Judges 5 THE TESTIMONY OF SONG Songs are a way of identifying and remembering important events so they can be retold from one family to the next and one generation to the next. Unless the historical accounts of life lived and lessons learned during those times are passed on in some way, each generation is doomed to have to relearn and reapply the lessons that should have been taught and practiced by the passing on of truth. Songs and victories go together. Many national anthems are written about victories of one kind or another that are retold and put into music so patriotism can be promoted. Singing song is a means of unifying people into thinking the same thoughts at the same time about the same things. If said only in voices without music the words are usually unidentifiable. When words are put to music what was only discordant sounds now becomes clear words and when the music is written so tones change, the whole practice of singing a song becomes very pleasurable. Often the greater the number of people singing at one time, the greater is the impact both on those who sing and those who listen to the singing.
Songs of praise and worship of God go together. In the same way we commemorate important events in song, like, "At the Cross, at the Cross, Where I first saw the Light," so our attention is focused on a Person in a song like "Savior, we remember Thee." All of those who participate beginning with myself to the whole group, are joining our hearts together with the objective of focusing on Jesus. From that united voice, comes far more individual thoughts of worship because the attention is placed on our Lord. Songs and celebration go together. Carols at Christmas time, special hymns and songs at weddings, even appropriate songs at a funeral are used by the Spirit of God to convey truth.
Songs and their words, in times of uncertainty and times of sorrow, go together to provide comfort and a balm to troubled souls who are facing enormous changes, loss and confusing issues. When matters of concern arise, "Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus, look full in His Wonderful Face," can take a person beyond the pressures of the physical and of the moment and put them into a spiritual perspective.
Deborah and Barak sang a song of praise that is often called "Deborah's Song. Her song (Judges 5) made the same day victory was assured when Jael drove the nail into Sisera's temple, commemorated the victory on the same day so there would be no misrepresentation of the events. In the song there is the same priority of praise expressed; the leaders who led and the people who volunteered, were all incorporated into the ballad. The desperate situation (vs.5-8) was addressed; the response to the challenge (vs.2,9) was mentioned. The song was spontaneous, practical (v.13) and individual. Included was the motive for the volunteer service some gave. The right attitude toward God (v.31) and the right attitude toward service, was in the song (v.23). Reuben would not act (vs.15,16); had only emotion. Gilead was out of fellowship (v.17); voluntary lack of fellowship. Dan lacked growth (v.17); just wanted things to stay the way they were. Asher lacked vision (v.17).
Those four tribes would not come to help drive out the enemies they had not driven out themselves. They may have stopped short because they [a] were without faith and did not rely on God to help [b] would not put forth the effort needed because of complacency [c] feared the enemy and were without hope regarding the outcome [d] did not want to antagonize those with whom they did business so that they like those who are without God in the world. Disobedience and lack of faith lead to lack of power to overcome obstacle and opposition.