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A Tent Peg
(Judges 4:1-24)
Yearly Theme: “Kindness is… Action”
Series Title: “Kindness in the Land”
March 12th, 2023

Something to think about:

Experience is one of the greatest teachers. When you know something/someone intimately, you’re able to spot a fake instantly. It’s been said that some people learn from their experiences while others never recover from them. Which one are you?

We come to another passage of Scripture today that reflects the kindness of GOD towards the Israelites. However, the narrative starts rather grim due to the fact that the people of Israel have, yet again, devolved into rebellious behavior and are doing evil in the LORD’s sight. As a result, they suffer ruthless oppression from a group of Canaanite people under the leadership of a king named Jabin. However, it in the midst of their suffering that the people of Israel begin to cry out for GOD’s help – and out of His loving-kindness for them – sends them leaders to redeem them from the clutches of their oppressive captors. Let’s take a closer look:

According to Biblical scholar, J. Clinton McCann, “The pattern found in Judges has theological significance. To be sure, it suggests that there are consequences for disobedience, which always has negative results. But the pattern also affirms that God hears the cries of those who have disobeyed. In short, God ultimately pursues justice by grace.”

Here’s the takeaway:

Key Point: “In spite of our failings, GOD’s kindness is often shown in His merciful rescue of us when we plead for His help.”

What is the sequence of events in this passage, and what can we learn about GOD’s kindness through it? Let’s break it down:

· After 80-years of _____ in the land, the Israelites again did evil in the LORD’s sight and as a result suffered 20-years of ___________ by a Canaanite King named Jabin.

Judges 3:30-4:3 (NLT) 30 So Moab was conquered by Israel that day, and there was peace in the land for eighty years. 31 After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath rescued Israel. He once killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad.
4:1 After Ehud’s death, the Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight. 2 So the Lord turned them over to King Jabin of Hazor, a Canaanite king. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-haggoyim. 3 Sisera, who had 900 iron chariots, ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years.

· As a result of 20-years of oppression, the people Israel once again cried out for ____ from the LORD.

Judges 4:3b (NLT), Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help.

· GOD brought ___________ to His people through three different people: Deborah, Barak, and Jael.

Judges 4:4-24 (NLT)

Something to take home:

Pastor and author Wayne Cordeiro, writes, “We all will have two teachers in life: the teacher of wisdom and the teacher of consequences.”[1] It’s what we learn from those two teachers, and our responses to them, that make all the difference in our long-term success or failure.

The Israelites were a stubborn-hearted, ruthlessly rebellious people. Their tendency to stray from GOD and compromise their character and integrity as His people, generation after generation, is an indicator all the more of their need of Him in their lives. And GOD knew this! That is why He continually pursued them, forgave them, and showed kindness to them, not only because of their cries for help, but also in spite of them.

Jesus proclaims this is the first of the Beatitudes as He proclaims:

Matthew 5:3 (NLT), “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”

And even King David declared in his song of repentance in Psalm 51:

Psalm 51:17 (NLT), The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

No matter your failures, faults, or sins, GOD earnestly desires your humility and your honest cry for help. No matter how far you’ve gone, or how much you’ve run away from Him, He’s just one call away from rescue. Don’t wait 20-years to cry out to Him. Call out to Him now. Confess, repent, and turn your heart toward GOD completely. Cast all your cares on Him, for He truly does care for you![2]

Key Point: “In spite of our failings, GOD’s kindness is often shown in His merciful rescue of us when we plead for His help.”


[1]Wayne Cordeiro, Attitudes That Attract Success, p. 131.
[2] 1 Peter 5:7.

WITH A GROUP

1. Do you think Deborah knew the “woman” who would bring victory for Israel, would be her or someone else?


2. Why would Sisera seemingly have no reason to fear Jael? Think about her gender, her faith, her occupation, her marital status, and her occupation. How did God use each of those areas of Jael’s life to bring Him glory? How did these actions go against the cultural norms of the time?


3. How did Jael’s actions go against the cultural norms of the time? How uncomfortable is this entire passage of scripture, and why?


4. How does God challenge us to look outside of our boxes to see Him move?

IN YOURSELF

When have you found yourself in a challenging situation where it was just you & God? What did you do & what was the outcome?

What situations are you currently aware of that might be described as a ‘Spiritual battle’? What do you think your part in that battle might be?

Was Deborah a good leader/ Why or why not? If so, what qualities made her a good leader?

Share a time in your life when you may have had a keen sense of God’s timing (as does Deborah). How does such foresight differ from the gift of prophecy?
Where in your life do you wish you possessed Deborah’s certainty and confidence? If God were to tell you something specific about the future, what one thing would you like him to tell you?

What does this tell us about God? What does this tell us about ourselves?

How is it encouraging, or humbling, to know God uses available people, no matter how flawed or unlikely (like Deborah and Jael)? Are you available to Him?

WITH YOUR FAMILY

MEMORY VERSE:
Romans 8:28
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”




ACTIVITY:
God can use ordinary, common skills to accomplish incredible victories. We do not need to envy the skills of others; rather, we just need to be faithful with the skills we have, and the Lord will use us mightily.

Go around the table and have each person identify one skill for everyone there. Then talk about how the combination of those skills listed might be useful to God.

GO into the world

APPLICATION

This week, can you help others practice using their talents and gifts to the best of their abilities? I.E. driving, doing the dishes, shoveling snow, organizing a cupboard or a drawer.

We never know what God might ask us to do in order to advance His kingdom. Take this week to polish up a talent or a skill that you may not think is important.

God can use all things for our good and His glory!

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