The nations remained in the land “for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses” (3:4). Well, we know the answer to that riddle! But, over and over again, the people “cried out unto the Lord,” and he came to their rescue from their enemies. Against Sisera, “Deborah said to Barak, ‘Up! For this is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hand. Does not the Lord go out before you?’” (4:14) Deborah sang, “Lord, when you went out from Seir, when you marched from the region of Edom, the earth trembled and the heavens dropped, yes, the clouds dropped water. The mountains quaked before the Lord, even Sinai before the Lord, the God of Israel” (5:4-5). Always sinning, always disobeying, always turning away from God seems to have been the best description of Israel. Yet, the Lord remained true to his covenant, and he went out before the people and gave them victory. The presence of the Lord! Without the Lord, Israel was without hope; with his presence, they, and we, can overcome all. With the Lord, we have nothing to fear
I’m no longer a slave to fear
I am a child of God
I’m no longer a slave to fear
I am a child of God
I am surrounded
By the arms of the Father
I am surrounded
By songs of deliverance
We’ve been be liberated. –Brian Johnson (2016)