So may all Your enemies perish, O LORD! But may those who love You shine like the sun at its brightest." And the land had rest for forty years. So may all your enemies perish, O LORDThis phrase is a powerful invocation for divine justice. The Hebrew word for "perish" is "אָבַד" (avad), which conveys a sense of complete destruction or vanishing. In the context of ancient Israel, this reflects a plea for God to intervene against those who oppose His will and His people. Historically, the Israelites often faced threats from surrounding nations, and this cry for the downfall of enemies underscores a reliance on God's sovereignty and justice. It is a reminder that ultimate victory belongs to the Lord, and His enemies will not prevail. but may those who love Him be like the sun
The phrase "those who love Him" refers to the faithful followers of God. The Hebrew word for "love" is "אָהַב" (ahav), which implies a deep, covenantal love that is both relational and obedient. The comparison to "the sun" is significant; the sun is a symbol of strength, consistency, and life-giving power. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the sun was often associated with divine favor and blessing. This imagery suggests that those who are devoted to God will shine brightly, reflecting His glory and receiving His blessings. when it rises in its brightness
The rising sun is a metaphor for renewal and hope. The Hebrew word for "brightness" is "גְּבוּרָה" (gevurah), which can also mean strength or might. This conveys the idea that the faithful will not only endure but will thrive and be victorious, much like the sun that dispels darkness with its light. In a spiritual sense, this is an encouragement for believers to remain steadfast, as their faithfulness will lead to a radiant and victorious life in God's presence. And the land had rest for forty years
This concluding statement highlights the result of God's intervention and the faithfulness of His people. The "forty years" is a significant period in biblical terms, often symbolizing a generation or a complete period of testing and renewal. The "rest" mentioned here is "שָׁקַט" (shakat) in Hebrew, indicating peace, tranquility, and cessation from conflict. This rest is a tangible sign of God's blessing and favor, a period where the nation could prosper and grow without the threat of war. It serves as a testament to the rewards of faithfulness and the peace that comes from living in alignment with God's will. Persons / Places / Events 1. DeborahA prophetess and judge of Israel who, along with Barak, led Israel to victory over the Canaanite army led by Sisera. 2. BarakThe military leader who, under Deborah's guidance, led the Israelites to victory. 3. SiseraThe commander of the Canaanite army defeated by Deborah and Barak. 4. JaelThe woman who killed Sisera, fulfilling the prophecy that a woman would defeat him. 5. IsraelThe nation experiencing a period of peace following the victory over the Canaanites. Teaching Points Divine JusticeGod's justice is sure and His enemies will ultimately perish. Believers can trust in His righteous judgment. Love for GodThose who love God are likened to the sun in its strength, symbolizing vitality, righteousness, and influence. Believers are called to shine brightly in a dark world. Peace and RestThe forty years of peace following the victory remind us that obedience and faithfulness to God lead to rest and stability. Role of Women in God's PlanDeborah and Jael highlight the significant roles women can play in God's redemptive history, challenging cultural norms and expectations. Victory through FaithThe victory over Sisera was achieved through faith and obedience to God's command, encouraging believers to trust in God's plans even when they seem daunting. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the victory celebrated in Judges 5:31 reflect God's character and His promises to His people? 2. In what ways can believers today be like the "sun when it rises in its strength" in their communities? 3. How does the account of Deborah and Barak encourage us to trust in God's leadership and timing? 4. What lessons can we learn from the peace that followed Israel's victory, and how can we apply them to our personal lives? 5. How do the roles of Deborah and Jael challenge or affirm your understanding of how God uses individuals in His plans? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 15:1-21The Song of Moses and Miriam, which, like Deborah's song, celebrates God's deliverance and victory over enemies. Psalm 68:1-3A psalm that echoes the theme of God rising and scattering His enemies, similar to the prayer in Judges 5:31. Malachi 4:2The imagery of the sun rising in strength is paralleled, symbolizing righteousness and healing. Revelation 19:11-16The ultimate victory of Christ over His enemies, reflecting the theme of divine justice and triumph. People Abinoam, Amalek, Anath, Asher, Barak, Benjamin, Dan, Deborah, Heber, Issachar, Jael, Machir, Naphtali, Reuben, Seir, Shamgar, Sisera, ZebulunPlaces Canaan, Edom, Gilead, Jordan River, Kishon River, Megiddo, Meroz, Seir, Sinai, TaanachTopics Destruction, Enemies, Forth, Forty, Friends, Haters, Love, Lovers, Loving, O, Peace, Perish, Rest, Resteth, Rises, Rising, Strength, Thus, UndisturbedDictionary of Bible Themes Judges 5:31 1654 numbers, 11-99
4836 light, and people of God
4918 dawn
4960 noon
8282 intolerance
8328 quietness Judges 5:1-31 5420 music Judges 5:14-31 5091 Deborah Library Recreant Reuben
Why satest then among the sheepfolds, to hear the pipings for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.'--JUDGES v. 16 (R.V.). I. The fight. The warfare is ever repeated, though in new forms. In the highest form it is Christ versus the World, And that conflict must be fought out in our own souls first. Our religion should lead not only to accept and rely on what Christ does for us, but to do and dare for Christ. He has given Himself for us, and has thereby …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture 'All Things are Yours'
'They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.'--JUDGES v. 20. 'For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.'--Job v. 23. These two poetical fragments present the same truth on opposite sides. The first of them comes from Deborah's triumphant chant. The singer identifies God with the cause of Israel, and declares that heaven itself fought against those who fought against God's people. There may be …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Love Makes Suns
'Let them that love Him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might.' JUDGES V. 51. These are the closing words of Deborah, the great warrior-prophetess of Israel. They are in singular contrast with the tone of fierce enthusiasm for battle which throbs through the rest of the chant, and with its stern approval of the deed of Jael when she slew Sisera. Here, in its last notes, we have an anticipation of the highest and best truths of the Gospel. 'Let them that love Him be as the sun when he goeth …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Songs of Deliverance
The results which accrued from the conquest achieved by Barak, are upon a small scale similar to those which come to us through the deliverance wrought out by the Lord Jesus Christ. I shall take our text and spiritualize it, viewing its joyous details as emblematic of the blessings granted to us through our Redeemer. Those who went to draw water at the wells after Barak's victory, were no longer disturbed by the robbers who lurked at the fountains for purposes of plunder; and instead of drawing the …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 13: 1867 Whether the Orders Will Outlast the Day of Judgment?
Objection 1: It would seem that the orders of angels will not outlast the Day of Judgment. For the Apostle says (1 Cor. 15:24), that Christ will "bring to naught all principality and power, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God and the Father," and this will be in the final consummation. Therefore for the same reason all others will be abolished in that state. Objection 2: Further, to the office of the angelic orders it belongs to cleanse, enlighten, and perfect. But after the Day of …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Why is it that Our Lord Has Tarried Till Now? Why Has not the Redeemer Returned Long Ere This?
At first sight perhaps this inquiry might appear almost irreverent and some may feel inclined to remind us that "secret things belong unto the Lord." In response we would say, It is not in any spirit of idle curiosity nor is it to indulge an inquisitive speculation that we take up this question, but simply because we believe that a humble examination of it will prove profitable to our souls, inasmuch as the answer to our inquiry demonstrates the wisdom and grace of Him with whom we have to do. Of …
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return Hindrances to Revivals.
Text.--I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you."--Nehemiah vi. 3. THIS servant of God had come down from Babylon to rebuild the temple and re-establish the worship of God at Jerusalem, the city of his fathers' sepulchres. When it was discovered by Sanballat and certain individuals, his allies, who had long enjoyed the desolations of Zion, that now the temple, and the holy city were about to be rebuilt, they raised a great …
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion The Publication of the Gospel
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it [or of the preachers] P erhaps no one Psalm has given greater exercise to the skill and patience of commentators and critics, than the sixty-eighth. I suppose the difficulties do not properly belong to the Psalm, but arise from our ignorance of various circumstances to which the Psalmist alludes; which probably were, at that time, generally known and understood. The first verse is the same with the stated form of benediction …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2 Salvation Published from the Mountains
O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid: say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! I t would be improper to propose an alteration, though a slight one, in the reading of a text, without bearing my testimony to the great value of our English version, which I believe, in point of simplicity, strength, and fidelity, is not likely to be excelled by a new translation …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 The Sovereignty of God in Operation
"For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be the glory for ever. Amen" (Romans 11:36). Has God foreordained everything that comes to pass? Has He decreed that what is, was to have been? In the final analysis this is only another way of asking, Is God now governing the world and everyone and everything in it? If God is governing the world then is He governing it according to a definite purpose, or aimlessly and at random? If He is governing it according to some purpose, then …
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God Appendix ix. List of Old Testament Passages Messianically Applied in Ancient Rabbinic Writings
THE following list contains the passages in the Old Testament applied to the Messiah or to Messianic times in the most ancient Jewish writings. They amount in all to 456, thus distributed: 75 from the Pentateuch, 243 from the Prophets, and 138 from the Hagiorgrapha, and supported by more than 558 separate quotations from Rabbinic writings. Despite all labour care, it can scarcely be hoped that the list is quite complete, although, it is hoped, no important passage has been omitted. The Rabbinic references …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES--THE PHILISTINES AND THE HEBREW KINGDOM--SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON, THE DEFECTION OF THE TEN TRIBES--THE XXIst EGYPTIAN DYNASTY--SHESHONQ OR SHISHAK DAMASCUS. The Hebrews in the desert: their families, clans, and tribes--The Amorites and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan--The conquest of Canaan and the native reaction against the Hebrews--The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the Manassite supremacy; Abimelech, Jephihdh. The Philistines, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6 Judges
For the understanding of the early history and religion of Israel, the book of Judges, which covers the period from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the struggle with the Philistines, is of inestimable importance; and it is very fortunate that the elements contributed by the later editors are so easily separated from the ancient stories whose moral they seek to point. That moral is most elaborately stated in ii. 6-iii. 6, which is a sort of programme or preface to iii. 7-xvi. 31, which constitutes …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Judges 5:31 NIVJudges 5:31 NLTJudges 5:31 ESVJudges 5:31 NASBJudges 5:31 KJV
Judges 5:31 Commentaries
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