tribes of Israel, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh received territory to the east of Jordan. So we can also say that Reuben and Gad, being examples of us, could not wage war against the flesh because they had not been spiritually baptized (going through death) as they had not crossed the Jordan into the promised land.

Jdg 5:19  The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money. 

The kings here are the elect who are called to wage war against the flesh. What is important here is that they took no gain of money. We need to pay heed to the admonition by Paul about being content with whatever situation we find ourselves and not think that gain is godliness. Our God will somehow supply our needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus.

1Ti 6:3  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
1Ti 6:4  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
1Ti 6:5  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
1Ti 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1Ti 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Jdg 5:20  They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera. 

The stars here represent the elect. This verse therefore imply that as the Lord directs us in the path (courses) that He has preordained for us, we  will wage a war against the beast within to remove him from our heaven (hearts and mind). This war is what is being described in Rev 12:7-9 where Michael and his angels fought against the dragon in this war for the heavens of our minds and heart.

Rev 12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Rev 12:8  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Jdg 5:21  The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength. 
Jdg 5:22  Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones. 

Verse 21 symbolizes the word of God (river Kishon) which sweeps away all our false doctrines and burns all chaff within us. This battle against King Jabin of Canaan and his army chief, Sisera, is symbolized by our war against worldly wisdom which offers a higher level of opposition.  However, the word of God is the most powerful instrument of war, and once we have it (that is our eyes seeing and our ears hearing) no matter the level of opposition, we will be victorious as we see Sisera’s horses retreating in battle in verse 22. This verse in simple English means:

Jdg 5:22  Sisera’s horses galloped off, their hoofs thundering in retreat. (CEV)

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Jdg 5:23  Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.

This verse may seem to suggest that the Lord needs our help against the mighty. However, from the sum of God’s words, we know that the Lord does not need anybody or anything to accomplish His purpose. What we need to know is that as long as we are dominated by the flesh, we cannot be of any use to the Lord. Under this condition, we are cursed just like Meroz and its inhabitants.

Jdg 5:24  Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent. 
Jdg 5:25  He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish. 
Jdg 5:26  She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples. 
Jdg 5:27  At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead. 

Jael here represents the glorious church or heavenly Jerusalem which is the mother of us all. We all as Jael start our journey in Christ consuming milk and butter (product of milk) of the word. However, by the mercies of the Lord, as we mature, we are able to put to death all the false doctrines in our heaven (signified by the nail in Sisera’s temple).

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Jdg 5:28  The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots? 
Jdg 5:29  Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself, 
Jdg 5:30  Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil? 

This is to let us know what the enemy within is trying to achieve. Sisera’s (the enemy within) victories over us is accompanied by sharing of the booty in verse 30. What this means is that when we are under the influence of the enemy within, we end up loving the world as we pursue the things of the world (Verse 30) which constitute the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Jdg 5:31  So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years. 

This verse sums up the goal of our walk. That is, we must overcome or put to death the enemy within (all our enemies must perish) so we can be like Christ who is the sun when he goes forth in his might. With man, this is impossible to achieve, but with God all things are possible. We will surely find rest where we cease from our own strivings after “forty years” of temptations and trials in this life.

Mat 19:25  When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
Mat 19:26  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Jdg 4:1-24 And Deborah,…Judged Israel at That Time

[Study Aired March 15, 2021]

Jdg 4:1  And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. 
Jdg 4:2  And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. 
Jdg 4:3  And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel. 
Jdg 4:4  And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 
Jdg 4:5  And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 
Jdg 4:6  And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? 
Jdg 4:7  And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand. 
Jdg 4:8  And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. 
Jdg 4:9  And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. 
Jdg 4:10  And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him. 
Jdg 4:11  Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh. 
Jdg 4:12  And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. 
Jdg 4:13  And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. 
Jdg 4:14  And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. 
Jdg 4:15  And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. 
Jdg 4:16  But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left. 
Jdg 4:17  Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 
Jdg 4:18  And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. 
Jdg 4:19  And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him. 
Jdg 4:20  Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No. 
Jdg 4:21  Then Jael Heber’s wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. 
Jdg 4:22  And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples. 
Jdg 4:23  So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel. 
Jdg 4:24  And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan. 

As we are aware, the Book of Judges is about Israel’s disobedience in not ridding the land of Canaan of those living in the land and how God used the disobedience to judge them and, in the end, deliver them from bondage.

Since the scriptures were written for our admonition, we are to pay attention to these cycles of bondage and liberations as they teach us how to war.

We need to remember the recurring phrase that sums up the Book of Judges – that is, “In those days, there was no king in Israel and everyone did what was right in their own eyes” (Jdg 21:25). What this means is that if Jesus, our King, is not on the throne of our hearts as king, then we are under bondage to the old man and therefore we end up going through cycles of bondage and liberation just like the Israelites.

Jdg 21:25  In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. 

In this review, we are going to look at a kind of judge that was different from all the other judges spoken of in the Book of Judges – a woman named Deborah. She came on the scene following Israel’s disobedience as follows:

Jdg 4:1  And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. 

The death of a judge (in this case, Ehud) signifies the time period when there is absence of the fiery words of the elect which is able to save us. That is the period, when the word of the Lord is precious (rare) as described in the Book of Samuel. As a result there are no open visions which are the divine revelation that will show us how to deal with sin. Where there is absence of the fiery words of God, false doctrines prevail which sends us back into sin and bondage, as was the case with the Israelites. These false doctrines are the great swelling words spoken of by Peter and Jude which bring us into bondage.

1Sa 3:1  And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 

Jud 1:16  These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. 

Jdg 4:2  And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. 

The Israelites came under bondage with Jabin, King of the Canaan as the chief tormentor. In order to understand the kind of bondage we find ourselves in at a certain stage of our walk with Christ, as described in verse 2, we need to look at the meaning of the name Jabin, who was King of Canaan. According to Strong’s definition, the name Jabin means intelligent. Intelligence has to do with human or worldly wisdom. In the scriptures, there are two types of wisdom – Godly wisdom and worldly wisdom. We are enjoined to seek Godly wisdom which is the fear of God. On the contrary, the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the sight of God.

1Co 1:20  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 

1Co 2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 

So the type of bondage the Israelites went into under Jabin spiritually signifies being in bondage to worldly wisdom. What this worldly wisdom entails is shown in the scriptures as follows:

Jas 3:13  Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 
Jas 3:14  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 
Jas 3:15  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 
Jas 3:16  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 
Jas 3:17  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 

So being in bondage to worldly wisdom includes everything that we do which is a lie against the truth.  This includes envy, strife, etc. James says that where worldly wisdom rules our lives, there is confusion and every evil work. That is the same as being in Babylon as the name Babylon means confusion, because it is in Babylon that we have the habitation of devils and the hold of every foul spirit. The foul spirit and habitation of devils all represent the false doctrines we’ve imbibed and cause us to rebel against our Lord, thinking we are serving Him.

Rev 18:2  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 

Jdg 4:3  And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel. 

First, let’s talk about the significance of the twenty years oppression under Jabin. In the scriptures the number twenty signifies the beginning of maturity as we are now ready to become enlisted in the Lord’s army to war against the enemies of our land.

Num 1:20  And the children of Reuben, Israel’s eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

Num 1:22  Of the children of Simeon, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

Based on this, we can say that the twenty years oppression of the Israelites by Jabin is a period in our lives that we are ruled by worldly wisdom which shows itself in lying against the truth through our walk. Being dominated by worldly wisdom is a formidable enemy within to deal with as shown by the use of iron by the Canaanites – nine hundred chariots of iron.  The number 900 can be broken down as 9x10x10. The number nine means judgment, and the number ten is about the flesh, so what this means is that we are being judged in the flesh.  This is good news because if we are being judged in the flesh, because then we will not encounter the second death in the lake of fire. Verse 3 also mentioned that Jabin oppressed them mightily. The use of the word mightily means that this type of judgment is intense. However, the end product of this oppression or judgment is that we start to mature and are ready to war against the flesh as signified by the number twenty.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 

Rev 2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Our fiery trials will cause us to cry for deliverance, and God always makes a way. In this case, God gave the Israelites a female judge called Deborah as follows:

Jdg 4:4  And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 
Jdg 4:5  And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 

All the judges mentioned in the Book of Judges are men except for Deborah.  This was the first time that a woman has played a key role as a judge and is therefore significant. As we are aware, a good woman signifies the church or the elect, and therefore verse 4 is to assure us that we, the elect, shall judge the world and angels together with Christ if we are able to overcome in this life. This is because God has shown us in His word that there is nothing new under the sun, and what will be is what has been.

Eph 5:23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 

1Co 6:2  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 
1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 

Ecc 1:9  The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 

A significant part of Deborah’s story which many have not observed is that, unlike the other judges, she ministered under a palm tree as shown in verse 5. In the scriptures, the palm tree symbolizes the elect. Thus, Deborah was serving under the umbrella of the elect. Just as we serve under the umbrella of Christ, women should serve under the umbrella of the church. As the elect plays a supporting role to Christ so women must play a supporting role to the church.

Psa 92:12  The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Jer 10:5  They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

This supporting role of women is what runs through the whole of scriptures starting from Miriam who supported Moses and Aaron in leading the people from Egypt and in the wilderness. During Jesus’ life on earth, a lot of women played key roles in support of His ministry. The supporting role is what it means for Eve to be a help meet to Adam. Here Adam represents Christ and Eve represents the church who complements Christ.

Gen 2:18  And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. 

The body of Christ, which is the wife of Christ, consists of both male and females, and we are all part of the joints that supplieth for the edification of the body.

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

This supportive role of Deborah is emphasized by the next three verses in which Deborah urged Barak to assemble an army to war against the enemies of their land.

Jdg 4:6  And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? 

As with Deborah, one of the functions of the elect is to call our brothers and sisters to wage this war against the flesh and to assure them of a God-given victory. Let’s look at the characteristics of those who are called to wage this war against worldly wisdom (Jabin and his army). Those called to war are from the tribe of Naphtali and Zebulun. In order to understand the significance of being from the tribe of Naphtali and Zebulun, let’s look at the blessing given to them by Jacob when he was about to die.

Gen 49:13  Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon. 

Gen 49:21  Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.

From the verses above, we can say that as God’s elect we must be like Zebulun in the sense that we have come out of the sea of worldliness and are on the shore (the haven of the sea). It is on the shore that we can see a beast rising out of the sea.  This beast rising from the sea is you and me. Until we are manifested as beasts, we cannot wage war against the beast within.

Rev 13:1  And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 

Being a Naphtali means we are like a deer set free (we are set free from bondage to sin), and out of our mouths comes the goodly (beautiful) words which are the fiery words of God which devour the beast within.

Jdg 4:7  And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand. 

Here in verse 7, the war was to be waged at the river Kishon. According to Strong, the word Kishon means winding. So it is this winding river which represents the multifaceted word of God where the battle against worldly wisdom (all the false doctrines) is waged. It is the word of God which exposes what worldly wisdom is. As our eyes are being opened and our ears are hearing the word of God, our heavens are being cleansed of this worldly wisdom which is the root of all false doctrines.

As indicated earlier, the outcome of this battle is obvious. God has assured us of victory which should motivate us to press on.

Jdg 4:8  And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. 
Jdg 4:9  And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. 
Jdg 4:10  And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him. 

Barak’s response to Deborah’s encouraging words that he will only go only if Deborah accompany him makes it look like our victory depends on the church instead of Christ. What Barak should have said was that he can only go if Christ were with him instead of the church (symbolized by Deborah). If we think that our victory depends on the church, then we are not giving honor to Christ, and whatever endeavor we undertake shall not bring any honor to us as noted by Deborah. This is not to say that the church does not play a role in our victory. The role the church plays in our struggle with sin is to give us the fiery words which are able to edify, encourage and comfort us in this battle. That was exactly what Deborah did in encouraging Barak against the opposition.

1Co 14:3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 

Jdg 4:11  Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh. 

The Kenites were normadic people and were coppersmiths and metalworkers. Certain groups of Kenites settled among the Israelite population, including the descendants of Moses’ brother-in-law. Heber separated himself from the Kenites and settled in a plain of Zaanaim which was part of Naphtali. When we come into the Assembly of God’s people, we have to separate ourselves from our background (as Heber did) in order to be used by God to defeat the enemy within. That is how we can be of help to the whole body as our victory will become a blessing to many as we will see later in this story.  

Jdg 4:12  And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. 
Jdg 4:13  And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. 

When Sisera realized that the Israelites, led by Barak, were ready for war, he marshalled his army to confront the Israelites at the river Kishon. This is to let us know that when the enemy within (represented by Sisera) realizes that our eyes are being opened and our ears are hearing the word of God, which is another way of saying that we are preparing for war, it becomes obvious to the enemy within that its time is short (its death is approaching very fast) and so it comes like a flood, strengthened by the devil without to devour us or carry us away captives.

Rev 12:12  Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. 

Rev 12:15  And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 

Jdg 4:14  And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. 

The church, signified by Deborah, must play the role of encouraging us as we see the day of the Lord approaching. This is done through the fiery words of the elect which are to encourage, strengthen and comfort us to be able fight this war of faith.

1Co 14:3  But when you prophesy, you will be understood, and others will be helped. They will be encouraged and made to feel better. (CEV)

The role of the church is to equip us for the day of wrath, and it does so through the ministry of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers as demonstrated by Deborah in her encouraging words to Barak. It is only through the church that we can be delivered from this flood by the enemy which seeks to toss us to and fro with every wind of doctrine.

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 
Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 
Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 
Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 

Jdg 4:15  And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. 

As indicated in an earlier review of the Book of Judges, though we fight the war against the flesh, it is the Lord that wins the battle for us. This is demonstrated in verse 15 by the fact that it was the Lord who discomfited Sisera and his chariots even though physically it was Barak fighting.  For us to know how to war means to learn to depend on God for our victories against the flesh. Sisera lighting down off the chariot and walking on his feet signifies that our victory over the flesh is nearer now than when we first believed. Another way of saying this is that the Lord will do a short work upon our earth (our members). As we are being enlightened to understand the word of God, we are getting ready for the Lord to do a short work on our earth!!

Rom 9:28  For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

Jdg 4:16  But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left. 

We have to be ruthless in this war by not allowing anything that offends to remain in our members. That is what it means to pursue the enemy within (represented by Sisera), making sure that no man is left standing (anything that offends). This is because any little leaven has the inclination towards leavening the whole lump of dough. That is, any tendency towards error will cost us dearly.

Gal 5:9  A little yeast can change a whole batch of dough. (CEV) 

It is the word of God (the edge of the sword) that destroys the enemy within and without and is the main weapon God has given us to use in this war against the flesh.

Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 

Jdg 4:17  Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 
Jdg 4:18  And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. 

The house of Heber making peace with Jabin the king of Hazor signifies the church (represented by Heber) being ruled by worldly wisdom which is the root of all false doctrines. In this situation, it becomes easier for all kinds of false doctrines to seek refuge in our heavens. Sisera entering Jael’s tent represents our time in Babylon where we become the habitation of every foul spirit.

Rev 18:2  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 

During this time in Babylon, we create our own righteousness which is symbolized by the covering of Sisera with a mantle by Jael.

Rom 10:2  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 
Rom 10:3  For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 
Rom 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. 

Jdg 4:19  And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him. 
Jdg 4:20  Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No. 
Jdg 4:21  Then Jael Heber’s wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. 

We all enter the church (Babylon) feeling thirsty for the word of God and thinking that it is a place of refuge, but we end up being given the polluted milk of the word as Jael give milk to Sisera. As a result, we end up falling into sleep (backsliding) and becoming spiritually dead. On a positive note, our lives in Babylon are not all in vain. It is all part of God’s plan. During our time there, God is able put to death certain aspects of our flesh.  Jael smiting the nail into Sisera’s temple signifies the beginning of the death of false doctrines in our heavens which causes us to come out of captivity under Babylon.

Heb 5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 
Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 
Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 

Jdg 4:22  And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples. 

It was Jael that showed Barak the end of Sisera – death. In a similar fashion, it is the church that has to unveil to us the enemy within and the impending death of the old man.

Eph 3:9  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 
Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 

Jdg 4:23  So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel. 
Jdg 4:24  And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan. 

It is the Lord who fights our battles for us and wins the war for us. This fight against the flesh is a long drawn out war, and one day when the flesh or the old man has finally given up the ghost, we can say just like David that:

Psa 18:17  He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. 
Psa 18:18  They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. 

Psa 18:37  I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. 
Psa 18:38  I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet. 
Psa 18:39  For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. 
Psa 18:40  Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me. 

Hi Mike,

Thanks so much for the response. I have not seen the article on The Head of the Church is God, but will read it soon. I was basing my questions on two emails you have that pretty much say “women can’t teach period” — of course, I’m paraphrasing and may not even be accurate. That was the impression I had.
Here are the two emails to which I referred:
http:// www. iswasandwillbe. com/ Role_ of_ women_ in_ church. php
http:// www. iswasandwillbe. com/ womenteach. php
The first one only addresses what women should not do. The second addresses what women should do and then what married women are to do. As you know, this is not my situation. The email you wrote to me much more addresses what women can do as opposed to what women can’t do. Somehow the “keeping silence in the church” was making the rest of Scripture ‘not for me’ but for men only. I was thinking I only needed to be ready with an answer if a younger woman asked, but could only smile if a man asked. Which, of course, is either adding to or removing from scripture. I was confused.
Since most of the people who seem to ask me questions are younger men, neither of these letters addressed my own role in the church. I am here all alone so the men of the “church” I know are online. My “church” is online — so keeping silence in the church to me would be to simply not take part in fellowship.
Doesn’t applying these verses about “women” only to literal women mean that you are saying that not every word from the mouth of God applies to you (men). And if these verses only apply to literal women, doesn’t that mean that Godis a respecter of persons and that all the verses that apply to “men” don’t apply to me (women)?
I’m not asking you to rewrite what you’ve already said. I’m just asking exactly where that line is drawn. Now, my question is should I “dumb up” because there are men in the discussion? I know I am not supposed to teach with authority within the church, but are we to just shut up when God has revealed to us what He has not yet revealed to the man asking the question? ” Are we, as women, supposed to “dumb up” when we have the answer to a question simply because a man is the one asking? It sounds like we can’t witness about a thing that might have even one iota of “teaching” in it. For instance, I might say “I believe Christ is going to save all mankind” but I can’t say why because it might be “teaching so I can’t give a scripture. I can’t show one answer to one question a younger, less knowledgeable man might have.
It’s all very confusing trying to be tough enough to be the head of the household of teenage boys while studying scripture and then not being allowed to even have an opinion to a man. Whew!
But couldn’t we say that the discussion of both men and women’s role in the church is a spiritual type of the relationship between us and Christ and Christ and the Father? That basically both of us (types of women) are to be silent in the presence of Christ (type of man) and not dare to teach Him, as Christ in turn defers totally to God the Father.
And you see I run right into the problem in having this discussion with you — not that I would dare to teach you — but that I am not exactly keeping silent either. I am still confused on where the line is drawn between teaching, witnessing and just having our tongues cut out.
What I do know is that I should approach all speaking with meekness, humility and fear. I have certainly found that waiting for the question is a much better approach then throwing around answers to questions that haven’t been asked. I do see that the man as the head of the household is God’s way, but I also see that that has had no relation to the cards I was dealt in my own literal household.
You know, Mike, your teachings have so opened up the spiritual meaning of scripture to me and probably the only thing equal has been “Types in Genesis” by Andrew Jukes. The spiritual meaning of all words, comparing spiritual to spiritual, types and shadows– I learned these from you. The “numbers” series you did was huge in my understanding. I’ve listened to colors and metals and hope to get to the animals soon.
Well, rest assured that I am nowhere on the road to “hating” you for what your teaching is. I truly have no desire to dominate men or have any authority over anyone. Okay, truth be known I HATE MICE these days and would like to dominate them by forever banning them from my house… you think you’ve closed every entrance, but those little buggers find a way to get in … and how do they know how to avoid those glue traps in the dark… my dogs seem to find them easily… but that’s another story…
I know how busy you are and apologize for taking up so much of your time!
Blessings,
C____

Hi C____,
Thank you for your question.

You say:

I am still confused on where the line is drawn between teaching, witnessing and just having our tongues cut out.

That ‘line’ you are searching for is not really that hard to find. It is all really a matter of what is in your heart. God knows my heart and He knows your heart. If I have any resentment whatsoever against any woman in the world, then God will burn that resentment out of me. If, on the other hand you have any desire in your heart to ignore God’s Words concerning your role as wives and mothers and as women in His church, then that resentment also will be burned out of you.
God’s church is “the body of Christ.” If my mouth is unable to be used because of laryngitis, then my hand will quietly, humbly and willingly, step right up and write out what I want said. My hand has no desire at all to be my mouth, but when the need for expression arises and my mouth is not capable, my hand is used to express my thoughts.
Here is what we are told at the very beginning of mankind’s existence.

Gen 2:18 And the LORD God said, [ It is] not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
(MKJV) And Jehovah God said, It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.

You ask:

Now, my question is should I “dumb up” because there are men in the discussion? I know I am not supposed to teach with authority within the church, but are we to just shut up when God has revealed to us what He has not yet revealed to the man asking the question.”

Absolutely not! You “dumb up” only when there are men there speaking the truth. You never fail to “give an answer for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”

1Pe 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Those words are addressed to men and to women. But “the church” as you know, is not a building, but God’s people, so “if two or more are gathered together” and one happens to be a man, then it would be a godly woman who would want that man to speak God’s words of truth instead of her. “A meek and quiet spirit” is not a spirit that is afraid of what any man thinks, but it is a spirit that is very concerned with obeying the words of her spiritual husband, Christ. If “the man asking the question” wants an answer from you, then you need to be ready, willing and able to answer that question with a “meek and quiet spirit.” You cannot answer anyone with a “dumb spirit”. Christ casts out spirits of dumbness:

Mat 9:32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
Mat 9:33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

Being afraid to stand for truth is nothing less than a spiritually dumb spirit, whether that truth is the salvation of all or the role of women.
I know very well that you are not seeking to be a teacher of men “in the church,” and yet you speak for many women with these words. It has to be hard for a woman to hold herself back and let her husband take the lead. It has to be just as hard for a single woman to let men be the leaders in the church and in society in general. That is especially true in a society which has succumbed to the feminist doctrine and has, in that process, emasculated the male of the species.
So the line you are looking for is a willingness to be quiet when there are men who are leading in truth, and a willingness to speak that truth when God himself has not placed a man there to tell the truth.
Every truly godly woman wants a strong, godly man to lead her and her family. Every godly single woman wants men to be leaders in the church and in the community. But when the world is full of spiritual ‘Baraks’ who will not go to war for God’s truth unless a spiritual ‘Deborah’ goes with him, then God’s modern day Deborahs go with those men, and while doing so, these modern ‘Deborahs let such faithless men know that the glory of winning the battle will not go to that man but will go to a woman who was willing to stand alone with God. The whole story of Deborah answers your question about “where is the line?” Where the line is depends upon where the men around you are in Christ. Every woman will live these words somewhere in her life. When there is no man to answer the question, then stand up and witness to the Truth. If Deborah had refused to go to war with Barak against those who were oppressing God’s people, then the war would never have been waged.

Jdg 4:8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.

If Jael had waited for wimpy Barak, the enemy would have escaped, and the battle would not have been completed.
But if Barak had been the leader he should have been; had Barak had in himself the relationship with God which Deborah had, there would have been no need for Deborah to even have been judging Israel in the first place, much less leading Israel into battle. The whole story of Deborah and Barak in Judges is an indictment of men who refuse to speak up in God’s church today and stand for “what is written therein.” The men who refused to even go to battle are cursed in that story:

Jdg 5:23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.

The men today who refuse to stand for the truth of God’s Word, what both the Old and the New Testaments, say about God’s order in the physical home, with physical families and in God’s spiritual home, with the spiritual family of God, are those who “come not to the help of the Lord against the mighty” forces which are determined to undermine and neutralize and eventually destroy from off this earth, God’s elect who have His words in their mouths.
But at the same time, and in the very next verse, the women who both humbly and courageously, stand in the gap, for those very words of Truth, are praised and honored.

Jdg 5:24 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.
Jdg 5:25 He [ Sisera] asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.
Jdg 5:26 She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.
Jdg 5:27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.

Do you want to “smite Sisera?” Do you want to be Deborah and Jael? I hope you do have such aspirations. If you do, it is nothing more or less than a gift from God, and if you have been given that gift you will “smite Sisera,” and ‘Sisera’ will bow at your feet.’ But that will be done only by standing up for God’s own words which are all through out both the Old and New Testaments. Women are created to serve God by inspiring men to be leaders and by helping men to serve God. Women are created to speak when men will not do so. That is what scripture teaches. That is where ‘the line is.’
I have pointed out that, “let your women keep silence in the churches” that ‘silence’ is really the word ‘quiet.’ But, Lord willing, I will never be so afraid of any man that I ignore the plain words of God and rationalize my way around those words for fear of what men and women might say and do.
If you really want to “judge Israel” or “smite Sisera,” then take these words of Peter and apply them to the church. Paul tells us the marriage relationship is all really speaking of the church and its relationship to Christ.

1Pe 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, [ men and women in Christ] be in subjection to your own husbands [ Christ]; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; [“Without the word…” As Christ’s wife, I am an example to those who oppose me and what I teach by not attacking them or even trying to change their mind, but rather…]
1Pe 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. [“Your chaste conversation” means your quiet way of life.]
1Pe 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; [ Putting the gold of God’s word around our own heart’s idols and being accepted of men by accepting false doctrines]
1Pe 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. [ When I refrain myself from trying to show my enemy his error, that is of great price to God and to Christ.]
1Pe 3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: [ Abraham, a type of Christ who submitted to his head, obeyed God and was called righteous]
1Pe 3:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid [ of religious feminists] with any amazement.
Eph 5:32 This [ the marriage relationship discussed above] is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

I feel that I have dealt with what the scriptures have to say about all of this in depth in the paper on iswasandwillbe. com entitled The Head of Christ Is God. I hope you will take the time to read, or if necessary, reread that paper. The whole orthodox Protestant world has come to the conclusion in just the past few decades that all the very Biblical words concerning a woman’s role in the church are tantamount to declaring women to be inferior to men, as if the body was somehow inferior to its head simply because the mind of the body is in its head, and a wife is inferior to her husband simply because she is not the leader and head of the household.
The calling God has given His elect is a tough calling for us all. We all see and hear confusion and lies being spread all around us every day by men and women alike. How we handle ourselves in this situation, reveals what is in us. We cannot hide Christ, and neither can we hide it if our father is really the Devil. What is in us is what will come out of us.

Mat 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

The principle involved in physical marriage carries through into, and is really nothing more than a reflection of the realm of the spirit. Christ is working all things, so when I hear a minister teaching eternal hell fire, I too, am tempted to immediately rattle off Joh 6:44, 1Co 15:22, 1Ti 2:4, 1Ti 4:10, 2Pe 3:9, 1Jn 2:2 etc. etc. etc. But I cannot do so simply because I would be disobeying God’s command, “Cast not your pearls before swine… be ready always to given an answer to him that asketh…” etc. It is Christ who, through an evil spirit, has every orthodox Christian minister speaking all those lies and “deceiving the whole world.” For me to try to withstand those ministers is the same as a woman feeling that she has to preach and teach in the church, just because men are not doing so or simply because she believes God has called her to do so. The Truth is that God has sent a lying spirit into the mouths of all of today’s orthodox Christian ministers and into the mouths of all who deny that Christ was made sin and our keeping every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
In the paper, The Head of Christ Is God, I pointed to all the women mentioned in the New Testament who had spoken out for Christ. In every instance, these women simply witnessed to the Truth. The woman at the well told “the men of the city” come see a man who told me all I ever did.” Why can’t all the women who want to be teachers and preachers do the same today? Why cannot the women today who claim a desire to serve God, see the humble spirit in this woman, and see how she directed those to whom God had sent her, to go to Christ to learn. Where, in that story, is this woman seeking to get men to sit down and listen to her. She is directing “the men of the city” to Christ. Any woman doing that today will be showing men that the “Word of God”, one of Christ’s many titles, forbids women to teach “in the church”. “In the church” means when there are men present to do the teaching. If there is not a teacher present, then do not fail to answer questions simply because God has not placed a teacher there to answer the questions you are being asked.
Neither Paul nor Peter nor Christ ever tell women that they are never to speak to men about Christ. All of Paul’s and Peter’s statements are made to ministers and churches. Paul is writing to the church at Corinth, to Timothy and to Titus, when he makes his statements about women. Peter’s epistle is addressed to God’s “elect” when he makes his statements agreeing with Paul.

1Pe 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
1Pe 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

Read God’s Word concerning women. Look at what women did in scripture. Look at all the things women are admonished to do in scripture, and ask God for the wisdom and strength to abide by his words.
That is what I did in that paper The Head of Christ Is God.
I am thankful for your fellowship. I have articulated this as best I can with, as always, the scriptures as my foundation.
I hope I have said something that will help you to see more clearly where is the “line” you are seeking. That line is what keeps us all from sinning against our heavenly Father. That line is the mind of Christ, on this or any other subject. Here is the only way to even hope to know where is that line:

Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Hi Mike,

I read most of your writing on women prophesying and speaking. These Scriptures refer to women who are married. What is the situation of a single woman who is separated/ divorced from the husband on a biblical ground? Does not the Scripture say that The Lord is the Husband to the husbandless? So if such a woman is in total submission to The Lord and called of God to minister to/ teach women, is that permitted?
S___

Hi S____,
Thank you for your questions.
You ask if the scriptures say that ‘Christ is a husband to the husbandless?’ While that is not a scriptural phrase, it is a scriptural concept and here is why?

2Co 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you [ married or single] to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

You also ask if women can teach other women. They certainly can, and it does not depend on being married or being single. The words man and woman in Greek mean both man and husband and woman and wife respectively. Whether the subject is married or not is determined by the context. Context certainly does have its place and its function. As I have pointed out in my letters, women are actually commissioned to “teach the young women.”

Tit 2:4 That they [ older women] may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

I have just written an e- mail on “as also saith the law.” Nowhere is it written in the law of Moses ‘let your women keep silence in the church.’ But what is written is “Three times in the year shall all your males appear before me.” Under the law of Moses no woman, married or single, was even to “appear before Me [ God].” Paul was not putting Moses above “the law of the spirit.” He was merely pointing out that if this law “for the lawless” tells us that men are to be leaders, how much truer is it in spirit. If we are not to commit adultery in the “law… for the lawless” then we are not even to ” look on a woman to lust after her” in our hearts under the “law of the spirit.” According to “the doctrine of Christ” the one thing in any woman which is specifically mentioned as being “of great price in the sight of God” is “a meek and quiet spirit.” It is her greatest ‘sermon.’ It is proof that she “does the things that I [ Christ] say.”

Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Tit 2:4 and all the other New Testament scriptures on this subject are “the things which I say.”

I know that a woman’s calling is a hard one. But so also is the calling of any man who insists on being faithful to God’s Word. It is a sin worthy of stoning in the “streets of that great city” to stand fast on this subject in this upside down, feminist world in which we live. All of us, men and women, must be faithful to God’s Word. When men do not lead, women are forced to make the decisions. It is all of God. Deborah led Israel into battle. Deborah’s leading Israel into battle typifies “the Israel of God” today. Here is where ‘God’s Israel’ is today:

Isa 3:12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

“They which lead you” are ‘they which rule over’ you. And all too often “they” are women who are there by default, because men have given themselves over to serve their flesh and to take the easy way out, instead of being the leaders they were created to be.

1Co 11:9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.

Having children as oppressors is not a positive thing. It is accompanied by having women who do not have time for their children because they are earning livings which men ought to be earning. They are leading our schools, counties, states and our nation. It only follows that they are also teaching and preaching. “They which lead thee cause thee to err.”

But all the while the scriptures are consistent: “I suffer not a woman to teach… Let your women keep quiet in the church… a meek and quiet spirit is in the sight of God of great price…” etc. The scriptures do not change to fit in with the circumstances of the day. Truth is not, as Babylon wants us to believe, relevant to the age in which we live.

I am personally acquainted with several women who must be their husband’s spiritual leaders. But these women do not dominate their husbands. Instead they take every opportunity, as did Deborah, to encourage the men in their lives to take the lead. This is what Godly women do. When they must decide between Christ and His Word and a husband who is not leading them spiritually, then they follow Christ. But they do not take over the house and church. As Deborah told Barak, ‘Because you refuse to take the position of a leader, a woman will take your honor:’

Jdg 4:6 And she [ Deborah] sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?
Jdg 4:7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.
Jdg 4:8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.
Jdg 4:9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

Deborah judged Israel, because Israel was so far from God that not one single man was in a position to lead Israel; not even Deborah’s husband. Barak’s reticence to lead without Deborah by his side cost him the honor of winning the battle. Oh yes, Deborah and Barak are mentioned in Hebrew 11 along with Samson. But being mentioned in Hebrew 11 does not change the fact that both Samson and Barak were chastened for their lack of faith. Both of these stories are given to us “for our admonition.”

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Why did this happen to Deborah and Barak? Was it primarily for their own learning? No, not primarily. This fact was actually revealed to the prophets of the Old Testament. These things happened to Israel and all those who are mentioned in the Old Testament for one primary reason: “for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world [ aions] have come.”

1Pe 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1Pe 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1Pe 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Can we learn from all of these Old Testament admonitions? Are they consistent with the teachings of the New Testament? As much as we tend to cringe at this truth, here it is for all those who can accept it:

1Co 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

I have pointed out many times that ‘silence’ is a bad translation and should be quiet. Paul is not saying that women cannot speak to others in a congregation. What he is saying is that it blasphemes God when a woman teaches or preaches to men:

Tit 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

It matters not how much ‘fire’ from God’s Word, a woman preacher “calls down from heaven in the sight of men.” While she is doing so, she is still “blaspheming the name of God” and she is ignoring “these sayings of mine [ Christ].”

I hope this has answered your question about whether women can teach other women. They can. And the very best ‘sermon’ any woman can ‘preach’ is by obeying the words of God and Christ and their apostles and prophets on this subject. God’s Word is “the same yesterday, today and forever.”

Mike