Have you ever heard of “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere,” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow? It begins, “Listen my children, and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere….” It is a poem that commemorates the actions of Paul Revere on April 18, 1775. The poem was published by Longfellow in a magazine in January of 1861. It has a lot of inaccuracies in it relative to its history. The speaker of the poem is the landlord of the Wayside Inn. Paul Revere tells a friend to prepare signal lanterns in the Old North Church to inform him if the British will attack by land or by sea.
Revere would wait across the river in Charlestown and be ready to spread the alarm throughout the county. Soon, the signal lanterns are lit, letting Revere know that the British were coming by sea. Revere rides his horse through Medford, Lexington, and Concord, MA to warn the patriots.
Today, we will study the historical account of the battle recorded in Judges 4. It is not often that God gives us a poem that praises a historical event but there are a few.
THE ISRAELITES ARE OPPRESSED – (4.1-3):
Although the idea of a world power would not be born until later, the Cannanites were a very powerful force in that day, very terrifying: they had chariots! Hundreds of chariots! Of iron!
These are desperate times! Who will rise up to save Israel? Who will be the leader? Who will get up the courage and lead the people into battle? Who? Who will take the initiative? A soldier? A warrior? A man? In fact…
THERE IS NOT A COURAGEOUS LEADER IN ISRAEL – It falls to a woman (4.4-10):
Deborah was a leader in Israel. Deborah was also a prophetess. God sends Deborah a message, a message for Barak, who was in fact a military leader.
Do you have faith in God? Would you go to battle with the promise of God at your back? God promised to give him victory: “I will draw out to you… I will give him into your hand…” Barak is too timid to lead. The intense need of the hour is for people who are not afraid to speak up for God, either before their families, before their friends, before their colleagues.
The author of the book of Judges emphasizes that Barak did not fight without the presence of Deborah – verses 9 & 10. Deborah was not a usual leader, especially because she was a woman. But desperate times demand unusual leaders.
THE ARMIES FACE OFF (4.12-16):
The Lord gave them the power to win. Verse 16 is emphatic about the destruction of the army! But, although Deborah gave Barak the glory of the victory in verse 14, it has been remembered throughout the years that it was because of Deborah and her motivation that Barak won! Without Deborah’s help, the words “not a man was left” would not have been written.
THE GLORY OF THE VICTORY IS GIVEN TO A WOMAN (4.17-22):
Sisera fled to the tent of Heber, believing that he would find refuge and safety. The savior of Israel is standing at the door with the enemy. Just as the victory was not given to Barak, Sisera did not see his end at the hand of a man! God raises up two women, Deborah and Jael, in order to save the people from slavery, and one wasn’t even a Jew!
The author closes his story showing how God humbled Jabin and brought peace (4.23-24). Again, the author shows that the victory came, not from Barak, neither really from Deborah and Jael; everything was under God’s control. He gives the victory (4.23).
You can be an effective leader. Follow God, defend His word, and be courageous in that.
–Paul Holland