Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Judges
Book: Judges
Chapter: 4
Overview:
Israel again revolts, and is oppressed
By Jabin.
(1-3) Deborah
concerts their deliverance with
Barak.
(4-9) Sisera defeated.
(10-16) Sisera Put to
Death By Jael.
(17-24)
1-3. The land had
Rest for eighty years, which should have
confirmed them in their religion; but it made them secure, and
indulge their lusts. Thus the prosperity of fools destroys them.
Jabin and his general
Sisera, mightily oppressed
Israel. This
enemy was nearer than any of the former.
Israel cried unto the
Lord, when distress drove them to him, and they saw
No other way
of relief. Those who slight
God in prosperity, will find
themselves under a necessity of seeking him in trouble.
4-9 Deborah was a prophetess; one instructed in Divine
knowledge
By the
Inspiration of the
Spirit of
God. She judged
Israel as
God's mouth to them; correcting abuses, and redressing
grievances.
By God's direction, she ordered
Barak to raise an
Army, and engage
Jabin's
Forces.
Barak insisted much upon her
presence.
Deborah promised to go with him. She would not send
him where she would not go herself. Those who in
God's name
Call
others to their duty, should be ready to assist them in it.
Barak values the satisfaction of his mind, and the good success
of his enterprise, more than mere honour.
10-16. Sisera's confidence was chiefly in his chariots. But if
we have ground to
Hope that
God goes before us, we may go
On
with courage and cheerfulness. Be not dismayed at the
difficulties thou meetest with in resisting
Satan, in serving
God, or suffering for him; for is not the
Lord gone before thee?
Follow him then fully.
Barak went down, though upon the
Plain
the
Iron chariots would have advantage against him: he quitted
the mountain in dependence
On the Divine power; for in the
Lord
alone is the
Salvation of his people, Jer 3:23. He was not
deceived in his confidence. When
God goes before us in our
spiritual conflicts, we must bestir ourselves; and when,
By his
Grace, he gives us some success against the enemies of our
souls, we must improve it
By watchfulness and resolution.
17-24 Sisera's chariots had been his pride and his confidence.
Thus are those disappointed who
Rest On the
Creature; like a
broken
Reed, it not only breaks under them, but pierces them
with many sorrows. The
Idol may quickly become a
Burden, Isa
46:1; what we were sick for,
God can make us sick of. It is
probable that
Jael really intended kindness to
Sisera; but
By a
Divine impulse she was afterwards led to consider him as the
determined enemy of the
Lord and of his people, and to destroy
him. All our connections with
God's enemies must be broken off,
if we would have the
Lord for our
God, and his people for our
people. He that had thought to have destroyed
Israel with his
many
Iron chariots, is himself destroyed with one
Iron Nail.
Thus the weak things of the world confound the mighty. The
Israelites would have prevented much mischief, if they had
sooner destroyed the
Canaanites, as
God commanded and enabled
them: but better be
Wise late, and buy
Wisdom By experience,
than never be
Wise.