Monday, October 18, 2004
The Holy Apostle Luke the Evangelist
Kellia: Judges 4:4-23 Epistle: Philippians 4:10-23 Gospel: St. Luke 7:36-50
Judges 4:4-23 RSV, especially vss. 15, 16: "Sisera alighted
from his chariot and fled away on foot. And Barak pursued the chariots and the army to
Harosheth-ha-goiim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a man was
left." Two verses which precede this reading reveal that a certain Jabin, the king of Canaan,
maintained a large army of iron chariots by which he oppressed "the people of Israel cruelly for
twenty years" (Jdg. 4:2,3). Under the command of a general named Sisera, these Canaanite
chariots were equipped with whirling knives on their wheels - for dashing in among infantry and
cutting up opponents on foot while protecting their drivers and warriors. A whole generation of
Israel's populace had been subdued by these deadly mobile squadrons. However, to deliver His
People while they were living under Jabin's hand, God had raised up a Prophetess, Deborah, who
kept an informal court under a palm tree in the northern hills of the Holy Land (Jdg. 4:4-5).
After twenty years, God roused Deborah and "She sent and summoned Barak" from Naphtali,
one of the northernmost tribes of Israel, living immediately under Jabin's repressive control (vs.
6). Let us carefully note why God chose this moment to act. He had a Prophetess whose heart
was open to hear His commands, whose court brought her into close touch with the people and
who was well respected by them. Most of all, however, "the people of Israel cried to the Lord for
help" (Jdg. 4:3). Thus we have a passage that encourages us always to turn to God for help and
mercy, but especially when we are overwhelmed by powers of this life. It also shows us that,
when we seek His help, we must do so in unfettered faith and obedience.
Barak provides a study in faith and obedience. He had the faith to do what God commanded, yet
not an unquestioning faith, nor an unbridled faith ready to obey without "conditions." As a result
the "glory" of victory went to an unarmed woman of faith (vss. 9,21-23). As our cries to God
arise with our need for His help in struggling through life against the bitter powers of this world,
our own sinful desires, and Satan's attractions, they must also be joined by a faith ready to act as
God expects and without "conditions." Faith and obedience will ever be subverted when we
tamper with what the Lord sets plainly before us.
Could God have been more direct and assuring? He gave explicit orders about the number of
troops required for the battle. He declared that He would draw out Sisera's army as a guarantee
that the tactical situation would be safely in Divine control, and, most important, the Lord
promised Barak to give Sisera into his hand (vs. 7). Sadly, Barak's immediate response was to
set conditions in his reply to God. As he said to Deborah, "If you will go with me, I will go" (vs.
8). A readiness was present, but not a robust, unquestioning faith to go and do what was
commanded. Let us note both Barak's trust in God, but also the hobbles that hampered his faith.
Like Barak, Beloved of the Lord, we know God's commandments in our hearts. In His Sermon
on the Mount, the Lord Jesus revealed the full scope of the commandments with the sole purpose
of bringing us safely through the great array of temptations that can limit our victories in obeying
Him. For example, we may be well enough constrained so that we ignore the impulse to murder,
but few of us are always free of anger at others or have never indulged our feelings to cut down
an offender by saying "Raca," that is, "Stupid" or "Fool" to someone (Mt. 5:22).
Let us, like Jael, the wife of Heber, be ready to put to death in our own tent - within ourselves -
those enemies pride and selfishness that obstruct the Holy Spirit from giving us life. O Lord
save Thy People, and bless Thine inheritance, granting to Thy People victory over all their
enemies, and by the power of Thy Cross, preserving Thy kingdom.