Reflections on The Song of Deborah (and a Tribute to Alex Jones)
(Or, Homeschool Mom Killls Enemy with Tent Spike!)
Only in this life can one show up for the battle.
Only in this life can we live by faith.
There was oppression in the Land, when Deborah, a mother showed up:
The peasantry came to an end, they came to an end in Israel,
Until I, Deborah, arose,
Until I arose, a mother in Israel.
New gods were chosen;
Then war was in the gates.
Not a shield or a spear was seen
Among forty thousand in Israel.
There people were weak and wandering. They turned to other goda and were completely disarmed. The enemy had iron chariots — complete military overmatch. Yet people showed up for war when the call came:
The people of the Lord came down to me as warriors.
From Ephraim those whose root is in Amalek came down,
Following you, Benjamin, with your peoples;
From Machir commanders came down,
And from Zebulun those who wield the staff of office.
And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah;
As was Issachar, so was Barak;
Into the valley they rushed at his heels;
There were great searchings of the soul. Men weighed value of their own lives and made decisions. They left their wives and children and homes and businesses and farms and careers for a cause not likely to succeed. …