The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 12 March 2020 – TOPIC: GOD’S SERVANT IN NATION-BUILDING

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DATE: THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020
TOPIC: GOD’S SERVANT IN NATION-BUILDING
READ: JUDGES 4:1-16 (NKJV)

1. When Ehud was dead, the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD.
2. So the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army [was] Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth Hagoyim.
3. And the children of Israel cried out to the LORD; for Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron, and for twenty years he harshly oppressed the children of Israel.
4. Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time.
5. And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
6. Then she sent and called for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “Has not the LORD God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and deploy [troops] at Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun;
7. ‘and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand’?”
8. And Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!”
9. So she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.
10. And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; he went up with ten thousand men under his command, and Deborah went up with him.
11. Now Heber the Kenite, of the children of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, had separated himself from the Kenites and pitched his tent near the terebinth tree at Zaanaim, which [is] beside Kedesh.
12. And they reported to Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor.
13. So Sisera gathered together all his chariots, nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people who [were] with him, from Harosheth Hagoyim to the River Kishon.
14. Then Deborah said to Barak, “Up! For this [is] the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the LORD gone out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.
15. And the LORD routed Sisera and all [his] chariots and all [his] army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from [his] chariot and fled away on foot.
16. But Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth Hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a man was left.

THE MESSAGE:

The Israelites were like horses or mules without understanding and thus they needed to be harnessed with bit and bridle (Psalm 32:9). For 20 years, in our text, God allowed this ‘harnessing’ before the Israelites came to their senses and cried out to God for help (verses 1-3). God still answered. God, through His servant, Deborah – a Prophetess, (one in whom was the ‘Word from God’), called up a deliverer – Barak. She gave him the Word from the LORD concerning the nation, Israel. Barak believed, though half-heartedly (verses 4a, 6-8). This resulted in the ‘glory of winning the battle’ being transferred to a woman (verse 9).
As a redeemed child of God, you are God’s servant (Revelation 1:6; 1 Peter 2:9; Exodus 19:6) and your mouth should preserve knowledge.

Whatever office you occupy according to your calling (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Ephesians 4:7), and wherever you may be sent (Ezekiel 3:4-6 – government, Church, school, market-place, etc.), the Word of God concerning issues, should be in and clear to you.

Through that you can instruct, direct or re-direct people (cf. verse 6, 14), or deliver them from sin (Ezekiel 3:17; 33:7); whether they will hear and believe or not.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Am I functioning as God’s servant in my ‘work’ place to build my nation?

PRAYER: LORD help me to realise who I am in You and what to do with what You have given me to help deliver Your people, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.