Fearless Faith - The One Year Book of Psalms

Judges 5:12-14

(Deborah’s Song, Part 2)

12“Wake up, Deborah, wake up!

Wake up, wake up, and sing a song!

Arise, Barak!

Lead your captives away, son of Abinoam!

13“Down from Tabor marched the remnant against the mighty.

The people of the LORD marched down against mighty warriors.

14They came down from Ephraim—a land that once belonged to the Amalekites,

and Benjamin also followed you.

From Makir the commanders marched down;

from Zebulun came those who carry the rod of authority.”

Psalm Link

Psalm 118:15

15Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly.

The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things!

Fear paralyzes; faith frees. And a fearless faith inspires others.

In the time of the judges, fear had paralyzed all the Israelites—except for a woman named Deborah. The Canaanites had been ruthlessly oppressing them for twenty years, and she was the answer to the Israelites’ prayers.

Deborah told Barak that he was to lead the army of Israel, but he, too, was paralyzed with fear. He refused to go to war unless Deborah went with him. Determined to obey the Lord at any cost, Deborah went with Barak into battle.

Sisera, the general of the Canaanite army, must have snickered when he heard that Israel’s general had to be led into battle by a woman. But Deborah’s faith overcame the fear of Barak and his troops. Deborah’s victory song reveals that some of the tribes didn’t follow her lead (Judges 5:15-17). But those who followed her won a great victory.

Joan of Arc, who has been called the Deborah of France, led her army into battle with priests singing psalms and hymns. Her faith, like that of Deborah, inspired confidence and courage in her followers.

Are you facing your challenges in fear or with Deborah’s faith? If you share Deborah’s faith, you might be surprised at how it will inspire others as well.

Encamped along the hills of light, ye Christian soldiers rise,

And press the battle ere the night shall veil the glowing skies.

Against the foe in vales below, let all our strength be hurled;

Faith is the victory, we know, that overcomes the world.

JOHN H. YATES

Bible Networking

Deborah and Barak close their song with a prayer that their victory may serve as a pattern for future battles. See Psalm 68:1-2.

Notable Quotable

“The first step on the way to victory is to recognize the enemy.”

CORRIE TEN BOOM