A pattern I find a lot in the bible is contrast. There are endless examples of stories that essentially contrast two different people, events, things, whatever, and the contrast is pretty much always the same. On one hand is God, and on the other, some form of separation from him.
In the two chapters we will look at now we find the Israelite people separated from God by their own choice. They are following idols and indulging themselves in the pleasures of the surrounding people groups. However, it is not all fun and games as they are soon oppressed by Jabin, a king of Canaan who reigned in Hazor (verse 2). The Israelites eventually call out to the Lord and he sends the current Judge Deborah into action. Long story short, Deborah, Barak and the armies of the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun defeat Jabin and restore peace to Israel (chapter 4). Then in chapter 5 we read the song Deborah sings to praise the Lord.
So what is the contrast? On one hand, we have the Israelites following their own desires and shunning the God who gave them the promised land. On the other side, we see them turn to God, put their trust in him and thus win their freedom. The same is true for us in our lives as Christians in our battle with sin. When we are caught up in our own lives, work, school, relationships, we lose sight of God and become prey for sin to overtake our lives. Satan's greatest weapon against us isn't one of the "bad things" we might put on a list of sins. No, it is busyness. It is the conformity into a pattern of life that drags us deeper and deeper into the cycle and further and further from God. But friends, on the other side of this is a life that praises God. It is a life that draws near to God. So I encourage you to feel and see the value of a devotional time. Understand the importance of prayer, of attending church. We don't read the bible, pray, go to church, to check it off a list. We also don't do those things so that we gain eternal life, or blessings, as if any small good deed we do could pay back our pile of sins. No, we do these things as Christians because we are in a relationship with God, and when you are in a relationship with someone, you invest time into them. You get to know them, you learn their likes and dislikes, their favorite foods, music, their tastes, you try to learn who they are and as you grow together you know each other deeper and deeper. Our relationship with God, with Jesus Christ is just that; a relationship! So reading the Bible becomes a daily date with God where we see him more and more clearly. Prayer, a long phone call we spend talking with him. Going to church is meeting with God's people, the family and friends of Christ if you will. Friends, don't take these things for granted. Invest time in God for just as the Israelites are freed from their oppressors, we too will change and turn from sin. Of course we will always sin as we are human, but it is very true that certain things in our lives will leave us. I can remember a time where I would get very frustrated when I played pretty much any sport and didn't perform as well as I thought I should. There was a point in my life where that clicked off however and it is not something I struggle with anymore. I feel that I owe that to the time I spent with God changing me.
Lastly, in chapter 5 we see a direct response of thanks and praise to God. In the same way we should constantly be thanking God for Jesus and his sacrificial death for us that has freed us eternally from sin. We should also praise God for this great feet no matter what our circumstances are. Remember that whatever is going on in our life changes but God is always the same amazing God who deserves praise.
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