Judg 5:31 | TNotes | STEP | 5:31 Sisera typifies the Lord’s enemies ; Jael represents those who love the Lord. • there was peace in the land: Rest followed the Lord’s rescue. Thematic note: Wisdom Psalms Some psalms are called wisdom psalms because they make a case for the primary importance of wisdom or instruct readers in dealing with questions, issues, and doubts that arise in life (see Pss 1 ; 14 ; 25 ; 34 ; 37 ; 39 ; 49 ; 73 ; 78 ; 90 ; 91 ; 111 ; 112 ; 127 ; 128 ; 131 ; 133 ; 139 ). Many other psalms contain elements of wisdom teaching (see Pss 18 ; 27 ; 31 ; 32 ; 40 ; 62 ; 92 ; 94 ; 107 ; 144 ; 146 ). In the other nations of the ancient Near East, wisdom had to do with maintaining order, pleasing the gods and other people, and carefully observing life, society, and nature. In Israel, wisdom shares these concerns but is distinct in the centrality it gives to fear of the Lord. God alone is the center and focus of life, and proper fear of him opens the path of wisdom (111:10 ). Fear of the Lord is a disposition of absolute submission to and trust in the Lord (115:11 ; see also 40:3 ; 112:7 ), which leads to purity of life (19:9 ). Psalm 34 connects the fear of the Lord with abundant life. The way of wisdom is the way of godliness. Psalm 1 invites all readers of the psalms to delight in God, his revelation, and the lifestyle that results from his care for the wise. The lives of the godly demonstrate inner consistency, growth, and beauty as they increasingly reflect God’s righteousness and justice, love and fidelity, compassion and grace. They practice godliness from the inside out. Wisdom enlarges a person’s perspective on life. A wise person desires to see life from God’s point of view. This search means living in submission and trust under the sovereign King who maintains the order and harmony of creation. Seeking God encourages an orderly and peaceful life and motivates obedience (19:7 ; 25:12 ; 51:6 ; 112:1 ; 119:98-100 ). The wise imitate God, and their lives are full of joy even when they are suffering hardship. They praise the Lord amid all circumstances of life (see 22:23 , 25 ), and they face life confidently because the Lord is with them (23:4 ; 27:1 , 3 ; 33:18 ; 91:1-16 ). In contrast to the way of the wise is the way of the fool, or the wicked. Such people perceive themselves as powerful and continually boast of their accomplishments. They do not accept limitations. They brag, oppress, steal, and deprive others of their happiness. They have no fear of the Lord (36:1 ; 55:19 ). The poets of Israel repeatedly warned the people to be wary of the path of folly, lest God’s judgment overtake them (2:10-11 ; 94:8-10 ). Jesus Christ came into the world as God in the flesh, and he embodies all the qualities of wisdom. Through him, we can walk in the way of wisdom (Col 2:2-3 ). Passages for Further Study Pss 1 ; 14 ; 25 ; 34 ; 37 ; 39 ; 49 ; 73 ; 78 ; 90 ; 91 ; 111 ; 112 ; 127 ; 128 ; 131 ; 133 ; 139

5:31 ^a Sisera typifies the Lord’s enemies; Jael represents those who love the Lord.

• there was peace in the land: Rest followed the Lord’s rescue.

Thematic note: Wisdom Psalms
Some psalms are called wisdom psalms because they make a case for the primary importance of wisdom or instruct readers in dealing with questions, issues, and doubts that arise in life (see Pss 1 ^b; 14 ^c; 25 ^d; 34 ^e; 37 ^f; 39 ^g; 49 ^h; 73 ⁱ; 78 ^j; 90 ^k; 91 ^l; 111 ^m; 112 ⁿ; 127 ^o; 128 ^p; 131 ^q; 133 ^r; 139 ^s). Many other psalms contain elements of wisdom teaching (see Pss 18 ^t; 27 ^u; 31 ^v; 32 ^w; 40 ^x; 62 ^y; 92 ^z; 94 ^aa; 107 ^ab; 144 ^ac; 146 ^ad).
In the other nations of the ancient Near East, wisdom had to do with maintaining order, pleasing the gods and other people, and carefully observing life, society, and nature. In Israel, wisdom shares these concerns but is distinct in the centrality it gives to fear of the Lord. God alone is the center and focus of life, and proper fear of him opens the path of wisdom (111:10 ^ae). Fear of the Lord is a disposition of absolute submission to and trust in the Lord (115:11 ^af; see also 40:3 ^ag; 112:7 ^ah), which leads to purity of life (19:9 ^ai). Psalm 34 ^aj connects the fear of the Lord with abundant life.
The way of wisdom is the way of godliness. Psalm 1 ^ak invites all readers of the psalms to delight in God, his revelation, and the lifestyle that results from his care for the wise. The lives of the godly demonstrate inner consistency, growth, and beauty as they increasingly reflect God’s righteousness and justice, love and fidelity, compassion and grace. They practice godliness from the inside out.
Wisdom enlarges a person’s perspective on life. A wise person desires to see life from God’s point of view. This search means living in submission and trust under the sovereign King who maintains the order and harmony of creation. Seeking God encourages an orderly and peaceful life and motivates obedience (19:7 ^al; 25:12 ^am; 51:6 ^an; 112:1 ^ao; 119:98-100 ^ap). The wise imitate God, and their lives are full of joy even when they are suffering hardship. They praise the Lord amid all circumstances of life (see 22:23 ^aq, 25 ^ar), and they face life confidently because the Lord is with them (23:4 ^as; 27:1 ^at, 3 ^au; 33:18 ^av; 91:1-16 ^aw).
In contrast to the way of the wise is the way of the fool, or the wicked. Such people perceive themselves as powerful and continually boast of their accomplishments. They do not accept limitations. They brag, oppress, steal, and deprive others of their happiness. They have no fear of the Lord (36:1 ^ax; 55:19 ^ay). The poets of Israel repeatedly warned the people to be wary of the path of folly, lest God’s judgment overtake them (2:10-11 ^az; 94:8-10 ^ba).
Jesus Christ came into the world as God in the flesh, and he embodies all the qualities of wisdom. Through him, we can walk in the way of wisdom (Col 2:2-3 ^bb).

Passages for Further Study
Pss 1 ^bc; 14 ^bd; 25 ^be; 34 ^bf; 37 ^bg; 39 ^bh; 49 ^bi; 73 ^bj; 78 ^bk; 90 ^bl; 91 ^bm; 111 ^bn; 112 ^bo; 127 ^bp; 128 ^bq; 131 ^br; 133 ^bs; 139 ^bt