Hooray for the Housewife

Why did God wipe out we were and why three verse one now these are the nations which the Lord left test Israel by them. That is all who had not experienced any of the wars of Canaan. Only in order that the generations.

Ongoing generations of the sons of Israel might be taught more God is more interested in developing his people and isn't displaying our standard in wisdom for the heart. We continue Stephen Davies, vintage wisdom series from judges you know why God has given us armor to fight with because he wants believers to fight God wants to teach us how to wage spiritual warfare. There is a fundamental principle in this God is interested in developing his people and preparing us for what lies ahead.

Maybe you feel like you've been knocked around by life's trials. God is trying to teach you how to get back up and to stand up by his grace and to fight. Stay with us to learn more in this message.

Called who Ray for the housewife Samuel Clemens otherwise known to us as the Mark Twain once gave this advice on raising unruly children, not suggesting for a moment that it was good advice. But here's what he said. He said when your child becomes unruly. What you need to do is find the barrel and put them in it and finally it and mail it shut and feed them through a little hole in the barrel and then when they become a teenager plug up the hole that is in any suggestion for Faraday but you know, as I recognize the natural man in all of us away from, or removed from unruly nests. Whether it's a child or an adult. I am amazed as I study the book of Judges, because by now I'm expecting God to find the barrel and find one big enough to house all the Israelites who constantly lied to him failed to follow him and I expect him to nail a live shot and maybe feed them through all because here we find them again. Would you look at chapter 4 verse one, then the sons of Israel again is like the writer as his older brother again did evil is that many believe that the Samuel by the way, wrote this in the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord after you and I do remember him and the Lord sold them into the hand of Jacob and King of Canaan, who reigned in Azor in the commander army was well known man Cicero's name brought terror to the Israelites who lived in Harrow Chef, hiking in the sons of Israel cried to the Lord for Cicero had 900 iron chariots, and he oppressed the sons of Israel severely for 20 years. So here we go again the cycle and instead of finding a barrel as we would almost at this point like to say a little bit of the barrel technique God raises up another judge.

But he doesn't in a much more unique fashion because it doesn't raise up on judges in a left-handed judge who takes on 600 Philistines with an ox goad judge like awfully our last discussion who come from fighting stock Caleb's family this time God raises up someone who will teach the nation. The lesson that the battle is mine and it is up to me to protect you against things like iron chariots raises up the housewife named Deborah, her friends probably called her Debbie's hobby was writing poetry.

In fact, we are given the poem in chapter 5. Would you look at chapter 5 or seven that chapter is her poem following the victory. God gave the Army she describes herself very transparently. She says the peasantry sees they ceased in Israel until I Deborah arose until I arose all mother in Israel, Deborah, how are you qualified to lead millions of people are you qualified to be a judge. God qualifies you, but you are a housewife or an attorney and he can choose and use whichever by the way, but I'm just a mother in Israel. Now we know very little about her will take a look closer look at the moment but let me give you four illustrations of Israel situation at this particular juncture, I want to turn to chapter 5 and give you four illustrations briefly for her phone number one we know the communication between the tribes was virtually nonexistent. We get that from verse six. The second phrase the highways were deserted and the travelers went by roundabout ways. They were so fearful they didn't hit the open road. They traveled by night, so we know the mail probably stop. They were living isolated from one another. Secondly, the cities were overcrowded and uprooted with uprooted and discouraged people we get there from the first phrase of verse seven that verse. It says the peasantry's lease they ceased in Israel. That is, there were no more penance. They all moved into the cities. In England the landscape is dotted with little villages and hamlets, and that is proof that this nation can offer security to them so they unprotected can live out there on the plains or on the hills well in Canaan proof that Israel was strong was the fact that you have these villages about, but when they are not strong they are open price of those people had to pull up the roots discouraged in despair and they had to move into already crowded cities. Imagine the despair that must've been in the air in the cities number three the cities themselves were under constant threat of war. The verse tells us verse eight new gods were chosen than war was in the case that the reference to the fact that they were even being besieged at that point in time for combat forces in Israel were small and unequipped. We get that from the second phrase in verse eight it says not a shield or a spear was seen among 40,000 in Israel that tells us two things. Number one that the Army had been reduced to 40,000 soldiers may sound like a lot were talking about a nation numbering in the millions. Potential fighting soldiers numbering in the hundreds of thousands and their warriors number only 40,000. It also tells us a second thing that the soldiers didn't have any equipment. It is not shield Laura's fear was seen among 40,000 and who are they fighting Jacob and the Canaanites and Cicero, a man armed to the teeth with iron chariots, which by the way, state-of-the-art battle equipment and that time and that the Israelites here in this context are disarmed. They are discouraged they are in despair. This united and all because of what look at verse eight. We look at it briefly. Notice it again.

Chapter 5 verse eight, the first four words new gods were chosen, sums it up. That is the lie of Satan. Hayes says that falling or going into some kind of sinful activity is sort of cutting loose, get rid of those moral fetters and all have a great time go no such a friend who does not come to this church does not live in the city or I would mention that I have worked with him and prayed as he a believer.

His struggle with a 20 year addiction to pornography is committed to Christ as any of us but enslaving and chained by that which he so fiercely battles against it all began as a kid when it was a cut a little corner take a little when you do that, as with any habit or sin. It enslaves your soul and here's the nation, God's chosen people frightened and terrorized by a man with 900 iron chariots. Who does God choose in this hopeless situation. Housewife now if you go back to chapter 4 were given what little we have of this interesting lady verses four and five tell us her husband's name, which I'm not going to try to pronounce, bless his heart. We know nothing about him what his name is mentioned on secondly we know of her gift.

She is called a prophetess, there are three prophetesses in the Old Testament Miriam Yamane home the in here Deborah receiving revelation from God were also told. Thirdly, offer insight tells us in verse five that she would sit underneath the tree and she would judge literally she would decide a case. This is probably the closest to our perception of what judges like in the person of Deborah. She would sit and she had God-given discernment God-given insight that this mom would decide cases among the tribes.

That's what we know of her now. She chose or called on one occasion in this chapter, a man by the name of Eric to come and lead the forces we know even less about Eric. We don't know about his experience. We don't know about the conversation that took place between he and Deborah we don't know that is battle plan will know whether or not he took ROTC in college we know absolutely nothing about this guy, but the command was given.

Go find Jaden okay I'll go. Although his response is somewhat embarrassing for the cell is look at chapter 4 verse eight. Wittenberg said the Debbie quote. If you will go with me and I will go with the general but if you will not go with me. I will not go. Doesn't sound like a warrior like a wimp, but Deborah responds, probably by first patting him on his helmet and then in verse nine she says I will surely go with you there. There nevertheless, the owner shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take for the Lord will sell Cicero into the hands of a woman in praying to get into that part know the other woman's name. The other housewife's name is Jay Allen Cicero. Please come to her 10. She provided the sanctuary. He falls asleep and she drives a peg through his temple. And so he dies gruesome with diving. That was Dale's way of handling the situation what is recorded next in this text is that the story of their success.

There are reasons. According to Deborah's: these people succeeded. I want to give you three of them and you can study it on your own, and they just sort of pop up there implied in her poem. Lily give you the first one and will take a look at the verses and client number one.

The first reason these people succeed is that they volunteered without hesitation. Finally, this is the same reason that the church or your individual life will mean something for God and that you without hesitation when the call, say, hereby send me without hesitation.

Verse 10 tells us a little bit about that in chapter 4 chapter 4 verse 10 Eric called Evelyn and Naftali together to K – and 10,000 men went up with him. Deborah also went with him in case you missed of this verse tells us that 10,000 men volunteered on the spot to small tribes, bear goes down we not sure what he says but he says he'll will fight in my Army and 10,000 men say we will without any hesitation of these three tribes. There were three that actually fought back over to chapter 5 verse 15. The first is Issachar. It says in the princes of Issachar were with Deborah as was Issachar. So was Eric into the valley.

They rushed at his heels. I love that here's Barrick leading the way. And here's this little tribe with a few unknown men who are rushing right behind Barry got his heel saying let's go get volunteerism with a V.

The next is a tribe called Zebulun to the bouncer from Zebulun, chapter 5, verse 18.

The first phrase Zebulun with the people who despise their lives even to death. You might think initially that that means that they didn't care about themselves. What that actually is in any medical way of saying that they were willing to die for the cause got helpless to have that spirit today tribe called Naftali verse 18.

The second phrase and nastily also on the high places of the field that is they were asking for the toughest fought in the battle where where the fighting going to be the worst.

We want to be there.

Give us those places motivated these tribes to do something like this.

Deborah tells us what their motive was in chapter 5, verse 31, would you look there. That verse in this should be our overarching motives as well for service. She sings thus let all thine enemies parish, old Lord, the enemies they have been fighting but let those who love him be like the rising of the sun and its might. After confession they stood to their feet, their hearts filled with love for God that would not put them in a barrel, but would give them deliverance and their love for God motivates them to go into battle they loved him. We so often start with the service we forget the motive and that is we love Jesus Christ well with the going number two there are three reasons why this exceeded the second one is they trusted God without any explanation I can like this one.

Most of all you got to remember another fighting is taking place on the plaintiff Israel on it will also incorporate a dry riverbed called Keisha it's a flat dry surface. The off-season by the way, that is the perfect spot for iron chariots. That is the worst possible place for foot soldiers who are lightly armed. No explanation that they sell countless now going to go on a side trail here is plans was really not a rabbit trail, but getting over here for a moment, because there were four tribes who would not fight and Deborah mentions them in her poem and I think there is a well of information within these four tribes who refused to fight the first one I given all for these names make them a little bit more contemporary dust. The first is the tribe of Reuben, and I'm calling them than January 1 tribe to understand why. As we read chapter 5 verse 15. The second phrase, why did you sit among the sheepfold. Deborah sings laments to hear the piping is for the flocks among the divisions of Reuben. There were great urgings of heart. Here is a tribe that had great searching as they heard the news that there is a need for volunteers to battle all I'm going to think about it and I thought about it and they make some resolutions. I'm sure they were wonderful but the resolutions were never translated into action. And while there over there thinking and meditating and maybe even try the battles going on.

The second tribe of Gilead will call them the out of sight out of mind tribe for 17 Gilead remained across the Jordan one sentence, but it speaks volumes. Gilead now are actually more than one private. The combination of the half tribe of Manasseh in the tribe of Gad.

These tribes had chosen in earlier studies. You may remember to live on the other side of the Jordan K. The third tribe is tribe of Dan call them the I've already tried and failed tribe.

These the pessimists in the land. We've always got some of those who they are entitled to because chapter 5, verse 17 B just one question. Deborah laments and why they stay in shifts in chapter 1 will inform us that they attempted to take their inheritance by fighting the Amorites and the Amorites defeated them.

They lack trust in their God and they were forced up into the mountains and the last we hear but now we hear that there over here and ship which is really a classic. It's like they're all back up and ready to set sail just in case is battled the right way and Deborah says did you stay in shifts in the help.

The fourth tribe is the tribe of Asher will call them the tribe that was busy doing the wrong thing to chapter 5 or 17 just last phrase here just sentences but volumes. Asher said at the seashore and remain biased landing cc Asher was on the Phoenician coast. They have their trade in their boats theater land business. Secondly, Arnold Asher boats in the business plan, but he wants you to leave it for now go fight a battle and come back. They refuse the tragedies, ladies and gentlemen that Asher refused to get involved in except for one brief mention in the life of Gideon.

They disappear from right. The tragedy is that Dan stated their little ships trying to protect her little tribe, and yet they were the first to nosedive into apostasy.

The tragedy is the Gilead remained on the other side where was a little safer in that they were repeatedly overrun into significant point is you cannot run from battle. You cannot run from involvement. If you and I refuse to be involved in the life of Christ church and in the life of Christ, people, we will survive and flourish. If we box ourselves away. If we run from from fighting we will shrivel up with her little shell of the volunteer without hesitation. They trusted God without explanation and number three they gave God the credit without any reservation. This is significant here after the battle is won. Chapter 5 is actually an expression of joy because the battle looking Deborah gives the credit to look at verse three. Chapter 5 she spells it out here okay about to make a proclamation here give ear, all rollers I the Lord. I will sing I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel battle is the Lord of the question still remains for all of us. What happened after the plaintiff Israel on flat riverbed was dry called Keisha well were really not told in chapter 4. Other than the fact that in don't go to… Run. He ended up with peg through his head. Chapter 5 provides the answer.

Look at verse 19 hears Deborah's explanation. This is all we've got to go on so look carefully first 19 chapter 5 the Kings came and fought and fought the kings of Canaan attain act or the waters of Megiddo. They took no plunder and silver stars fall from heaven. Supernatural intervention from their courses.

They fought against Sisera. How here is the torrent of Keyshawn swept them away. The ancient torrent. The torrent Keisha O my soul. March on with straight. In other words, ladies and gentlemen at just the right moment dry riverbed begin to experience either some kind of flyswatter more than likely rain. Josephus, a Jewish historian who lived during the time of Christ talk about this particular battle and he said that the stories that had come down to the generations of Jews with that at that very moment as the battle was about to begin.

It began to rain and hail and thunder and the dry riverbed which at one time was perfect for heavy iron chariots now became the worst place in all the world and guess who. It's perfect for now lightly armed soldiers. Rob Roy writes of this particular area. Certain tracks of this plains surface is like with the addition of water strong adhesive mud no one horses pass over such places. They are often unable to pull out their feet. If the horse's foot is buried in the mud long enough to allow the clay to close over it from above.

He finds it extremely difficult to draw his leg out again and he instantly changes his gait to a series of plungers with rapid short jerseys that snorting and groaning all the while with terror and panting and naming in the wildest makes it even better. Beloved is the fact that the God of the Canaanites was Vail and Vail was in effect, the God of the storm is going to cause the rain to fall in here. The rain came, God with one little stroke up as I control the rate that your crummy little veil that was one why didn't God just like Sisera and Jacob in the design series. Learn why chapter 3 verse one these are the nations which the Lord left to test Israel by them. That is all who would not ask.

Instead, any of the wars of Canaan. Only in order that the generations.

Ongoing generations of the sons of Israel might be taught more foes would not experience a formal and we got less the enemies there and Wiley's enemies in your life to shut fight there's a fundamental principle here in that lesson of how to fight. God is more interested in developing his people and isn't displaying his power so he let you get up on the mountainside and election. Take a good look at the iron chariots, sometimes even allows them to overcome your pitiful strength because you've trusted yourself to fall flat on your face and there you are on the mat.

God wants you to learn that to because you want to learn to stand up and fight, there's a book that I have read some time ago that impacted me as a cola view from the zoo written by Gary Richmond pastoral staff. Everett first Evangelical Free were checks with all pastors used to work for the LA zoo's written stories of animals and one fascinating will never forget. He was talking about the date of this mother giraffe is going to give birth which he said was a fascinating experience that he never really seen as all staff was there watching this take place. This kind unusual because mother giraffe delivers ending up, which means that babies get a full seven or 8 feet which kind of a shocking experience in the world so they were all gathered around watching this whole thing take place in there. The baby drops and looks around and they're capable of managing and standing immediately. All of a sudden the mother giraffe will check sent baby and rules over and over and over the keeper that was in charge of this is typical because that baby has got to get up on his feet must learn quickly because out of the while they are prey so sure that federal little baby giraffe you stretches his legs at the front and on the back and it wobbles up to a standard everybody shares this little baby directly standing on Dalton mom takes it off its rules over and over and carried out to say okay time to intervene here, no typical no one because that mother once that baby to remember how it got petrified that God is trying to teach you if you'll just be willing to fight by his grace to get back up, stand up fight if you will. He has his own providence is design strategies laid out so that he will take care of iron chariots generals like Cicero who can be taken care of by little housewife. Never forget that the battle is always the Lord's flat on your back today.

I hope this time in God's word has encouraged you to get back up and get back into the fight. This is wisdom for the hearts today's lesson from our vintage wisdom series from judges is called hooray for the housewife we'd really enjoy hearing from you and learning how God is using this ministry to build you up in the faith.

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