READING FOR JANUARY 29, 2025: JUDGES 5, JOHN 19, PSALM 148:1-14 JUDGES 5 At key moments in history, God’s people have sung songs to give musical praise in great detail for what God has done. We remember the great song of Moses in Exodus 15 commemorating the Red Sea crossing. Having recently celebrated Christmas, many of us had occasion to reread Mary’s song, known as the Magnificat. Deborah’s and Balak’s song isn’t as well-known, but it’s remarkably insightful. It begins by blessing God for all involved, both leaders and volunteers. Leadership is indeed important, but volunteers are essential and often overlooked. Just as we have been finding from these last Psalms, emphasis is placed on one’s own personal singing to God—not just leaving it to expert musicians. Just like the Psalms, the object of their musical praise is God, who has done mighty acts on their behalf.
It seems that Deborah in particular recounts the bleak situation Israel faced before God’s deliverance. Transportation had ceased and the common people suffered. But God acted to rise up Deborah as the mother of Israel, even as false gods were being worshipped, even as Israel had been disarmed. Could it be even as we experience a post-Christian trend in our country, that God is already at work raising up leaders to call people back to Him?
Then the people cried for Deborah to awaken in song. She in turn called Balak to arise in battle. From throughout the land people volunteered to become warriors for God. Ephraim was first, followed by Benjamin and military leaders from Machir (part of Manasseh). Other brave volunteers were from Zebulun, Issachar, and Naphtali. Interestingly, those who did not come to help, who risked nothing for God, were called out in shame: Reuben, Dan, Asher, and those living in Gilead. Not all of us are able to volunteer for certain tasks, but all of God’s people can be part of His work today: “With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance” (Eph. 6:18).
This song gives additional details about the battle. The enemy kings fought but did come away with any plunder. God attacked them from the sky (rain/hail?) and the torrent of the Kishon River swept them away. Of course, significant attention is given to Jael, the Kenite woman, who literally delivered the final crushing blow. By contrast, the false but fast-fading confidence of Sisera’s mother is poignantly portrayed. How sad it will be for many to realize after death that they have opposed the loving but just God. We can let them know before it’s too late.
JOHN 19 This chapter gives the details of the crucifixion of Jesus. Our study today will focus on the final words Jesus says before his death: IT IS FINISHED! What exactly was finished? The Prophecies were Finished: The Scriptures that had foretold this day were now completed. Four times in this chapter, John specifically says that what was happening on the cross was the fulfillment of Scripture. (v24, 28, 36, 37) In chapter 18, we learned that Jesus knew all that was about to happen. Most likely he knew this
READING FOR JANUARY 29, 2025 CONTINUED: JOHN 19, PSALM 148:1-14 because he knew the Scriptures so well. After the resurrection, on the road to Emmaus, he explained, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (Luke 24:25-27)
His Suffering Was Finished: The cup was finally empty. It had just been the night before that he prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." (Matthew 26:42) As they came to arrest him, he began to drink from that bitter cup. A cup that would include: being bound, slapped, struck, spit upon, beaten, mocked, ridiculed, whipped and pierced. But with his last cry, the last drop was finished. The cup of suffering was empty. His misery and his mission were finished. It is not a cry of despair. Rather, it is a proclamation of victory! “It is for this very reason that I came to this hour.” (12:27) Sometimes, we want to rush by the cross to get to the joy of resurrection on Easter Sunday. But let us linger here, for it is here at death that Jesus says, “It is finished!” What is finished for us?
The Power of Sin is Finished: The old hymn writer understood this when he wrote, “My sin, O the bliss of this glorious thought. My sin not in part, but the whole is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more.” Because sin is nailed to the cross, it is finished. The shackles of our sins are broken. We no longer need to fear condemnation for our sins. We can have victory over sin. It is finished!
He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14
The Power of Darkness is Finished: When Jesus cried out, Satan was finished. Satan thought it was his mo- ment of victory, but Paul proclaims that it was on the cross that Jesus triumphed over all the power of dark-- ness. (Colossians 2:15) Satan will continue to battle until Jesus returns to claim ultimate victory, but Satan’s power over us is finished. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 1 John 3:8
The Power of Death is Finished: When Jesus bowed his head and died, the promise he spoke to Martha at the death of Lazarus was finished. “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25) “It is finished” means that He has tasted death for all of us. We are promised life with God that will continue into eternity. “It is finished” is a cry of victory.
"Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)
Take a few moments and speak aloud, “It is finished!” Whisper it, declare it, sing it out. IT IS FINISHED!
PSALM 148:7-14 The first half of this Psalm was directed to heavenly entities. Now the second half directs us earth-bound creations to praise the Lord. We think about sea monsters in horror movies, but let’s start visualizing them praising God along with the rest of us—no one and no thing are excluded in this happy opportunity. HE IS ABOVE ALL, not just Methodists.
