"Hear, O King" -- Judges 5:1-31

The Eighth in a Series of Sermons on the Book of Judges

Wherever the people of God witness his mighty power, their hearts are inevitably stirred to sing God’s praises. A number of “songs” composed by the key participants at critical moments in redemptive history are found throughout Scripture in the form of inspired verse. Whenever these “songs” are found in Scripture, it is important to notice that these songs recount the great things God has done for his people. The songs are composed as a form of praise, and they serve as a means of stirring faith in the hearts of his people throughout the subsequent generations. In other words, these songs teach God’s people about God’s faithfulness. In them, we see the heart of God’s people at a given moment in redemptive history, as they give God praise because he has rescued from captivity and/or a crisis. At the same time, the people of God are offering up a song which, in turn, becomes a kind of prayer, as God’s people are seeking his continued deliverance from their enemies. Therefore, these songs tell us a great deal about how God is to be worshiped and they remind us that God is greater than all our enemies–even sin and death. Although God may allow us to be chastened by our foes, he will indeed redeem his people in the end.

We are continuing our series on Judges and we now come to the Song of Deborah and Barak, which is recorded in Judges chapter 5. Before we proceed to work our way the details of the song, we need to consider two things which will help us understand the details of this particular song. First, while this song is unique in the Book of Judges, such a “song” is not unique in the Old Testament. There are the famous Songs of Moses found in Exodus 15 and Deuteronomy 32. There is the Song of Jonah (in Jonah 2) and the song of Hezekiah’s Son from Isaiah 38. No doubt, the song of Deborah and Barak is ancient. It comes from the time of Deborah, more than a century after the time of Joshua and the Conquest. This song was widely known throughout Israel and it was eventually incorporated into the Book of Judges by the unknown author. That leads to a second important point.

You cannot understand the Song of Deborah and Barak without some knowledge of the events recorded in the previous section of Judges (3:31-4:24). This particular song was composed during that period in Israel’s history when God raised up Deborah as a prophetess, and to serve as “judge” (or deliverer) in Israel when Israel was chastened by God for the fourth time through a neighboring enemy. As we saw last time, it was during the era of Deborah that God revealed his plan to deliver Israel through her, because Israel’s priests (the Levities) had become faithless and had failed to instruct the people of Israel in the ways of the Lord. By speaking through Deborah, God is, in effect, shaming the Levites, and providing his people with the good news of future deliverance from their current oppressor–the king of the Canaanites, Jabin.

To read the rest of this sermon click here

Rick Warren to the Rescue

Someone sent me the latest press release from Rick Warren's purpose-driven empire.  Warren's sure not one to let the current economic downturn be anything but a marketing opportunity for his "purpose-driven" materials.

The press release reads in part "with the collapse of our economy, the tools, resources and experiences we’ve bundled into the Purpose Driven Connection are arriving at the exact moment when Americans need them most."

It goes on to say, “The hollow hope of materialism has left us disappointed, empty and worried, and the economic collapse has created a hunger for a deeper spiritual connection to God and to each other."  Of course, Warren would never do anything to contribute to the hollow hope of materialism like recommend that we all buy his stuff to see us through the difficult times.

“We certainly didn’t anticipate our national crisis when we began designing these tools, but we can now see how the Purpose Driven Connection is going to provide urgent and essential spiritual support and encouragement for millions of people in the difficult days ahead. . . . God’s timing is always perfect.”

Pretty shameless.

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Well, if Rick Warren can hawk his wares, so can I.

Here's my very own Riddleblog blogosphere release.

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Anaheim, CA, January 27, 2009

"In these days of economic uncertainty, a proper view of the end-times is a must.  To help you navigate these perilous times the Riddleblog reminds you of the two books written by its proprietor.  If these uncertain times have you worrying about your job, retirement savings, and 401K, you need to buy both my books (multiple copies to give to all your friends and family) which will help you know what is going on, and will also ensure that I don't have to worry about these things.  That will leave me free to warn people about the proper view of end times (Reformed amillennialism, of course).  

What is God's purpose in all of this?  Is this economic distress setting the stage for the rise of the Antichrist?  What is the secret purpose behind the election of Obama?  Was John McCain's purpose in rushing through the economic stimulus package to prepare the way for the real Man of Sin?  Some dispensationalists might even think the author fills the bill.

Whatever end times view you hold, Kim Riddlebarger's Man of Sin is must reading.  Collect all three editions, each one tailor-made to fit your own end-times predictions!

And don't forget A Case for Amillennialism, which is your sure guide to living above the fear and uncertainty of the end times.  If you want to know God's purpose for the last days and how this impacts you, you need to read this book!  In fact, might we suggest buying a case of A Case for Amillennialism (that is, a case of 30 of them).  That will certainly help me prevent any future personal economic crisis. 

Isn't that the true Purpose behind these "press releases" in the first place?

A Field Trip to Saddleback

A member of the Oceanside URC (and a student at Westminster Seminary California) made a recent field trip to Warren's Saddleback and describes what he saw (h.t. Scott Clark).  About what I would have expected.  Click here: Saturday Night - Live at Saddleback « Geneva Redux

Yes, Zrim, there is a Newman (that's Seinfeld lingo for those of you who don't know).  Click here: FOXNews.com - Michigan Postal Worker Hoarded Thousands of Pieces of Mail Instead of Delivering Them - Local News

I guess one bad law deserves another. Click here: CANOE -- CNEWS - Canada: Polygamists' defense cites gay marriage

Should Christians apologize for beating the stuffing out of their opponent?  This game later cost the coach his job.  Click here: Rivals High - School seeks to forfeit 100-0 win

"Antichrist Is Coming" -- 1 John 2:18-27

Here's the audio from Sunday's sermon--the fifth in a series on the Epistles of John.

http://links.christreformed.org/realaudio/KR20090125-1John.mp3

Audio from Friday's Academy Posted

Here's the audio from Ken Samples' Academy lecture (01/23/09) "Krishna & Mahavira: Jesus and Other Faces in the Crowd"

http://links.christreformed.org/realaudio/A20090123-OtherFaces.mp3

Who Said That?

"What then is obedience?"

"Under the Gospel it is this, that after being adopted by God for his sons, and endued with a filial spirit, we conduct ourselves as becomes obedient children, doing with our whole heart and with all our strength those things which we know that our heavenly Father requires us to perform, and giving all heed not to offend him in any thing.  That is, that we put off the old man with his works, and desist from all our former sins; that we walk not after the flesh, but by the spirit mortify the deeds of the body. In short, that we continue in the habitual practice of no sin, but be endued with every Christian virtue; so that, if a fault occur in our pious course, it may proceed not from any evil disposition or design, from any habit or custom, but from some weakness of human nature or from ignorance: all which indeed the Scripture is wont to comprise under the name of penitence: and as such an obedience is not servile, but filial and voluntary."

Update on Sunday, January 25, 2009 at 02:19PM by Kim Riddlebarger

This comes from chapter nine of the Racovian Catechism.  The catechism is Socinian and anti-Trinitarian in its theology.  Faustus Socinus and followers of Michael Servetus produced the document in Poland in 1580.

"Do Not Love the World" -- 1 John 2:12-17

Here's the audio from the Sunday morning sermon from January 18, 2009.

http://links.christreformed.org/realaudio/KR20090118-1John.mp3

Samples' Academy Lecture from January 16 Posted

Here's the audio from Ken Samples' Academy Lecture (January 16, 2009) entitled "Gautama (Buddha) Jesus and Other Faces in the Crowd."

http://links.christreformed.org/realaudio/A20090116-OtherFaces.mp3

A Photo or a Painting?

As I mentioned before, a while back my wife bought me the lecture series "Dutch Masters:  The Age of Rembrandt" from the Teaching Company.  I've enjoyed the lectures immensely.

In one of the lectures on "Still Life Painting," the lecturer covered the work of Willem Claesz Heda.  This painting is called The Dessert, and was painted in 1637.  Check out the tall beer glass--the lines indicate how much you need to consume per gulp!

But how on earth did he paint that overturned wine glass and the pewter vase?  It looks like a photo!

By the way, I love the stuff from the Teaching Company.  I am also making my way (slowly) through Greenberg's forty-eight lectures "How to Listen to and Understand Great Music."  I highly recommend it.  I have a renewed love for Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven.

Too bad Bart Ehrman does much of their NT stuff . . . 

Tonight's Academy Lecture

Ken Samples continues his series tonight -- "Jesus and the Other Religious Faces in the Crowd.”  Ken's third lecture in this series is entitled: "Krishna & Mahavira."  The lecture is free of charge and beings @ 7:30 p.m. at Christ Reformed Church in Anaheim.

For more information, Click here: Christ Reformed Info - Schedule of Academy Classes and Author's Forums

Here's the course Synopsis: This lecture series will compare and contrast the historic Christian portrait of Jesus Christ with the world’s great religious leaders, including Gautama (Buddha), Confucius, Krishna, Lao-Tzu, Mahavira, Muhammad, Nanak, Baha’ullah, and Zoroaster. The series will explore the religious leader’s distinct status, mission, and legacy in comparison with Christ.

Textbooks: Neighboring Faiths by Winfried Corduan, Without a Doubt by Kenneth Samples

Update on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 03:02PM by Kim Riddlebarger

Note -- Audio Delayed

Due to business travel and illness, our techies at Christ Reformed were not able to upload last week's sermon or Academy lecture.  I'll post them as soon as I get them.