"The Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman."--_Judges 4:9._
AT last God spake to a good brave woman named Deborah, and told her to
send for a man named Barak, who should lead the Israelites to fight
with Sisera. She sent for Barak, and told him what God had said. But
Barak was afraid to go alone. He said he must have Deborah with him. He
ought to have known that, if God sent him, he was sure to be safe and
to succeed.
[Illustration: SISERA SLAIN BY JAEL.--Judges 4:22.]
Deborah told him that since he wished it she would go with him, but
that the journey should not be to his honor, for the Lord would sell
Sisera into the hand of a woman. And it turned out as Deborah said.
Barak won a great battle, and drove the enemies away, so that they did
not hurt the children of Israel again for forty years. But he did not
meet with Sisera in the battle, nor get the honor of killing him.
Sisera fled out of the battle, and was killed after all by a woman,
whose name was Jael. Barak lost all the honor, because he would not do
just as he was told, but was afraid without Deborah, just as if God
could not help him better than Deborah could.
This morning's lesson told how Deborah and Barak conquered the cruel
Sisera. This evening's lesson is the song that Deborah made to thank
God for having given her the victory, and saved His people.