Judg 5:8 | KingComments | STEP | ( ) We have already read a single verse about Shamgar ( ). Now we read something from him about the time in which he lived. His time resembles the time of Jael. These were times when the enemy attacked the people of Israel. Nobody dared to go on the highways anymore. The streets were empty. Whoever had to go somewhere, looked for roundabout ways, for winding roads. God has predicted that the roads would become “deserted” if the people became unfaithful ( ). When the Messiah reigns, it will be different, then the highways are populated again: “A highway will be there, a roadway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it [will] be for him who walks [that] way, And fools will not wander [on it]. No lion will be there, Nor will any vicious beast go up on it; These will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk [there], And the ransomed of the LORD will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, With everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away” ( ). There, the people have returned to God and receive the promised, postponed blessing. Our time resembles the days of Shamgar and Jael. The Word of God is taken no more into account. Unfortunately, the enemy succeeds in taking many Christians off the right highway and keeping them away of it. Shamgar and Jael acted in faith and gave the enemy a serious blow. They have not resigned themselves to the general view that it did not help anything to resist. In all times, including ours, it has always become clear who is joining the general opinion and who is openly standing on God’s side. The roundabout ways are a picture of acting according to one’s own insights, while one does not ask for the will of God. Often this happens out of fear of the fight that certainly comes when one goes against the opinion of the mass. ( ) The people of God went their own ways. They decided for themselves how they would organize their lives and did not ask for God’s will. There were no leaders, no people who made the people familiar with His will. Lack of knowledge of the Word of God, not asking God how He thinks about things, inevitably leads to the demise of the people of God ( ). Then Deborah arises. Deborah is not arrogant when she calls herself “a mother in Israel”. Further on a mother comes to speak, the mother of Sisera, but she is different from Deborah. That Deborah calls herself “a mother” and not “a leader” says something about how to lead. A mother is someone who devotes herself with love and care to her children. She does everything she can to give her children what they need to grow into adulthood and independence. There is a great need for such leaders in the church of God. Paul is a leader who behaves in the church in Thessalonika, a young church, as a mother, and also as a father ( ). The real leader is not someone who is served, but he who himself serves. A beautiful example of this is the Lord Jesus ( ). ( ) The “gods” refer to rulers, people who lead the people. The gate is often the place where government is exercised in Israel ( ). The first part of this verse suggests an election. The result of such an election is another battle, not against an outside enemy, but against each other. The cause is that the will of God is not asked for. The new leaders are no better than the previous ones. They only work for their own profit. There is no peace and rest. Is it different in the world today? And what do we see among the people of God? Many leaders think only of their own position, honor and income and have no real concern for the flock of God. Therefore, no weapons are given to the people with which they can defend themselves against the enemy (“shield”) or chase him away (“spear”). This resembles the time of Saul, when there is no blacksmith in Israel, so no swords can be made ( ). The weapons we, believers of the church, use are not carnal, but spiritual. It is a sad fact that battle among the leaders of God’s people makes the whole people powerless. The people who are responsible for equipping God’s people withhold them the necessary guidance to lead a victorious life. The Word of God, which is like a shield and a spear, is no longer referred to, or its own, contemporary and meaningless explanation is given. In professing Christianity, “shield or spear” are hardly found anymore. Do we know how to handle God’s Word properly? If this is our wish, we will be taught by the Spirit of God.

‏ Judges 5:8

2. Israel During the Occupation

(Jdg 5:6) We have already read a single verse about Shamgar (Jdg 3:31). Now we read something from him about the time in which he lived. His time resembles the time of Jael. These were times when the enemy attacked the people of Israel. Nobody dared to go on the highways anymore. The streets were empty. Whoever had to go somewhere, looked for roundabout ways, for winding roads.

God has predicted that the roads would become “deserted” if the people became unfaithful (Lev 26:22). When the Messiah reigns, it will be different, then the highways are populated again:

“A highway will be there, a roadway,

And it will be called the Highway of Holiness.

The unclean will not travel on it,

But it [will] be for him who walks [that] way,

And fools will not wander [on it].

No lion will be there,

Nor will any vicious beast go up on it;

These will not be found there.

But the redeemed will walk [there],

And the ransomed of the LORD will return

And come with joyful shouting to Zion,

With everlasting joy upon their heads.

They will find gladness and joy,

And sorrow and sighing will flee away” (Isa 35:8-10).

There, the people have returned to God and receive the promised, postponed blessing.

Our time resembles the days of Shamgar and Jael. The Word of God is taken no more into account. Unfortunately, the enemy succeeds in taking many Christians off the right highway and keeping them away of it.

Shamgar and Jael acted in faith and gave the enemy a serious blow. They have not resigned themselves to the general view that it did not help anything to resist. In all times, including ours, it has always become clear who is joining the general opinion and who is openly standing on God’s side. The roundabout ways are a picture of acting according to one’s own insights, while one does not ask for the will of God. Often this happens out of fear of the fight that certainly comes when one goes against the opinion of the mass.

(Jdg 5:7) The people of God went their own ways. They decided for themselves how they would organize their lives and did not ask for God’s will. There were no leaders, no people who made the people familiar with His will. Lack of knowledge of the Word of God, not asking God how He thinks about things, inevitably leads to the demise of the people of God (Hos 4:1 ; 6). Then Deborah arises. Deborah is not arrogant when she calls herself “a mother in Israel”. Further on a mother comes to speak, the mother of Sisera, but she is different from Deborah.

That Deborah calls herself “a mother” and not “a leader” says something about how to lead. A mother is someone who devotes herself with love and care to her children. She does everything she can to give her children what they need to grow into adulthood and independence. There is a great need for such leaders in the church of God. Paul is a leader who behaves in the church in Thessalonika, a young church, as a mother, and also as a father (1Thes 2:7 ; 11). The real leader is not someone who is served, but he who himself serves. A beautiful example of this is the Lord Jesus (Lk 22:24-27).

(Jdg 5:8) The “gods” refer to rulers, people who lead the people. The gate is often the place where government is exercised in Israel (Rth 4:1-11).

The first part of this verse suggests an election. The result of such an election is another battle, not against an outside enemy, but against each other. The cause is that the will of God is not asked for. The new leaders are no better than the previous ones. They only work for their own profit. There is no peace and rest.

Is it different in the world today? And what do we see among the people of God? Many leaders think only of their own position, honor and income and have no real concern for the flock of God. Therefore, no weapons are given to the people with which they can defend themselves against the enemy (“shield”) or chase him away (“spear”). This resembles the time of Saul, when there is no blacksmith in Israel, so no swords can be made (1Sam 13:19).

The weapons we, believers of the church, use are not carnal, but spiritual. It is a sad fact that battle among the leaders of God’s people makes the whole people powerless. The people who are responsible for equipping God’s people withhold them the necessary guidance to lead a victorious life. The Word of God, which is like a shield and a spear, is no longer referred to, or its own, contemporary and meaningless explanation is given. In professing Christianity, “shield or spear” are hardly found anymore. Do we know how to handle God’s Word properly? If this is our wish, we will be taught by the Spirit of God.