Today we begin Judges Chapter 5.
For the Complete Jewish Bible, click HERE.
For the King James version, click HERE.
Alrighty from today, we’re going to be diving into a chapter well known by both Jews and Christians alike called the Song of Devorah.
However, before we start, following on the heels of yesterday’s post, there’s an important question we need to face head on.
Was it really okay for Yael to kill Sisera in cold blood?
I mean look at how the portion from the Song of Devorah lauds this act.
“Ya‘el will be blessed more than all women.
The wife of Hever the Keini
will be blessed more than any woman in the tent.
He asked for water, and she gave him milk;
In an elegant bowl she brought him curds.
Then she took a tent peg in her left hand
and a workman’s hammer in her right;
with the hammer she struck Sisra, pierced his skull,
yes, she shattered and crushed his temple.
He sank down at her feet, he fell and lay there;
he sank at her feet, he fell —
where he sank down, there he fell dead.”
-Judges 5:24-27
And then the next few verses even goes so far as to mock the mother of Sisra:
“Sisra’s mother looks out the window;
peering out through the lattice she wonders,
‘Why is his chariot so long in coming?
Why are his horses so slow to return?’”
-Judges 5:28
The hard question we need to ask ourselves here is does the God we worship really sanction the treachery and murder that ended Sisra’s life?
Christian scholars really have trouble with this portion of Scripture.
They say the murder of Sisera was NOT morally justified.
Look homies, let’s call a spade a spade here.
The really problem with modern Christians (especially those from the west) is that Yael’s actions are just too barbaric and horrible for them to handle.
They’re projecting their own subjective ideas of morality and fair play onto to the text and NOT God’s ideas or perspective.
Remember, the Scripture says…
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
-Isaiah 55:8-9
Yael, who by the way was NOT a Hebrew nor a worshipper of the God of Israel, was being praised according to the formula God first gave Abraham.
“I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”
-Genesis 12:3
And let’s not forget in many other parts of the Scripture, we’ll find the Israelites using trickery, spying, and sneak attacks to destroy their enemies.
Behavior that was completely God-approved and God-ordained.
For crying out loud, this is war we’re talking about here man!
Heck, remember, the Lord didn’t hesitate to destroy the entire world population save for Noah and his family because of mankind’s sin.
He also didn’t hesitate to rain fire and brimstone down on Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness.
And when Messiah returns, we’re told the depth of blood that will flow due to the amount of life he’ll take with his sword will reach the height of a horse’s bridle.
If wanna talk about Scriptural truth, THAT IS Scriptural truth man…even if it doesn’t jive with our modern sensibilities of what is right and wrong.
Although this is a bitter pill to swallow, if you wanna get a good idea of what ancient Middle Eastern life was like during Bible times, just look at what goes on in the world of Islam with all of their honor killings, beheadings and chopping off hands and feet for crimes of theft.
Of course, the God of Israel established a different way of life for His people.
But it wasn’t as radically different as we might assume or want to believe.
In terms of general customs and culture, the ancient Israelites weren’t that much different than their neighbors.
Finally, note the conclusion of the Song of Devorah:
“May all your enemies perish like this, Adonai;
but may those who love him be like the sun
going forth in its glory!”
-Judges 5:31
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