Q1. Breaking God's commandment

[jaunita]

God had sent many before Gideon, (Deborah comes to mind), to judge and lead Israel into the right way...But it seem's after every battle won by God for them, and the death of each judge (prophet) they fell into apostocy....following after other gods..that were no gods at all! "Thou shall have no other God before me" The word compromise comes to mind...The children of Israel, as we do today, believed they could compromise with the "world" (their enemy's) and still be in God's will. They, as we, are called out, an example to the world....there is no place for compromise.

[mcj5057]

Israel had begun to worship the gods of the Amorites and that was the reason for their oppressed state. They had broken the first commandment--- "Thou shall have no other gods before me."

This commandment was nothing new to them, they had been forwarned by God that He would not tolerate anything or anybody being placed before Him. Yet, they failed to listen. I wonder if they were listening with their ears only and not with their ears and heart.

We Christians today must be careful that we don't put God 2nd, 3rd, or 4th. We must be careful not to let our jobs, money, houses, cars, or any other thing we deem important, take first place in our lives. These "things" can become our idols.

[dantanc]

This chapter startswith "Again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the Lord....."-- thay is why

God has delivered them into the hands of the Medianites,who have totally ravaged Israelites and their produce and cattle--leaving them utterly poor and helpless. And then when they cried to the Lord for help, Lord specically says through his prophet " You have worshipped other gods.. and did not listen to me". The second of the commanments of God.

I also often trespass this commandment by not setting my priorities correcly in the sight of the Lord. I compromise may a time with this world. But I again seek Lord help and strength to be able to over come such. Phil 1:6 "... He who has begun good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ".

[Jacque]

The reason for Israel's opressed state is because they worshiped the gods of the Amorites. In direct opposition to the first commandment, "You shall have no other gods before me."

We Christians, just like the Israelites, should lsten to what God has to say, and follow His words. Otherwise we also, will be oppresssed just like the Israelites for our own sins.

[Mario]

The Israelites worshipped the god of the Amorites, one thing God told the Israelites not to do over and over and over.You can't blame the big guy for doing what HE did.

As most Christians today, me included, we are to blame for our own predicaments. As loving God as He is , He is also a gentle man that would not force himself to us. Our freewill, I think sinful nature is the proper word, takes precedence over HIS will for us. Obedience is the word of the day.

[mark.o.reynolds]

He told them He is the Lord God, not the gods of the Amorites, but they did not listen to Him. They worshiped the gods of the Amorites and that is why they were in the oppressed state.

Today Christians get caught up in materialistic things. We sometimes do not put the Lord first in all we do. We want more and more and try to get it all by ourselves. We need to understand that eveything we have is due to Him. Without Him we would be nothing and have nothing.

[kitty]

According to the prophet in 6:7-10, what is the reason for Israel's oppressed state?

Israel worshipped the god's where they lived. They worshipped the god's of the Amorites.

What commandment did they break?

The commandment they broke was Ex 20:3, Deut. 5:7 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

In what way hadn't they "listened"?

The Israelites didn't want to listen to God's commandments that was passed down from them from Moses.

How does this affect Christians today?

This affects the Christians in today's time, when we don't listen to God's voice and do what He asks of us. We are basically not wanting to listen to God's voice. To do what He wants us to do.

[heatherdills]

According to the prophet in 6:7-10, the reason for Israel's oppressed state was their idol worship of other gods. They broke the first commandment "thou shall have no other gods before me". They had not "listened" because they conformed to the religious practices of the land. This affects Christians today because so easily we concede to modern society and tolerate things we know are not right in God's eyes.

[dianleigh]

God hadn't abandoned the Isrealites as Gideon seemed to think, they had left Him. They were unfaithful to him by going to false gods. They broke His commandment after His warning of the trouble it would cause.

We fo the same thing today. In John 14:15 Jesus tells us that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments. When we don't obey Him we are turning our back on our Redeemer. He has never turned against us.

Our disobedience causes problems for us and we have the nerve at times to blame God as Gideon did.

[mairead]

the Israelities did not listen to God and they broke his commandment of worshiping other gods of the Amorites. they heard with their ears and probably even agreed with the commandment but they did not hear with their hearts and so disobeyed as it was not imprinted in their hearts and they forgot about it. lots of times we hear teachings of Jesus and we probably agree with them but they are soon pushed out of our minds and we forget all about them. God is patient and will repeat the message and we must be carefull to hear. however we must be careful not to judge people, if we think that they heard the voice of God and we say that they are not following Gods word we should try to gently reiterate what God has said to them not hold them up as disobedient christians and treat them with contempt. this happened to our family by a person of high regard in the church when we were only baby christians and it nearly tore us apart. it destroyed the relationship of a friendship.

[Helen]

Thle reason for the depressed state of Israel was that they had been unfaithful to God and broken the commandment to worship the Lord their God, and Him ONLY. They were not to stand in fear or awe of any other local gods. In fact God had specifically told them NOT to fear the gods of the Amorites who lived close-by. Yet the Israelites had done exactly what God commanded them not to do, both by Moses, and by this later prophet.

We also today ask why there are not the healings and miracles of the days of Jesus. But, to what extent are we prepared to set ourselves apart to worship the Lord our God, to honour only the Name of Jesus, above the names that people around us honour, above the (peer) pressures of this world.

[AngelOnLine]

Q2. According to the prophet in 6:7-10, what is the reason for Israel's oppressed state?

They disobeyed God by worshipping other gods.

What commandment did they break?

They broke the first commandment.

[preacherwoman]

They are oppressed because of the sin of disobedience.

God told them not to worship other gods, to keep Him first, but instead they gave in to their surroundings -- influenced by others. How many times, LORD, do I do you clearly tell me NOT to do! Just like the Israelites, doing my own thing and blaming You when I suffer from bad decisions.

[maria gonzalez]

According to the prophet in 6:7-10, what is the reason for Israel's oppressed state? What commandment did they break? In what way hadn't they "listened"? (see exposition). How does this affect Christians today?

Israel's oppressed state was mainly due to their disobedience to God. They turned to gods of nations that were oppressing them. They were not supposed to turn to other gods. They adopted cultural/religious/customs from other nations that compromised their lives with God. They traded rightousness for unrightousness. They traded freedom for unrightousness.

The way this affects us today is as follows, many times we compromise ourselves, we bring to ourselves things, like the Jews brought to themselves oppression from their enemies, we cannot free ourselves from oppression so like the people of Israel we cry for freedom from God. Oppression that we bring to ourselves is due to disobedience and can only be forgiven by God himself upon our repentance. For whatever reason, we sometimes bring upon ourselves so many things, it affects us as individuals it affects us as being the church. It affects us in so many ways, but as a church, it affects us as giving the wrong example to the world who watches us. As a church we give the world negative issues to be talked about. We interfere with God's plan in our lives when we do not obey God, we compromise our spiritual lives, we also interfere with God's plan for us to witness to the church and the world.

[blessed]

They worshipped other gods.You shall not serve any other gods .We tend to ask God for help when we are in trouble only.

[InHisHands]

The Isralites forgot to love God the first and most important commandment: You shall love your God with all... by not loving God which mean not putting him first, they rejected him, as a result they do not listened to him. They walk their own way. They separete themselves from God and evil became a way of life. Evil/sin to God's people always bring alienation/separation from God.

I think how when we do not listen to God, we fall into worshiping others things that are harmful to us, thus, sining. By worshiping these other gods: money, sex, people, religion among others, we alienate ourselves. God is our Father, He loves us, He listen...but He also corrects us.

We have a tendency to forget. We forget how God have being walking with us, and how He has rescue us again and again. And we also forget that God is a person, not human, perfect, yes, but a person that wants honor, and intimacy with us through a relationship with us. I imagen that I will be very hurt and dissapointed of people so unloyal. But we think Oh He is God! Out there to faraway from us but the reality is that He is very near, and we ignore him.

I find myself continually fighting with these contradictions in my flesh, on my circunstances, with my relationships with others and with God. I know I have a calling. I know that He rescued me. I know that He loves me... But I also know that He wants me to obey him and follow him praising his name, by honoring him with my life and my personal relationship with him. I also desire that, but how difficult is not to get involved with all the gods of this world.

I pray to you God your kingdom come your will be done in my life and protect me from walking into temptation faraway from you, and deliver me from evil/sin. Please forgive me when I fall apart from you, and show me how to forgive those who had hurt me. That I may all ways worship you and only you Lord. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

[tweety]

2. According to the prophet in 6:7-10, what is the reason for

Israel's oppressed state? What commandment did they break? In what

way hadn't they "listened"? How does this affect Christians today?

The reason for the Isrealites oppresses state is thet they disobeyed the will of God.

They borke the first commandment, "Thou shall have no other gods before me".

They deciced to rely on other gods instead of God, thier creator. They began worshipping other gods.

When we as Christains disobey God, we are robing ourselves of the many blessings that God has in store for us. Sinning has a swift effect on individuals and if we have realised that we have sinned, we have to nip it in the bud, We must e willing to acknowledge when we are wrong and sek fogiveness, if not we could easily be decieved into believing that God cannot deliver us.

[sandieh]

After reading what most of the others had to say in the forum on this question, I think, #1 it is very easy to get offtrack. And thats what the Israelites had done, forgotten just how serious God was about having no other gods before Him. Whether deliberatly or not they had lost their focus and bean to be influenced by the nations and the culture around them. Sounds alot like us, if we aren't diligent to keep our eyes on Jesus. Obviously God had been calling them to repentance, but they were so caught up in the oppression of the enemy and in trying to survive they weren't listening. I am so glad that God never gives up in getting our attention, one way or another. Because I sure like His view of us as mighty warriors, better than our own, which without him is as weak and powerless

[ladyfields]

The reason they were in their oppressed state was because they disobeyed the 2nd Commandment "....no other god...." We as Christians can familiarize with this because we may not have an "image" carved or other wise but we have things we make our gods and idols (cars houses children husbands etc.) Our Father is a jealous GOD and putting an image of any kind is enough to displease GOD and fall out of fellowship with HIM. SO for all who read, I pray that whatever you have put before GOD and serving HIM - remove it.

[Alicea]

According to the prophet in 6:7-10, what is the reason for Israel's oppressed state? What commandment did they break? In what way hadn't they "listened"? (see exposition). How does this affect Christians today?

They were oppressed because they worshiped false gods and broke the first and second commandments. They did not listen to God when He told them not to worship the gods of the Amorites. Today we slip into worship of other things, people, riches, knowledge, physical appearance, etc.

[Orchestrakid]

The reasoning behind Israel's oppressed state is that they were told to not worship the gods of the Amorites, and yet, the people did not listen. This is dangerous to us as Christians because when we pray and worship to other gods other than the one true God, we may get false messages that may lead us further and further into the land of sin.

[Carolynne]

The Israelites broke the second commandment, Thou shall have no other Gods before me.

We are to put God first in everything and worship him alone.

No matter what we are going though we are to keep our eyes on God, he is the same yesterday tody and tomorrow, and His way's are not our ways.

[Gabriela]

According to the prophet in 6:7-10, what is the reason for Israel's oppressed state? What commandment did they break? In what way hadn't they "listened"? How does this affect Christians today?

Israel is oppressed because they broke the second commandment which says that you should have no other gods before Me. They didn't listen because they started serving the gods of the Amorites. It affects us today because we should put God first before anything else in our lives.

[alisicia]

Judges Chapter 5

"The DELIVERERS SONG."

"Praise of Yahoveh [1-11]."

"Conduct of the Tribes [12-18]."

"Contrasted Succor for Israel [23-27]."

"The Enemies Defeat, Yahoveh's Victory [28-31]."

The "song of Deborah" which is also called "the Deliverers song" for it tells us how God protects His own. This chapter goes much deeper into exactly what happened in the field down in the valley to those men and their chariots. We will see that God was in complete control of everything that happened on that day of Deborah's victory. God has always been in control, and He is in control today. Before you communicate with God, it is important to first communicate with Him through His Word. To understand what God is trying to say to you, you must first come to know His general plan from His Word, then He will speak to you and reveal what He wants you to do.

God spoke this letter to you and I, and the prophets and apostles wrote it down. In the letter our full instructions are given as to what He expects from each of us, when we call ourselves Christians. All of the instructions are in His Word and He expects us to read it and follow those instructions. God used stories of thing that actually happened to teach us His plan, and in most cases, even a child can understand them. Solomon, the wisest of all men told us that there is nothing new under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun."

Each of these stories of God's warriors in the Old Testament are given to us as examples of things that would come again in the future. The apostle Paul wrote of this in I Corinthians 10:11: "Now all these thing happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." Deborah is singing the praises to God in this chapter, for it was God that used this brave woman in battle when there was no man that would stand up to face the enemy.

God used Deborah and the other woman, Jael, and together God used them to destroyed the entire army of the Canaanites, including the feared general Sisera and his nine hundred chariots. So we will not find out exactly how that battle of the chariots was won.

Judges 5:1 "Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,"

A "song" seals the emotions of an event that has taken place. In this case, Deborah and Barak's song gives all the praise to God, and thanks for the victory.

Judges 5:2 "Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel, When the People willingly offered themselves."

This is the subject of the song; "Praise ye to Lord for the avenging of Israel." This word "avenging" is better translated from the Hebrew to be "leading" of Israel. God was the leader and He is the one that brought about the victory. When God was doing the leading, the People willing offered themselves in the service of the Lord. Even though many willingly went to battle, we will see that there were also many that were not so willing and feared for their lives.

Judges 5:3 "Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel."

This is Deborah's song, and it is Deborah that is singing her song unto the Lord. Deborah sung the words two times for emphasis. She is singing this song to God and giving God the glory for the victory. When God does something special in your life, you need to thank Him immediately for that blessing. Talk to the Lord and thank Him for those blessings that He sends your way, after all, that is the reason that God created you and I in the first place.

Revelation 4:11 "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

So the question that we must ask ourselves is, Have we given our heavenly Father any pleasure from our lives lately. After all that is the reason that He created us and put us on the earth.

Judges 5:4 "Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water."

This is now taking us back into history, and Seir is of Edom are in the land of Rosh, in the land of Esau. When the people of Israel were willing to take a stand, God shook the earth, and a flood of water come down from the heavens. The Edomites in the land of Canaan had suppressed God's people, and even today this suppression goes on in the land of Esau's people. Russia moved to take God out of the lives of their people and their people became spiritually bankrupt and to the point of starvation.

Their form of government was communistic and socialistic where they took the blessings that God gives His people and distributed it to those that are unworthy of it. There is nothing new under the sun; what king Jabin was doing to Israel in Deborah's day, the Russians are still trying to do today. The word "Edom" in English means "red", and God has put down the red nation in these latter days by the strength of His armies of the past few generations.

Judges 5:5 "The mountains melted from before the Lord, Even that Sinai from before the Lord God of Israel."

There was an earthquake with torrents of rain, and with the rain and the shaking the top soil turned this battlefield to mud and muck. Keep in mind also that where "mountains" are used in God's Word, it also refers to "nations", and when a nation is evil, God will give it a shaking also. God will use whom ever and what ever is necessary by natural means that He chooses to cause the shaking that must be done.

Judges 5:6 "In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, And the travelers walked through byways."

Shamgar was the third judge that we read of in Judges 3:31; "And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel." The "ox goad" was a long six foot stick with a nail tied on to the end of it, that was used to prod cattle. Shamgar the judged used a cattle prod like this to kill six hundred of the Philistine marauders that would lie in wait to rob and kill the Israelites and other travelers that walked the roads at that time.

Shamgar was the judged just prior to Deborah, while Jael was the young farm lady that ran the tent stake through the head of general Sisera. Deborah did the leading, but Jael was the one who finish the job for God. It had come to the point that people were afraid to walk the streets and byways in that day because of these Philistines. It took a few good people to make a difference and stand up and say, "That is enough". Then after Shamgar killed six hundred of these gangsters, the Philistines got the picture that it was not a safe practice their evil business against the Israelites anymore; and the robbing and stealing stopped.

Stop and take a look at what is happening in our cities today, for it is even spreading to the small town. The problem today is that when the robbers and thieves are caught, what is happening to them? A slap on the wrist and they are right back on the street to continue their trouble. Judge Shamgar sent a message in His day, and it didn't take long for the Philistines to catch on. When the thieves were caught, the judge put them to death right then and there, and peace soon came to the travelers. It took six hundred deaths to get the message across to these Philistines.

Judges 5:7 "The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, Until that I Deborah rose, That I arose a mother in Israel."

Deborah was a prophet and a teacher besides being a judge. Many of the teachers and preachers of today say that women are not to be preachers and stand in the pulpits of a church. These are self-righteous hypocrites, for God will use anyone that He pleases, and Deborah was one of the best. She taught and preached and had her mind in tune with God. God used her because there wasn't a man in all Israel that had the guts and courage to make a difference. Think of it, the top general of the nation requiring this mother and teacher to lead all his troops into battle. It sounds like it could have come out of the military leaders of today.

When the nation trembled, and was afraid to make a stand, Deborah made that stand and led the troops into battle. Barak told Deborah that I will not lead my troops into battle unless you are there by my side, and Deborah jumped to her feet and said, let's go.

Judges 5:8 "They chose new gods; Then was war in the gates: Was there a shield or spear seen Among forty thousand in Israel?"

There were forty thousand Israelite troops in the land, and yet there wasn't a one that would pick up his sword and spear and make a stand. They would rather bow down to new gods of the heathen that ruled over them, that take a stand and trust God for the victory. Mankind has not changed in four thousand years, and when our nation is being flood by eastern religious thought, and Kenite fairy-tales of fly-away doctrines, it is easier to go along with that garbage, than to get down and study God's Word for the truth.

The teaching in most church houses today is that you don't have to know the plan of God, and study His Word from the book of Revelation, and the Old Testament, because it doesn't apply to you. What a lie; and the bad thing about it is that these same people that believe it are those that will grab on to fairy-tale and fly away doctrines and think nothing about it. They say all you have to do is believe, yet the babe in Christ is given nothing to believe in. Today we have millions of people that say they are in the army of God, and call themselves Christians, yet they have hung their shields of protection on the wall, and they will be taken immediately at the coming of the fake Christ, who is Satan. We are living in the final generation, and yet the church world has no idea of the times that they are living in. They have detached themselves from the Creator and His plan, and they could care less about it.

This is as the troops of Israel were in days of Deborah, and it took this woman to light the fire under them. There is a spiritual war going on and our people have lost the interest to fight and be part of that war. They just don't care, as the world is being swept into a new world order, and they have forgotten that it is God that gives us the victory. It is God that we rely on for our provision and the direction that we should be taking in our lives, and not the government.

In our generation the weapons of war is your gospel armor, all of the Word of God, for that is the only way that we can have an understanding of God's plan and how you and I fit into it in these final days. The sword of the Lord is the Word of God, and the war that is taking place is a spiritual battle. The battlefield is in our minds, while the weapons are fought with words and ideas that come right from the Word of God. Satan is an expert in tripping people up with the Word of God. He distorts it, and adds a word to and takes a word away until what Satan wants you to believe is a lie.

Judges 5:9 "My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly the People. Bless ye the Lord."

Judges 5:10 "Speak, ye that ride on white *****, ye that sit in judgment, And walk by the way."

The ones that rode the white ***** in Deborah's day are the ones in authority, and many of the governors were on the side of Deborah, even though the people of Israel were not. When the Judge made a ruling these governors sitting over the different tribes would back the judge up. However, in the times when there was not Judge sitting over Israel, these governors and leaders on their white ***** would walk or drift off into other directions. There was no spiritual backbone within any of them, for they were political in nature.

What we see today is that the church houses are becoming "Beth-avens" like in the days of the judges. They are becoming "houses of emptiness", where the Word of God is not taught. True Christians make a difference, because they are the salt of the earth, they wheel the sword of the Lord, and that cuts, corrects, reshapes, and changes the minds and souls of men and women.

Judges 5:11 "That they are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, There shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord, Even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: Then shall the People of the Lord go down to the gates,"

Instead of shouting back at the archers at the well sight where they were being shot at, they went to the battle and praised the Lord Jehovah for His righteous acts of deliverance. When the people went out to draw the water at the well sight, that is when the enemy archers took aim on them. They didn't have faucets in the kitchen and bathrooms, and everyone drew their water from a common place. When Deborah led the troops into battle and king Jabin was dethroned, God took care of this problem.

Spiritually speaking this is why we put on the gospel armor, to fight off the fiery darts of Satan when he comes against you.

Judges 5:12 "Awake, awake, Deborah: Awake, awake, utter a song: Arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam."

Stop and think for a moment, when you plant a seed of truth from God's Word, who do you want them to be held captive of through your words? I hope it is Jesus Christ, the King of kings. When we are held captive by Christ, we are held by His love and His Spirit that guides and comforts us in times of trouble. That is the reason that you make any effort at all to bring someone to the knowledge of Christ. If you have tasted of God love to you, His love within you makes you want to share it with others. Once you have the knowledge and power to lead someone captive for Jesus Christ, then arise and get on with what needs to be done.

It isn't you that does the saving, but it is you that plants the seed, Once you have planted the seed then the Spirit of God does the work to make that seed grow in the mind of the person. Once Deborah planted the seed of what God revealed to her in the mind of Barak, it was Deborah that did the leading to direct Barak, and from that leading came the captivity to God and the destruction of the enemy.

Judges 5:13 "Then He made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: The Lord made me have dominion over the mighty."

After God had lead "him", "Barak", God made Barak the leader over all the rulers of the tribes. Then the song says, The Lord made me [Deborah] to have power over the army. God chose Deborah and placed her over Barak and his army, and then when the battle was over, God received all the glory for the victory.

When you take a stand for God today, you can't worry about what the religious community is going to think, because the religious community has already gone sour and given themselves over to the world system. It is because of the religious community's position that the world is in the condition that it is in. It was the religious community that plotted to kill Christ from the first day of his ministry, and it was the religious community that followed through with the murder. The same offspring of those religious leaders are the ones that are developing the traditions of men religions today.

This is why we must stick with the Word of God for where ever that sword is drawn, it will have power over those that hear it. When you willingly serve God you even have an influence over the mighty and those in authority, whether you realize it or not. Where ever that sword of the Lord is given, it will touch the hearts and minds, and will make a change in the life of the one hearing it.

Judges 5:14 "Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; After thee, Benjamin, among thy people; Out of Machir came down governors, And out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer."

Before we can understand these lines of the "song of Deborah", there must be an understanding of what " they that handle the pen of the writer" is. Remember that it was Deborah that called the troops to battle for she was the Judge of Israel at this time. Before any nation goes to battle against another nation, there is a mustering of the citizens for the forming of the army that will fight. "Handle" as used in the Hebrew text is "to number or enroll" the men that will be sent into battle. The "pen" that is used is not like the pen that you use to write with, but it is a "rod" or "law" that is used to force those selected to become part of the army. So this is the process that all nations go through in forming their armies and calling the men, and it is like our selective service of today.

"Machir" was the son of Manasseh, who was the grandson of Joseph. We know from Genesis 48:13 that both Ephraim and Manasseh were chosen by God through Jacob to be the ones to receive the blessing of the Abrahamic Covenant.

Genesis 48:13 "And Joseph took them both, Ehpraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him."

Genesis 48:14 "And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn."

Genesis 48:15 "And he blessed Joseph, and said, "God, before Whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God Which fed me all my life long unto this day, "

When Jacob put his hands on the heads of Joseph's two sons [Ephraim and Manasseh], he was passing the Abrahamic covenant of God on, from himself to the two lads that would grow into two different tribes. It is from those tribes that many nations would come into existence, as they are even today. To Judah went the scepter, the right to rule, and that right would not be taken from him. In fact to this day all the king lines of the Christian nations can be traced all the way back to Judah: Including the lineage of Queen Elizabeth of England.

Genesis 48:16 "The Angel Which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth."

It was Ephraim and Manasseh jointly that received the blessing that God gave Abraham and Isaac, to be passed on through Jacob to his son Joseph. Today man religious leaders don't know the difference between Joseph and Judah, and they attach the Abrahamic blessings to Judah, and not to the rightful owner, Joseph. It is through Ephraim and Manasseh [Machir] that God will lead His people into battle today as He did the time of Deborah. Benjamin was right by his side, for Benjamin held the title for the land of the city of Jerusalem, which includes the tribe of Judah and all the Jews [benjamin and the Kenites included].

Notice that God is using "just a root" [just a few] of those people to do this job for Him, and go to war. That is all that is necessary when God goes before you into battle. All God wanted from Ruben, Dan and Asher was their commitment of just a few men to make a stand, and their people would not allow it. Down through the years this small family tribes of Israel's twelve sons had become the entire nation for God.

Judges 5:15 "And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; Even Isachar, and also Barak: He was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben There were great thoughts of heart."

The sons of Issachar didn't slack off but were right there by Barak's side as Barak went charging down off mount Tabor and into the valley. They were after those nine hundred chariots and Sisera. These "divisions" of Reuben meant they were divided in thought about the battle that was to take place, and they stayed at home where it was safe. They were the ones that spoke out against the war, and had no faith in God or God's protection. Reuben's people were the war protestors, but not Issachar and Zebulun, for they stuck right by Ephraim and Manasseh's side.

Judges 5:16 "Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searching of heart."

This song is beautiful and it hits the nail right on the head. Deborah is asking Reuben, "Why are you out there with the sheep day dreaming when there is a war to be fought?" Deborah was asking, "Are you afraid?" They ran to the bleatings of their flocks and the safety of their sheep, rather then making a stand and facing their enemies. This is exactly what was happening, Reuben would not make a stand and commit themselves to the work of the Lord, when God said its time to take on Jabin and the Canaanites. Then Reuben said, "Not me brother, I have to go and sheer the sheep." In their mind they were comfortable with what they had, so why take a chance and loose it.

If things are bad and the times are tough, it is because we have allow them to become that way. We have followed the same path as Reuben's people, and would rather run as a coward, than make a stand to say, "Not any more." It is time to make a difference right were you are, for the wrath of God is hot by what is happening today. It will continue to boil over until that final day of this earth age of the flesh when Jesus shall return and make all things right.

Judges 5:17 "Gilead abode beyond Jordan: And why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, And abode in his breaches."

Reuben stayed in Gilead beyond the Jordan with his sheep, and Dan remained in his ships making money jointly with the Kenites in their trade and commerce, and they also didn't come and help in the battle. The tribe of Asher stayed in their little houses by the sea shore, and continued in the safety behind his brothers. While all these other tribes were out making their money, and using their excuses to keep from facing the enemy because of their fear of the enemy. Judge Deborah lead the charge with those few that would come to follow her. "Deborah" in the Hebrew tongue means "bee", and she proved that she was the "Queen Bee".

Judges 5:18 "Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field."

Deborah is singing the praises of Zebulun and Naphtali, for they were the ones that put their lives on the line in the field of battle, so the others could run in fear and go out to make their money and tend to their sheep while the war was fought. There is not much difference today or in any generation then it was in Deborah's day. When Reuben, Dan, and Asher were hiding out, God was giving the others the blessings and the victory. God took care of the chariots and the men took care of the enemy after God stripped the enemy of their power.

Judges 5:19 "The kings came and fought, Then fought the kings of Canaan, In Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; They took no gain of money."

There is prophecy in this verse also. The battle that shall take place in Megiddo is what we call the battle of Armageddon, the final battle of this earth age. There are two battles fought on that final day of this earth age, "Armageddon" and "Hammon-gog". "Armageddon" means the "gathering place of the crowd", which shall be in Jerusalem. That is where Satan will be in his role of "instead of Christ", or "the Antichrist" and rule from. It is from Jerusalem that the crowd of the nation's leaders of the earth shall gather to worship Satan, and it from Jerusalem that Jesus Christ shall destroy those that have given themselves over to Satan. God's elect are to keep their watchful eye on Jerusalem, and become aware as the events of our generation are taking place.

Are you going to be afraid of Satan and his crowd when he gathers in Jerusalem on that day? Those that truly know the Lord and His Word are not afraid one bit, for we know that Jesus will do the fighting for us, and Satan and all his chariots and power will be destroyed. God will do the battle for us then, just as he took out Sisera's chariots.

"Hammon-gog", on the other hand is the battle that shall take place at this same time, when Russia and all her allies come against the nations of the House of Israel. She shall come against us going to her east [our west], and the battle I feel will take place in Alaska. This battle is described in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39, and it is God that does the destroying in both of these battles, just like He gave the victory in the war that Deborah fought, by using natural forces. God is calling out His people who will take a stand in these latter days. Though God's elect will take a stand and not bow to Satan, most of those that call themselves "Christians" today, will be just like the people of Reuben, and Dan were in Deborah's day, they will gladly give in to Satan, because they really don't care who is in charge. As long as they can have their jobs, and live in safety to do the things that they want to do, they just don't care. It is all part of their prosperity doctrine, for as long as someone gives them what they want, they will do anything for that person.

Judges 5:20 "They fought from heaven; The stars in their courses fought against Sisera."

The way that Deborah and her forces had their victory, is the same way that God will give victory on the day of battle of Armageddon and Hammon-gog, when Satan's forces are crushed. This is how the battle is won. "They fought from heaven; " The "stars" or "angelic forces" from heaven fought against Sisera. The angels fought against a army of flesh men, with Sisera's army was made up of men in flesh bodies. The "stars" are the "sons of God", and those sons of God from the heavens fought against Sisera. God takes care of His own, for before the men of Deborah's army could reach the chariots, the floods from heaven came, and the angelic forces had neutralized the enemy.

Just as God came to the defense of Israel on the day of Deborah's battle, so also it is God that will do the fighting and disarming of His enemies on the final battles of this earth age. God makes this very clear in Ezekiel 39:1-8 when He tells us exactly what He is going to do to eliminate the enemies of Israel.

Ezekiel 39:1 "Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against God, and say, 'Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:"

The Christian nations, including Christian America [Manasseh-Israel, of Genesis 48] have become care free in the one world system that exists today. We have become oriented to money, trade and politics, and as such have gone to sleep in our attitudes concerning God's Word. False traditions and the release of control to taxing agencies have allowed the doctrines and attitudes to change and become acceptable, whereby most churches today allow those traditions and false doctrine go on in their church houses. They accept those things that go against what God's Word teaches. This change has come about by the influence by the Kenite controlled "World council of Churches", an agency under the United Nations charter.

The actions that God will take is against "Gog" [Russia], and "Tubal-cain" [the Kenites], and not the America, or the Christian People. The Kenites are the physical offspring of Cain, the child born from the sexual union between Satan and Eve in the garden of Eden. This is what the parable of the fig tree is all about, and it is what Jesus told His followers of the end times to learn, in Matthew 24:32-34. Why? Because this is that generation that sees this parable come to pass. This is also the generation that will witness every prophesy that is addressed to "the time of the end" of this age of man in these flesh bodies. Then if you know who these Kenites, or these offspring of "Tubal-cain" are and how they operate, you will not allow yourself to be deceived and robbed by them.

Ezekiel 39:2 "And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:"

God is saying, "I will turn thee back," I put a stop to your activities, and destroy you. Where do we look for this to happen? We must look to the north. The "Mountains" of Israel are the nations of the house of Israel; both in the America, and the Christian nations of Europe. These are the offspring of the ten tribes, the "house of Israel". How could we be attacked in America, and in the northern parts? Remember from school history of the purchase of Alaska from Russia, for it was called "Seward's Folly" then. When Seward purchased the entire state of Alaska for seven million dollars. Today an average commercial building cost more, as well as the construction of one mile of railroad tracks, or the average cost of a bridge.

Ezekiel 39:3 "And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand."

As the labor pains of the signs of the end times grow closer together, The Christian world just seems to sleep on. This is just as the humor that must have been that went on in Noah's day, when for one hundred and twenty years Noah kept working on a ship that would carry him to safety through a flood that God said would come. This was at time when there was no rain as we have it today, but only a mist in the air. The people of the world then were not expecting a disaster, for one had never happened before.

God is telling us that it is He that will disarm Russia and her hoards of allies, and her weapons will fall in the mud just as Sisera's chariots in Deborah's day. All signs are here now that we are being ushered into a new age, as recorded in the Scriptures, yet most Christians choose to remain "Sottish" [stupid] on this matter. The entire Christian world has become nothing more then bottle sucking religious babies, taught by their "one verse pastors", and running in circles. It is time to wake up.

If the United States and NATO have defeated Russian forces and her allies, then the world would say that we are the most powerful force in the world. However God wants the battle to be so decisive that there can be no doubt that it is God, and not man's forces that will cause Russia to fall. We are moving to this end daily as we continue to cut back our defense budget, and destroy our military weapons. We rely on weapons systems that just don't work. Our national leaders have turned their backs on Russia, as she will continues to build her forces and those of her allies back into the strongest force in the world.

However, this will not matter, for the battle that Russia and her allies will fight will not be against any man, but against God. It will be against the forces of Jesus Christ, and the natural forces of God that will make her weapons useless. This demonstration of the victory will be so complete that every knee on the face of the earth will bow to Jesus Christ as He comes on that day to establish His kingdom.

Ezekiel 39:4 "Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured."

To find out who the Russian bands are, go back to Ezekiel 38:5, 6. These Russian allies are Persia, Ethiopia, Libya, along with Gomer and the house of Togarmah. They also represent China and parts of Eastern Europe, and then some. This is the time of the cleansing of all flesh. These armies of the enemy shall fall on the nations of the house of Israel. Those nations are the ones that call themselves Christian. Hosea tells us how to identify them in the latter days.

Hosea 1:10 "Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, `Ye are not My People,' there it shall be said unto them,` Ye are the sons of the living God.' "

The "House of Israel" is not the Jews, as is taught in most church houses of today, but they are those nations that call themselves "Christian". Most Jews do not claim that Jesus ever existed, and would like to purge Christ from your mind. Though they like to make money off the holidays that are based on the life of Christ, they denounce Jesus as being God, and begotten of the Father. This thought then is of the mind of the Kenite, the offspring children of Satan through his son Cain.

"My People" are such a huge in number [they cannot be measured or numbered], and they do not know who they are. They do not know where they come from; but they do know the "living God" [Jesus the Christ], and call themselves by His name. We know that Jesus Christ is our "living God", and that He arose from the tomb to defeat death. When you are a son of the living God you call yourself a "Christian".

So back in Ezekiel God continues to tell how these heathen nations will fall.

Ezekiel 39:5 "Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God."

The "open field" refers to the fact that not one of our people will be harmed. The fall of Russia and her hoards of allies was monumental in loss to the communist world, yet the loss to the Christian nations of Israel [united States, Canada, England and the rest of the Christian nations] was non-existing. It will be the same at the fall of Russia and her allies at the battles of Armageddon and Hammon-gog. That is God's promise to you. The rest of this chapter of Ezekiel 39 continues to detail how God will destroy our enemies so completely that they will simply not exist. This will happen when Jesus Christ returns to sets up His Millennium Kingdom right here on earth. God gave us an example of how this will happen when he shook the earth and turned the battle field into a mud bath, for Deborah and her forces to gain the victory and not lose one soul of her army. It is God that will give us the victory.

Judges 5:21 "The river of Kishon swept them away, That ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength."

This then is how the angelic beings accomplished this, he swept them away with a flood. That lazy old river that had existed there of centuries, came alive in the rains, and God used natural forces to wipe away the horses of His enemies.

Judges 5:22 "Then were the horsehoofs broken By the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones."

This loses much in the translation of the King James Bible. The James Moffatt Bible translation shows that these horsehoofs are not pransings as in a show parade, but in the thunder of the flight in terror as they are running from a battle. When the horsemen of the cavalry saw that the strength of their chariots was taken from them, and that God's power was not something that they could contend with, they ran in terror.

Judges 5:23 " 'Curse ye Meroz,' saith the Angel of the Lord, `Curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; Because they came not to the help of the Lord, To the help of the Lord against the mighty.' "

This is the Lord God Himself saying "Curse you Meroz". "Meroz" are the different places in the land of Palestine that are considered an outcast by God. God cursed them bitterly for their refusal to take an active part in the battle and or give support to His judge Deborah. God is cursing all those that will not take an active role in helping Him. It is important to make a stand for God where ever you are: To know the Word of God, and what is to take place, and become an active member in the army of God.

It is a fact that when God places a curse on someone or thing, it is in for troubled times. Here in Deborah's time, She received a direct message from God as to what He was going to do with the enemies of Israel. However, Deborah was to muster up the troops, and get them ready for the battle that God said He would give into their hands. We saw that some of the tribes, Reuben, Dan, and Asher refuse to send a person to the cause, and went on with their business as if nothing was happening. They were afraid of losing even one son in the cause. They wanted to reap the benefits of the battle, without paying the price.

What would you do with those that were sluggards and cowards and never raised a hand, nor could care less about what God had said? It is obvious that you would curse them for their cowardly ways. In these latter days, God has told us through His Word exactly what He is going to do in our generation, and what we are to do. We are in the final days, and it is time to study His Word to know how the battle is to be fought, and what you are to do in the spiritual warfare that is for our generation. It is your choice as to whether you will be blessed or cursed by God.

Judges 5:24 "Blessed above women shall Jael The wife of Heber the Kenite be, Blessed shall she be above women in the tent."

God blessed Jael above all women because she took a stand and made a difference. Remember though, that Jael was not of the Kenite race, but a Midianite lady that came from the geographical location of the Kenites. However God is going to bless her above all the other women. She took action on her own accord when the enemy, Sisera, came into her tent. She destroyed the enemy when God placed him helpless before her. She hammered the tent peg right through Sisera's skull, and ended this blight on Israel.

Judges 5:25 "He asked water, and she gave him milk; She brought forth butter in a lordly dish."

When Sisera asked for water, Jael gave him buttermilk to soothe his thirst and put him off guard. Paul address this same thing in Romans 12:20 "Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head." When Sisera hungered and thirst, Jael gave him buttermilk and in so doing she put him to sleep to where she could heaped the tent peg of fire right into his temple. Through her act of kindness she put him off guard, and fast asleep.

Like the old poem goes; "Come into my parlor, said the spider to the fly, and let me show you a good time." She deceived the enemy to the point of having the victory. God led Sisera to her, and God helped her do what she did.

Judges 5:26 "She put her hand to the nail, And her right hand to the workmen's hammer; And with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, When she had pierced and stricken through his temples."

The nail she used was a tent peg, and the workman's hammer was a big one that could drive the peg through his skull and fast into the ground. She nail that old boy to the tent floor as he lay sleeping under her protection. She destroyed the enemy of God's children, and God gave her the opportunity and the power that she needed.

Judges 5:27 "At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: At her feet he bowed, he fell: Where he bowed, there he fell down dead."

This was the mighty Sisera, the general of the mightiest forces of the day that bowed and fell to under that rug and went to sleep under the protection of Jael. He gave himself over completely to Jael, the sweet farm lady that gave him the buttermilk and heaped the coals of kindness in his mind while he was awake, so that she could perform the righteous act of God, when he was asleep. The instant that he bowed to her completely in sleep, was the moment that he was destroyed. Jael was the wife a Midianite priest, the offspring of Abraham doing an act for God. This ends the song concerning Israel, and those that dared to take a stand and make a difference. God blessed those that did it His way, and cursed those that were indifferent to the Word that He gave to Deborah.

You know that there is more to God's Word then you have been taught in your church house, and it is time to get into his Word, for these are not just stories to entertain you, but they are ensamples of how things shall be in the end times. We are seeing today that some are opening their eyes to the truth, and studying to see what God would have them do for Him, yet many are just like Reuben and Dan of Deborah's day, they just don't care what the enemy is doing, the just want to go about their days is peace and comfort, and let the other man do the job, fight the enemy and control their lives.

It is time you make a stand and let God know that you can be counted upon with what ever the gifts that He puts into your hands to fight in the spiritual warfare that is coming. So now we will see what happened in the other camp, the camp of Sisera.

Judges 5:28 "The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, `Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the wheels of his chariots?' "

We know why the chariots of Sisera are not coming, because he is lying dead in the tent of Jael. We also know why the 900 chariots of his army are not coming, because they are bogged down in the mud, and their chariot drivers are lying dead at the hands of Deborah's army.

Judges 5:29 "He wise ladies answered her, Yea, she returned answer to herself,"

Those ladies of her council are telling her that the men are just having a good time, and in her mind that is what she is thinking also. Don't worry about him mother, he will be home soon. She took the words of comfort, but still went back to the thought like only a mother can worry.

Judges 5:30 "Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; To every man a damsel or two; To Sisera a prey of divers colours, A prey of divers colours of needlework, Of divers colours of needlework on both sides, Meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?"

Yes, Sisera had the needlework okay and Jael put put the needlework right over him before she drove the peg through his skull. These ladies of council are giving a picture of the joys of victory after the battle, and they are saying that this is why Sisera is so late in coming home after the battle. Yes, general Sisera had a couple of "damsels" to his credit, Deborah and Jael, and both worked together in fulfilling the work of the Lord.

Friend, the bad ones don't always win, and this one never got away with anything, even though it took eighteen years before the Israelites came to the point of turning back to God and trusting in Him. Those that do wickedly only think that they are getting away with something. Someone did dared to make a difference and allowed God to lead them, and there names were Deborah and Jael. Deborah listened to God and led the troops into battle, and Jael did the clean-up on the big one that got away, and fled from the battle. These two women did more then all the men of that day, for all the men were looking for a way out of facing the enemy.

Judges 5:31 "So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord: but let them that love Him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might." And the land had rest forty years."

There is a time coming very shortly when all the enemies of God shall be destroyed, and yet those that love the Lord will be bless by God. Are you looking forward to that day, or are you dreading it, for at our Lord Jesus Christ's return will be a time of rewards and blessings. However, while we live in these flesh bodies God will give His protection to those that love Him. This is asking, which is it, is the sun with you and do your have a bright and shining day, or does it seem like everything you do is wiped out by the storms of life?

God is letting it be known that all of His enemies will perish, and if you are on His side, then your enemies are God's enemies. Are you trusting in the Lord, or do you have the cursings of God. Following the battle, there came upon the Israelite forty years of rest, and this is the number for probation in Biblical numerics. Israel follow God during the time of Deborah's rule over them as their judge, then after she died, the Israelites returned right back into the condition that they were before.

The Shepherds Chapel

[glory]

ISRAEL WAS OPPRESSED BY THE MIDIANITES BECAUSE THEY BROKE GOD'S SECOND COMMANDMENT AND PUT OTHER gods BEFORE JEHOVAH GOD, WHICH IS IDOLATRY.THEY WERE WARNED NOT TO FOLLOW THE gods OF THE AMORITES BUT THEY DID NOT LISTEN.THEY WERE BREAKING GOD'S PRINCIPLES AND STILL EXPECTING GOD'S BLESSINGS TO FLOW.WE DO THIS AS CHRISTIANS TODAY WHEN WE PUT SPOUSE, MONEY, JOBS, ETC, BEFORE GOD AND THEN EXPECT HIM TO BLESS OUR IDOLATRY.WE NEED TO ASK GOD TO EXPOSE TO US THE SINS OF OUR HEARTS SO THAT WE CAN REPENT AND COME HUMBLY BEFORE HIM AND ALLOW HIM TO CHANGE US FROM THE INSIDE OUT.SIN ALWAYS SEPARATES MAN FROM GOD...