Speak, You that Ride - Judges 5:10

In the book of Judges we learned, “Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying, praise you the LORD for the avenging of Israel,  … in the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travelers walked through byways. The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel. They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless you the LORD”, and in chapter five and verse ten of Judges, we learn how Deborah and Barak sung, “speak, you that ride on white asses” where we read,

Speak, you that ride on white asses, you that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.

The verse reads, “Speak, you that ride on white asses, …” The writer began with the word, “speak” which means “put forth, mediate, commune, ponder and sing”, “you that ride on white asses” or “you people who mount and sit upon tawny or white she-asses or donkeys”. The writer shared how “Deborah and Barak” included in their song the directive for the people who mounted white she-donkeys to put forth and commune. 

The verse continues, “… you that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.” The writer added the words, “you that sit in judgment” which means “you people who are seated and settled down in measure, vesture, armor, garments and raiment”, “and walk by the way” or “and amble and proceed through and according to the road, journey and path”. The writer shared how “Deborah and Barak” directed their words toward the people who were seated in fine measured garments and proceeded according to the journey or road.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how “Deborah and Barak” addressed the people who were mounted upon fine donkeys in fancy saddle blankets and who proceeded according to the traveled road. We can imagine the site of this as these regal looking men were riding in the pathways of Israel after the defeat of “Jabin” by “Barak” and “Deborah”. God delivered the people of Israel, and He will deliver us as well from the power of sin and death when we surrender our lives to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised 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 help us to celebrate like those who mount white she-donkeys and ride on fine garments in the pathways while rejoicing in His victory. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Psalm 16:11)

Next time we learn how Deborah and Barak sing about, “they that are delivered from the noise of archers”, 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".