Judges 4 and 5 comments: victory and Deborah's song

 

Judges 4:1 ¶  And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. 2  And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. 3  And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

 

I found it interesting that Jabin is called king of Canaan and reigned out of Hazor. Notice this previous passage.

 

Joshua 10:2  That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.

 

These passages suggest a traditional unity, a political unity if only loosely, in Canaan.

 

Note also that Jabin, like Pharaoh and Abimelech, may be a title rather than a name although multiple kings as we know from English history and Papal history can have the same name.

 

Joshua 11:1  And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph…10  And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms. 11  And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire…13  But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.

 

Nine hundred chariots of iron is important and is linked to what I’ve said previously about chariots. This is a formidable fighting force if their opponent had no chariots although infantry would have to kill the horses to render them useless. Horses have been essential to warfare until very recently. Hitler invaded Russia in 1941 with over 600,000 horses, needing many replacements, in spite of the movies we see about the German army being totally mechanized. They pulled supply vehicles. Horses were used in World War One for supplies and for combat and 8 million horses, donkeys, and mules died in that war. More horses were used in World War Two even than in World War One.

 

Israel suffers under this king for twenty years.

 

Judges 4:4 ¶  And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 5  And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6  And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? 7  And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand. 8  And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. 9  And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

 

Here's the beginning of a story that drives Fundamentalists crazy. Imagine a woman being a Judge of Israel?!! Here’s another passage that has a woman preaching to men.

 

2Kings 22:11 ¶  And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. 12  And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and

Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king’s, saying, 13  Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us. 14  So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her. 15  And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me, 16  Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read: 17  Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched. 18  But to the king of Judah which sent you to enquire of the LORD, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard; 19  Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD. 20  Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into

thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.

 

Then there is the issue of Philip the evangelist’s daughters.

 

Acts 21:8 ¶  And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. 9  And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

 

Yes, indeed, these things are perplexing. You wonder how difficult it might have been to be a woman leader, doing God’s work, in a patriarchal society. But, there is no record in the Bible of anyone objecting to Deborah’s leadership. The only objection to other women like Athaliah and Jezebel being in positions of leadership and influence was that they were evil.

 

This female leader’s role is unique. Consider the biological fact that men are stronger and men are more likely to follow a man. And so, Deborah commissions a male general, Barak, to lead the army against Jabin’s forces. Her chosen general will not go unless she goes with him. Therefore, she says, God will deliver the captain of Jabin’s army into the hands of a woman. As Dr. Ruckman once said about Dr. Gail Riplinger, “if a man won’t do what God wants him to do God will raise up a woman.”

 

Jeremiah 31:22  How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.

 

Judges 4:10 ¶  And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him. 11  Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh. 12  And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. 13  And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. 14  And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. 15  And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. 16  But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.

 

Verse 11 brings to mind a conundrum for people who read the Bible like a high school textbook.

 

Numbers 10:29a ¶  And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses’ father in law…

 

Commentators are constantly discussing the question of whether Hobab is the father-in-law of Moses or the brother-in-law of Moses. Arguments are made regarding the translation of words, errors in transmission or translating, etc. etc. But, let me put forward another ancient idea that preceded our modern understanding. As I pointed out previous from De Coulanges’ studies, the eldest son inherited family religion and responsibilities from the father. We could also say that the son, due to his position in the family, represented the father and, in fact, was regarded in authority and importance the same as the father if even in fact he did not have the actual legal power of the father or if at that time could dispose of his family’s goods as the father could, that is, until the father’s death at which time the son took the father’s place. It might seem a trifle careless but the Holy Spirit could place Hobab in Judges 4:11 as the father-in-law of Moses, perhaps, as he assumed that role upon the death of Jethro.

 

If you think that is a stretch ask yourself why in ancient times would not scribes “correct” the text in Judges to line it up with Numbers if they did not already have an understanding that nothing was contradictory about this.

 

There is also another obvious conclusion. Hobab the son could have been named after his father with Jethro being a title, priest, Hobab being another name for the father, a name shared by the son. Muslims believe that the Hobab in Judges 4:11 is another name for Jethro which then makes the problem stay in Numbers 10:29. I disagree.

 

My conclusion has a direct relation to Christ’s parable of the husbandmen in Matthew 21 regarding the authority of a son and the relationship of God the Father with Israel as His firstborn as per …

 

Exodus 4:22  And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

 

…and with Christ as the Son of God…

 

John 10:30  I and my Father are one.

 

John 14:7  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him…9  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

 

I bring this up to point out the importance of understanding the ancient notion of a son’s position within the family as representing the father himself and, upon receiving his inheritance in fact, taking the father’s place.

 

So now there is a huge battle and it is God who has the victory. Sisera has to dismount from his chariot, probably because his horses are dead, otherwise he would make a quick escape on his chariot which would have been faster than the infantry of the Israelites. General Barak wiped out the army of King Jabin and his general, Sisera.

 

Judges 4:17 ¶  Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18  And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. 19  And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him. 20  Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No. 21  Then Jael Heber’s wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. 22  And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples. 23  So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel. 24  And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

 

See how in Judges 4:11 it is noted that Heber, a descendant of Moses’ father-in-law removed himself from Israel’ enemies. His wife, Jael, is now doing the work that God has laid out for her, which the judge, Deborah, had foretold to Barak. She intercepts Sisera who asks for water but she gives him milk.

 

I think we all know that warm milk, especially when we are tired already, will help us fall asleep. Sisera felt safe in a Kenite’s tent with a hospitable woman. He was out like a light. Jael then drove a tent nail, we might call a tent peg, through his skull and nailed him to the ground. This was Jabin’s, king of Canaan, downfall.

Judges, chapter 5

Judges 5:1 ¶  Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying, 2  Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves. 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. 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. 5  The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel.

 

Do you see the figurative symbols in Deborah’s song, not unlike how David and other writers of the Bible talked, in her statement the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, and the mountains melted. Do you really think that was meant to have a literal meaning? Or is it not obvious when the Holy Spirit speaks to us in metaphor and figurative language?

 

Notice the implication here of a great storm. Those references to the earth trembling, the heavens dropping, and mountains melting fit well into the idea of a deluge. The clouds dropping with water gives us another reason why Sisera would have gotten off of his chariot and fled with chariot wheels mired in mud.

 

 

Judges 5:6 ¶  In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways. 7  The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel. 8  They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? 9  My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD. 10  Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way. 11  They that 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.

 

Notice the desolation and oppression referred to by Deborah. People had to stay off the main roads and villages were depopulated. But then Deborah became a judge. Not only were the Israelites, the conquerors, now weak but a reason was given in their idolatry. A revival of a sort took place, though, first among the minor judges of Israel that prepared the people for Deborah’s leadership.

 

Even with two such heroic figures as the judge Shamgar and Jael, the slayer of Sisera, the Israelites were in dire straits until Deborah came along.

 

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.

 

Judges 5:12 ¶  Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam. 13  Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty. 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. 15  And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart. 16  Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

17  Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches. 18  Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field. 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. 20  They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera. 21  The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength. 22  Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones. 23  Curse ye Meroz, said 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.

 

Here Deborah asserts the authority she was given by God Himself. She uses figurative speech that the stars of heaven fought against Sisera. Jewish tradition reports and the text I noted in the last passage implies that there were great storms over Sisera’s army suggested by verse 21 that indicates flooding of the Kishon, a river in Israel.

 

We have seen how God used astronomic events and weather events to do battle against His enemies.

 

Joshua 10:11  And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword. 12  Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. 13  And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.

 

We also know that the stars of heaven can represent spiritual forces behind the scenes we cannot see.

 

Job 38:4 ¶  Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 5  Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6  Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7  When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

 

Revelation 12:4  And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

 

Judges 4:10 says that Barak called two tribes, Zebulun and Naphtali to the battle. Deborah’s song indicates the reluctance of the others to help. Dan and Asher apparently did not. It is not clear how the others participated or did not.

 

Some ancient writers say that the reference to the river of Kishon sweeping them away was a euphemism for the torrent of armies clashing. However, it is important to note that Kishon and its muddy banks did drown Turkish troops in a battle on April 16^th, 1799 as they retreated from Napoleon’s forces at the Battle of Mount Tabor. They drowned in their thousands trying to escape in panic.

 

Meroz, not mentioned elsewhere, is cursed for not coming to the battle. The exact site of that town is not known. In verse 19 the waters of Megiddo are mentioned. Some sources say this is a reference to the wady, a channel that is dry except in the rainy season, draining the basin behind Megiddo.

 

Judges 5:24 ¶  Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent. 25  He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish. 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. 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. 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? 29  Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself, 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? 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.

 

See here how Deborah blesses or speaks well of Jael and how she killed Sisera providing us with the detail that she cut off his head. Notice in verse 30 the mention of clothing of divers colors.

 

Jacob made Joseph a coat of many colors. Note that this is kind of clothing was considered very valuable.

It is the type of coat worn by King David’s daughter.

2Samuel 13:18  And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king’s daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.

I have read reports that there have been Egyptian tomb paintings showing traders from the area of Canaan wearing such clothing, probably made more valuable by the costly work of dyeing the fabric.

Deborah concludes her song with a curse on those that oppose God and a blessing on those that love Him.

 

Forty years is typically said by commentators to be a time of testing. I discussed back in the passage beginning in Genesis 8:6 how forty days was a period of testing and fasting it is evident here that forty years can also represent a time of testing and proving. Just do a word study of forty days and forty years throughout the Old Testament from the wilderness wanderings on. 

Psalm 18 comments

 

Psalm 18:1 ¶  «To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said,» I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. 2  The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. 3  I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. 4  The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. 5  The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. 6  In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. 7  Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. 8  There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were

kindled by it. 9  He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. 10  And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. 11  He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. 12  At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire. 13  The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. 14  Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them. 15  Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils. 16  He sent from above, he took me, he drew

me out of many waters. 17  He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. 18  They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. 19  He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

 

Whomever wrote the introduction to verse one, whether David himself or the chief musician, refers to David as the servant of the LORD.

 

This phrase is used to describe Moses numerous times. As an example;

 

Deuteronomy 34:5  So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.

 

It is used to describe Joshua.

 

Joshua 24:29  And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.

 

Paul uses the phrase in reference to Timothy, a bishop or pastor and evangelist spreading the gospel of Christ. (See 2Timothy 4:5 and the traditional postscript in the KJV to 2Timothy which says, «The second epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.»)

 

2Timothy 2:22 ¶  Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23  But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 24  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

 

See Philippians 1:1 where Paul refers to himself and Timothy as servants of Jesus Christ.

 

Philippians 1:1  Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

 

And Paul will use it to describe himself;

 

Romans 1:1  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

 

And to Christians generally.

 

Romans 6:22  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

 

David says that the LORD is his strength and several other things showing David’s complete trust in God.

 

Three things in verse 2 that may be of interest to you include the reference to a buckler.

 

2Samuel 22:31  As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

 

Psalm 35:2  Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

 

A buckler is a small shield or target you can hold in front of you or it can be attached to your left arm if right handed to protect that arm.

 

The horn of my salvation is also used in 2Samuel 22.

 

2Samuel 22:3  The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

 

Let’s read David’s song in that chapter of 2Samuel.

 

  2Samuel 22:1 ¶  And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:

 

    2 ¶  And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 3  The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. 4  I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. 5  When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; 6  The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me; 7  In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears. 8  Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth. 9  There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. 10  He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet. 11  And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind. 12  And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies. 13  Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled. 14  The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice. 15  And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them. 16  And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. 17  He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters; 18  He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me. 19  They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. 20  He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me. 21  The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 22  For I

have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 23  For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them. 24  I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity. 25  Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight. 26  With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright. 27  With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury. 28  And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down. 29  For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness. 30  For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall. 31  As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. 32  For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God? 33  God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect. 34  He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet: and setteth me upon my high places. 35  He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. 36  Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great. 37  Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip. 38  I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them. 39  And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet. 40  For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me. 41  Thou hast also given me the

necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me. 42  They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. 43  Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad. 44  Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me. 45  Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me. 46  Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places. 47  The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. 48  It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me, 49  And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. 50  Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name. 51  He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.

 

Strength is linked directly linked to the word horn in another verse and, of course, strength is power.

 

Psalm 89:17  For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.

 

1Samuel 2:10  The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

 

2Samuel 22:33  God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.

 

The overwhelming majority of times the word salvation is used it is a reference to temporal deliverance from an enemy or a situation.

 

So, David says God is his buckler shield, the power of his deliverance, and his high tower.

 

A high tower, also called in history a castle’s Keep, was an important part of the defense of a fortress, enabling defenders to retreat to a safe place in a siege in the case of the fortress walls being penetrated. Notice how that worked out in at least one instance recorded in Judges;

 

Judges 9:52  And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire. 53  And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to brake his skull.

 

What is David referring to by sorrows of death, sorrows of hell, and snares of death? David mentions the sorrows of hell again later in Psalms along with the phrase the pains of hell.

 

Psalm 116:3  The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.

 

Again, in David’s song upon deliverance from Saul this sentiment is expressed along with another phrase waves of death.

 

2Samuel 22:5  When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; 6  The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me; 7  In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.

 

These are all expressions of the fear and dread of death and dying, particularly of being killed by another. The process of dying can be very painful and agonizing, physically and mentally, if you are not drugged up by a doctor. God understands this for us. I’ll discuss Christ presently in this regard.

 

Again in Psalms we have this in keeping with verse 6;

 

Ps 130:1 ¶  «A Song of degrees.» Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. 2  Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

 

David describes God’s actions on his behalf in verses 3 to 15 metaphorically and symbolically. This is explained in 16 and the rest of the passage. Matthew Henry noted that the greater our difficulties are the more glorious is God’s deliverance. Here is David’s expression of God’s great power in that he pictures what is happening the world of the spirit that he cannot see. God did great things for him in his danger and distress as I know in my own life when God delivered me from a seemingly hopeless situation. People in history have pictured God as a sword-wielding warrior or even, in modern day, a person dressed in military garb and armed with all sorts of weapons dispensing His justice and judgment. Be careful, though, how you view metaphorical representations of things that happened on earth. Read the background text about David’s struggle against Saul to see what David saw, which he represented here framing God’s power in words that spoke to David.

 

Now, if you want to take that literally word-for-word as a picture of what happened in reality, consider that you would have God, perhaps in the form of the Lord Jesus Christ, descending to earth riding on a winged creature breathing fire and shooting arrows.

 

Prophetically, I’d like to start with the phrase worthy to be praised in verse 3 which merits a special mention. There are passages in the Old and New Testament that for those who speak the American version of English are perplexing.

 

2Samuel 1:23  Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

 

Song of Solomon 5:16  His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

 

Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

 

In English-English the word lovely can mean worthy to be praised. I just thought that was interesting considering our American understanding of it always meaning something or someone physically attractive.

 

Again, looking forward see how Jonah explained how God had saved him from impending doom comparing this to David’s thoughts.

 

Jonah 2:2  And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. 3  For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. 4  Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. 5  The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. 6  I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God. 7  When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

 

Notice what is said about Christ Himself and then compare it to David’s prayers;

 

Matthew 26:41  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 42  He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

 

Hebrews 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared…

 

From a personal perspective look at verse 2;

 

2  The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

 

 And compare it to Proverbs 18:10;

 

Proverbs 18:10 ¶  The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

 

Also, compare it to Psalm 46, a psalm which I leaned on in a time of great danger and trouble decades ago;

 

Psalm 46:1 ¶  «To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.» God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

 

Just think about the spiritual warfare we face and the attacks of spiritual beings on us each day. Again, though, we have enemies and those who oppose us for our faith but we can depend on the Lord God for our salvation both temporally and eternally.

 

Psalm 18:20 ¶  The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 21  For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 22  For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. 23  I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. 24  Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. 25  With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; 26  With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. 27  For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks. 28  For

thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

 

Here is presented a fundamental difference between David’s dispensation, the era is in which God dealt with the Israelites, and ours. David claims that God rewards him because David is righteous. Well, perhaps when he was running from Saul there was no taint on his hands as he would have later. But we are rewarded because of Christ’s righteousness not our own. It is important for a Christian to understand that.

 

David feels that God has helped him because David is righteous, his hands are clean, and he has not departed from God. Examine his claims and consider when this Psalm was spoken in his life. The question for us, regarding David, is when did he write this? Again, I refer you to David’s song in 2Samuel 22.

 

Prophetically, let’s look forward to Christ. While Christ from a human perspective was without sin and perfectly and completely righteous yet He did suffer. This, to me, is a profound truth in that he suffered in His righteousness for our sin. I think we should consider this truth. While David claimed God’s mercy based on his own righteousness, Christ received the penalty for our sin, death, in spite of His own righteousness. It does present a contrast, but one that should give us hope in times of distress.

 

From a personal point of view, though, when we do right usually things work out well for us. God’s standards of morality and righteousness are a lot alike laws of physics. You may not break your leg if you jump off the roof but most likely you will. If you do wrong, are immoral, or dishonest you will face problems in this life almost for sure but if you follow God’s path of righteousness then you normally will have a better time of it. While the book of Job teaches us that bad things can happen to righteous people clearly they often do not, or at least do not based on the behavior of a person. I know in my own life that 90% of the bad things that have happened can be directly linked to my sin while I can see how God has blessed me with good things when I’ve followed the path of doing right and serving Him. In reality, it appears that God does reward the righteous in this life, exceptions notwithstanding.

 

Finally, let’s examine the word froward in verse 26, used as the opposite of pure. A froward person is a wicked person.

 

Psalm 101:4  A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.

 

A froward person is linked to several other bad character traits. Notice the definition of evil in this context after the colon after the word evil.

 

Proverbs 8:13  The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

 

Psalm 18:29 ¶  For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. 30  As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. 31  For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? 32  It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. 33  He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places. 34  He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. 35  Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. 36  Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip. 37  I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. 38  I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet. 39  For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. 40  Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me. 41  They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. 42  Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets. 43  Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me. 44  As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. 45  The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places. 46  The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. 47  It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me. 48  He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. 49  Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. 50  Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

 

A similar giving of credit for one’s martial strength is given elsewhere in Psalms.

 

Psalm 44:6  For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. 7  But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.

 

Psalm 144:1 ¶  «A Psalm of David.» Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:…10  It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.

 

This is a great sentiment from David that God’s way is perfect, His word has been tried or proved, and He is a shield to those that trust in Him. This reinforces verse 2 from earlier in this Psalm.

 

In verse 31 David uses an important comparison that is used by others like Moses in his narrative and Paul in his letters calling God a rock but capitalizing Rock as a reference to God the Father and Christ.

 

Deuteronomy 32:4  He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

 

1Corinthians 10:4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

 

It is interesting that David as a man of war surrounded by men of war gives full credit to God for his success.

 

Prophetically speaking, notice how this passage begins and compare it to the following in Joel about this scorched earth assault. I think the phrasing is interestingly similar in verse 7 of the following;

 

Joel 2:1 ¶  Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

2  A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. 3  A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. 4  The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. 5  Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. 6  Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. 7  They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: 8  Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. 9  They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. 10  The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: 11  And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

 

From a personal perspective this is a great prayer of confidence in the Lord God and we can pray it having confidence that enemies both physical and spiritual cannot contend with Him. We must always remember that our greatest enemies, those that are constantly engaged in attempting to destroy us, are spiritual.