Praying At The CrossroadsSample

The Prayer of Deborah 

The cyclical narratives in Judges begin in a similar way: “The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD” (4:1). After Moses and Joshua, the tribal leaders lacked a moral compass. The people of Israel, left to their own devices, repeatedly turned to evil. The Lord then gave them over to their enemies. When they cried out to Him, He delivered them, working through judges and leaders. This pattern was reenacted seven times throughout the Book of Judges.

Something is different about the story in Judges 4–5 because of a special individual: “Deborah, a prophetess and the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time” (4:4). Deborah’s credibility is established early in chapter 4, and the remainder of the narrative enhances her godly reputation. 

Barak, on the other hand, ran from the role of a leader. We don’t know when or where the call came to him, but we know it did. Deborah summoned him to deploy an army to fight against Jabin’s commander, Sisera. In some ways we can understand his fear, because anyone under the intimidation of an oppressive regime would be afraid to challenge the dictator. 

Barak believed he could disregard God’s call, but Deborah summoned him with the fact that she knew his secret. He couldn’t run from hope. Victory had been assured, and there was no room for fear. But even as she challenged him, Barak was afraid to stand without her, saying, “If you will go with me, I will go. But if you will not go with me, I will not go” (v. 8).

Barak’s fear was that he would stand alone, when in reality the Lord had promised His presence from the beginning. Barak paid a hefty price for his shaken confidence. His dependence on another person ensured that credit wouldn’t be his. Deborah had to tell him, “I will gladly go with you, … but you will receive no honor on the road you are about to take, because the LORD will sell Sisera to a woman” (v. 9). The irony of this statement is that Deborah was prepared to take whatever honor she might receive and hand it to the Lord. 

When the battle came, God’s unseen hand clearly led the charge. Even when Deborah pushed Barak to act, she did so by reminding him that victory was certain: “Go! This is the day the LORD has handed Sisera over to you. Hasn’t the LORD gone before you?” (v. 14). This encouragement was enough, and Barak took his army down the mountain. 

We can’t know for certain, but all we’ve seen of Barak’s character implies that he must have been trembling with fear as he went out in front of those ten thousand men. He was a reluctant commander, but the assurance of victory and the confidence of Deborah had finally moved his feet. Ultimately, though, the real movement came from the God of Israel: “The LORD threw Sisera, all his charioteers, and all his army into a panic before Barak’s assault” (v. 15).