The Word for Today with Ray

Friday, September 18, 2026

Stand in the Door of the Tent - Judges 4:20

In the book of Judges we learned how, “the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak” and “Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. And he said unto her, Give me, I pray you, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him”, and in chapter four and verse twenty of Judges, we learn how Sisera told Jael, “Stand in the door of the tent” where we read,

Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man does come and enquire of you, and say, Is there any man here? that you shall say, No.

The verse reads, “Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man does come and enquire of you, and say, …” The writer began with the words, “again he said unto her” which means “another time he, Sisera, uttered, declared and proclaimed to her, Jael”, “stand in the door of the tent” or “remain, endure and attend within the opening or entrance belonging to the temporary dwelling place or habitation”, “and it shall be” which means “and the following will happen and occur”; “when any man does come and enquire of you” or “at the time and moment a male human being arrives and asks or questions you, Jael”, “and say” which means “and utter, declare and proclaim” the following words. The writer shared how “Sisera” told “Jael” to remain within the entrance to her “tent” and whenever a male human being arrives to ask something of her, she was to reply with the following words.

The verse continues, “… Is there any man here? that you shall say, No.” The writer added the words, “is there any man here?” which means “is there any male human being within the tent”,. “That you shall say, No” or “that she, Jael, was to reply, not at all”. The writer shared how “Sisera” told “Jael” to tell anyone who asks if a male human being was in her “tent”, she was to tell them “no”.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how to”Sisera” continued to try to conceal himself, and he decided if “Jael” were to remain at the entrance to her “tent” and tell anyone who asked her that no male human being was inside, he would be kept safe. We shall see how that works out for “Sisera” in our next verse, but for now, let us be mindful that this also was part of God’s plan to free the people of Israel from the oppression of “Jabin”. God wants to free all people from the power of sin and death, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be raised from the grave three days later. When we surrender our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and empower us to live according to that truth so we learn that God is into the details when He makes His plans for our lives in His Kingdom. (See John 3:16; Matthew 6:33)

Next time we learn how “Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".

Give Me a Little Water - Judges 4:19

In the book of Judges we learned how “the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak” and “Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle”, and in chapter four and verse nineteen of Judges, we learn how, Sisera said to Jael, “Give me, I pray you, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty” where we read,

And he said unto her, Give me, I pray you, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty.

And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.

The verse reads, “And he said unto her, Give me, I pray you, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty.” The writer began with the words, “and he said unto her” which means “and he, Sisera, uttered, declared and proclaimed to her, Jael”, “give me, I pray you” or “grant and bestow to me, Sisera”, “a little water to drink” which means “a small amount of refreshing water to imbibe”; “for I am thirsty” or “because, since and on account that I, Sisera, exist as filled with thirst”. The writer shared how “Sisera” asked “Jael” for a small amount of water because he was filled with thirst.

The verse goes on to say, “And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.” The writer continued with the words, “and she opened a bottle of milk” which means “and she, Jael, let loose, broke free and unstopped a skin or leather bag for fluids which contained milk as the richness of kine”,. “And gave him drink” or “and granted and bestowed to him, a beverage”, “and covered him” which means “and concealed and hid him, Sisera”. The writer shared how “Jael” unstopped a leather bag for fluids, provided “Sisera” with “milk from a kine”and concealed him.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how “Sisera” asked “Jael” for a small amount of “water” because he was filled with thirst, and she set released a leather bag for fluids and provided him with “milk” and hid him within her “tent”. Let us be reminded that “Sisera” was the general of “Jabin’s army”, and now he was hiding in the tent of “Jael”. All of these details were part of God’s plan to deliver the people of Israel from the affliction of “Jabin”, and we shall see how He completes this mission in our next few verses. God is also on a mission to save people from their sins, and for this reason He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days. When we yield to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and to give us the ability to know He is always at work in our lives even when we are unaware of His doings. (See John 3:16; 5:17; 16:13; Acts 1:8)

Next time we learn how Sisera told Jael, “Stand in the door of the tent”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Thursday, September 17, 2026

Jael Tells Sisera to Turn In - Judges 4:18

In the book of Judges we learned how, “the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak” and “Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite”, and in chapter four and verse eighteen of Judges, we learn how, “Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord” where we read,

And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me;

fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.

The verse reads, “And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me;” The writer began with the words, “and Jael” whose name means “mountain goat” and was the wife of Heber the Kenite who killed the general Sisera as he slept by driving a peg through his temples into the ground “went out to meet Sisera” or “exited, departed and proceeded forward to befall and encounter Sisera whose name means ‘battle array’ and was the conquering general under king Jabin of Hazor and slain by Jael”, “and said unto him” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed to him, Sisera”, “Turn in” or “come inside”, “my lord” which means “enter my, Jael’s, firm, strong master”, “turn in to me” or “enter and come in toward me, Jael”. The writer shared how “Jael” went outside her temporary dwelling place to encounter “Sisera”, and she told him to enter the tent she abided within.

The verse continues, “fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.” The writer added the words, “fear not” which means “do not be afraid or in awe”. “And when he had turned in unto her” or “and at the time and moment he, Sisera, came to her, Jael” “into the tent” which means “inside the temporary dwelling place and habitation”, “she covered him” or “she, Jael, concealed and hid him, Sisera” “with a mantle” which means “by the use of a rug or thick coverlet”. The writer shared how “Jael” instructed “Sisera” not to be afraid, and when he went inside her “tent”, she put a thick coverlet over him to conceal his presence.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn more about this story of Jehovah God delivering the people of Israel from the oppression of “Jabin”. Sometimes God works with people and His purposes over a certain amount of time, and He often is not seen or heard. However, He is at work … always at work. God desires to have a personal relationship with all of us through His Son Jesus whom He sent into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the dead after three days. When we yield to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and give us the ability to live in keeping with and in patience of His purposes and will. (See John 3:16;16:13; Acts 1:8; Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Next time we learn how Sisera says to Jael, “Give me, I pray you, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Sisera Fled to Jael’s Tent - Judges 4:17

In the book of Judges we learned how, “the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left”, and in chapter four and verse seventeen of Judges, we learn how, “Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite” where we read,

Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite:

for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.

The verse reads, “Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite:” The writer began with the words, “howbeit Sisera fled away” which means “but Sisera whose name means ‘battle army’ and was the conquering general under king Jabin of Hazor and slain by Jael, ran, abated and escaped” “on his feet” or “upon his physical feet” “to the tent of Jael” which means “toward the nomadic and temporary dwelling place, habitation and abode belonging to Jael whose name means ‘mountain goat’ and was the Kenite who killed the general Sisera as he slept by driving a peg through his temples into the ground” “the wife of Heber” or “the female spouse belonging to Heber whose name means ‘comrade” “the Kenite” whose name means “smiths” and was the tribe from which the father-in-law of Moses was a member and which lived in the area between southern Palestine and the mountains of Sinai. The writer shared how “Sisera” ran away from the battle with “Barak” and the people of Israel, and he journeyed until he reached the temporary dwelling place belonging to “Jael” who was the female spouse belonging to “Heber” who was a “Kenite”.

The verse goes on to say, “for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.” The writer continued with the words, “for there was peace” which means “because, since and on account that there existed calm, tranquility and safety” “between Jabin” or “among and in the midst of Jabin whose name means ‘whom God observes’ and was a king of Hazor who organized a confederacy of the northern princes against Joshua; confederacy routed by the waters of Merom” “the king of Hazor” which means “the royal ruler and leader belonging to Hazor whose name means ‘castle’ and was a royal city of northern Palestine allotted to Naphtali” “and the house of Heber” or “and the dwelling place and habitation belonging to Heber whose name means ‘comrade’” “the Kenite” whose name means “smiths”. The writer shared how there was calm and tranquility in the midst of “Jabin” who was “Hazor’s” royal ruler and “Heber” who was a “Kenite”.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how ”Sisera” ran away and escaped from the battle with “Barak” and departed to the temporary dwelling place belonging to “Jael” who was the female spouse of “Heber” who was a “Kenite”. He had access because tranquility existed among “Jabin” who was “Hazor’s” royal ruler and the dwelling place belonging to “Heber”. Perhaps this relationship made “Sisera” believe he could be safe in the care of “Heber’s” wife “Jael”, and we shall see how that worked out for him in our next few verses. God wants us to put our faith and trust in Him through His Son Jesus who was sent into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we submit to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and give us the ability to rely upon Him whenever we encounter difficult situations and people in our lives. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 15:25)

Next time we learn how, “Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Barak Pursued After the Chariots and Hosts - Judges 4:16

In the book of Judges we learned how, “the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet”, and in chapter four and verse sixteen of Judges, we learn how, “Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host” where we read,

But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles:

and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.

The verse reads, “But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles:” The writer began with the words, “but Barak” which means “however, notwithstanding, nonetheless and moreover Barak whose name means ‘lightning or lightning flash’ and was son of Abinoam of Kedesh who, incited by Deborah, a prophetess of Ephraim, delivered the Israelites from the yoke of Jabin by routing the Canaanites in the plain of Jezreel” “pursued after the chariots” or “ran, chased and closely followed the war wagons”, “and after the host” which means “and closely followed the army camp or body of people”, “unto Harosheth” or “to Harosheth whose name means ‘woodland’ and was a city in the north of the land of Canaan on the west coast of the lake Merom” “of the Gentiles” which means “belonging to the foreign, heathen and pagan people”. The writer shared how “Barak” followed closely behind the war wagons and army belonging to Sisera to “Harosheth” which belonged to the foreign pagan people.

The verse continues, “and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.” The writer added the words, “and all the host of Sisera” which means “and each, the whole and every one of the army camp of people belonging to Sisera whose name means ‘battle array’ and was the conquering general under king Jabin of Hazor and slain by Jael” “fell upon the edge of the sword” or “were cast down, attacked and wasted away by the means of the sharpened war weapon such as a knife, mattock, axe or sword”; “and there was not a man left” which means “and not a single male warrior remained”. The writer shared how every one of the military people within “Sisera’s” army was slain by the sharpened war implement, and not a single one of them remained.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we discover how “Barak” followed hard after Sisera, his war wagons and his military personnel, and slew all of them with sharpened war implements. God was with the army of “Barak”, and just as “Deborah” declared, the army of “Sisera” was defeated. We shall see more to this story in our next verses, but for now let us be mindful that God loves to be victorious. His greatest victory for us is when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of everyone, and when He raised Him from the dead after three days, He made the way through faith and trust in Him to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and equipped with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and empower us to live according to that truth so we too enjoy His victory over all our hating foes. (See John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15.54, 55, 57; 1 John 5:4; Revelation 15:2)

Next time we learn how, “Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

The LORD Discomforted Sisera - Judges 4:15

In the book of Judges we learned how, “Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh. And they showed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand: is not the LORD gone out before you? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him”, and in chapter four and verse fifteen of Judges, we learn how, “the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots” where we read,

And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.

The verse reads, “And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak;” The writer began with the words, “and the LORD” which means “and Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “discomforted Sisera” or “moved noisily, confused, broke and crushed Sisera whose name means ‘battle array’ and was the conquering general under king Jabin of Hazor and slain by Jael”, “and all his chariots” which means “and each, the whole and everyone of his, Sisera’s, war wagons”, “and all his host” or “and each, the whole and everyone of his, Sisera’s, army camp” “with the edge of the sword” which means “by the use of the sharpened extremity or end belonging to the sharpened war implement Busch as a knife or other implement” “before Barak” or “in front and in advance of Barak whose name means ‘lightning or lightning flash’ and was the son of Abinoam of Kedesh who, incited by Deborah, a prophetess of Ephraim, delivered the Israelites from the yoke of Jabin by routing the Canaanites in the plain of Jezreel”. The writer shared how Jehovah God crushed “Sisera”, his war wagons and his army through the sharpened blade of the war implement in the presence of “Barak”.

The verse goes on to say, “so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.” The verse continued with the words, “so that Sisera” which means “by which Sisera whose name means “battle array” and was “the conquering general under king Jabin of Hazor and slain by Jael” “lighted down off his chariot” or “descended from his, Sisera’s, war wagon, “and fled away on his feet” which means “and ran away upon his, Sisera’s, physical feet”. The writer shared how “Sisera” descended from his war wagon and ran away upon his physical “feet” when Jehovah God crushed his war wagons and army.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how Jehovah God was involved in this battle, and He afflicted “Sisera”, his war wagons and the army who accompanied him. God used the sharpened edge of a war weapon to defeat “Sisera” even to the point that he descended from his war wagon and ran away on his physical feet. God was on the move, and when He makes a plan in opposition to someone, His will shall be done. God loves us, and when we yield our lives to His Son Jesus who was crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised from the dead after three years, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and teach us to trust Him to fight our battles for us when they come. Let all who read these words submit to Jesus who alone can provide the power to live in a pleasing manner to Him. (See John 3:16; 16:13, Acts 1:8; Revelation 3:20)

Next time we learn how, “Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Delivering Sisera - Judges 4:14

In the book of Judges we learned how, “Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh. And they showed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon”, and in chapter four and verse fourteen of Judges, we learn how, “Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand” where we read,

And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand: is not the LORD gone out before you? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.

The verse reads, “And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand: is not the LORD gone out before you?” The writer began with the words, “and Deborah” whose name means “bee” and was “a prophetess who judged Israel” “said unto Barak” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed to Barak whose name means ‘lightning or lightning flash’ and was the son of Abinoam of Kedesh who, incited by Deborah, a prophetess of Ephraim, delivered the Israelites from the yoke of Jabin by routing the Canaanites in the plain of Jezreel”, “Up; for this is the day” which means “arise and ascend; because, since and on account that this particular sunrise to sunset” “in which the LORD” or “that Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “has delivered Sisera” which means “has set, put, granted, bestowed and committed Sisera whose name means ‘battle array’ and was the conquering general under king Jabin of Hazor and slain by Jael” “into your hand” or “in your, Barak’s, power, strength and authority”: “is not the LORD” which means “is not Jehovah who is the existing One” “gone out before you” or “departed, left and proceeded in advance and prior to you, Barak”? The writer shared how “Deborah” instructed “Barak” to arise because that particular sunrise to sunset Jehovah was to give “Sisera” over to “Barak”, and she asked “Barak” whether Jehovah went out in advance of him.

The verse continues, “So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.” The added the words, “so Barak” which means “wherefore, therefore and then Barak whose name means “lightning or lightning flash” “went down from mount Tabor” or “descended and went forth apart from the rising above the plain known as Tabor whose name means ‘mound’ and was a mountain in the plain of Esdraelon rising abruptly and insulated except for a narrow ridge on the west connecting it to the hills of Nazareth”, “and ten thousand men after him” which means “and ten thousand male human beings following him, Barak”. The writer shared how “Barak” descended from the rising above the plain known as “Tabor” accompanied by “ten thousand” male human beings who followed him.

When we think through the words in this verse, we see with the prompting of “Deborah”, “Barak” finally took action as Jehovah God went in advance of him. He took “ten thousand” males with him, and now the battle was to be engaged. There is a time for planning, and there is a time when action is necessary. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to deal with the problem of sin, and when He died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days, He made the way through faith and trust in Him to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and equipped with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and give us the ability to live in keeping with His desires within His Kingdom. (See John 3:16;16;13; Acts 1:8; Revelation 4:11)

Next time we learn how, “the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…