31 So may destruction come on all your haters, O Lord; but let your lovers be like the sun going out in his strength. And for forty years the land had peace.
Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them has he put a tent for the sun, Who is like a newly married man coming from his bride-tent, and is glad like a strong runner starting on his way.
It is as the light of the morning, when the sun comes up, a morning without clouds; making young grass come to life from the earth.
To whom your love is given, though you have not seen him; and the faith which you have in him, though you do not see him now, gives you joy greater than words and full of glory:
Give ear, my dear brothers; are not those who are poor in the things of this world marked out by God to have faith as their wealth, and for their heritage the kingdom which he has said he will give to those who have love for him?
But if anyone has love for God, God has knowledge of him.
And we are conscious that all things are working together for good to those who have love for God, and have been marked out by his purpose.
And those who are wise will be shining like the light of the outstretched sky; and those by whom numbers have been turned to righteousness will be like the stars for ever and ever.
Because he has given me his love, I will take him out of danger: I will put him in a place of honour, because he has kept my name in his heart.
Do to them what you did to the Midianites; what you did to Sisera and Jabin, at the stream of Kishon: Who came to destruction at En-dor; their bodies became dust and waste. Make their chiefs like Oreb and Zeeb; and all their rulers like Zebah and Zalmunna: Who have said, Let us take for our heritage the resting-place of God. O my God, make them like the rolling dust; like dry stems before the wind. As fire burning a wood, and as a flame causing fire on the mountains, So go after them with your strong wind, and let them be full of fear because of your storm. Let their faces be full of shame; so that they may give honour to your name, O Lord. Let them be overcome and troubled for ever; let them be put to shame and come to destruction; So that men may see that you only, whose name is Yahweh, are Most High over all the earth.
And let us have knowledge, let us go after the knowledge of the Lord; his going out is certain as the dawn, his decisions go out like the light; he will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth.
You who are lovers of the Lord, be haters of evil; he keeps the souls of his saints; he takes them out of the hand of sinners.
Then for forty years the land had peace, till the death of Othniel, the son of Kenaz.
For see! your haters, O Lord, will be put to death; all the workers of evil will be put to flight;
<To the chief music-maker. Of David. A Psalm. A Song.> Let God be seen, and let his haters be put to flight; let those who are against him be turned back before him. Let them be like smoke before the driving wind; as wax turning soft before the fire, so let them come to an end before the power of God. But let the upright be glad; let them have delight before God; let them be full of joy.
For see! the kings came together by agreement, they were joined together. They saw it, and so were full of wonder; they were troubled, and went quickly away in fear.
So Moab was broken that day under the hand of Israel. And for eighty years the land had peace.
And I will have mercy through a thousand generations on those who have love for me and keep my laws.
Grace be with all those who have true love for our Lord Jesus Christ.
For true and upright are his decisions; for by him has the evil woman been judged, who made the earth unclean with the sins of her body; and he has given her punishment for the blood of his servants. And again they said, Praise to the Lord. And her smoke went up for ever and ever.
Be glad over her, heaven, and you saints, and Apostles, and prophets; because she has been judged by God on your account.
And they gave a great cry, saying, How long will it be, O Ruler, holy and true, before you take your place as judge and give punishment for our blood to those on the earth?
We have the power of loving, because he first had love for us. If a man says, I have love for God, and has hate for his brother, his words are false: for how is the man who has no love for his brother whom he has seen, able to have love for God whom he has not seen? And this is the word which we have from him, that he who has love for God is to have the same love for his brother.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Judges 5
Commentary on Judges 5 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 5
This chapter contains the triumphal song which was composed and sung upon occasion of that glorious victory which Israel obtained over the forces of Jabin king of Canaan and the happy consequences of that victory. Probably it was usual then to publish poems upon such occasions, as now; but this only is preserved of all the poems of that age of the judges, because dictated by Deborah a prophetess, designed for a psalm of praise then, and a pattern of praise to after-ages, and it gives a great deal of light to the history of these times.
Jdg 5:1-5
The former chapter let us know what great things God had done for Israel; in this we have the thankful returns they made to God, that all ages of the church might learn that work of heaven to praise God.
Jdg 5:6-11
Here,
Jdg 5:12-23
Here,
Jdg 5:24-31
Deborah here concludes this triumphant song,
The victory here celebrated with this song was of such happy consequence to Israel that for the best part of one age they enjoyed the peace which it opened the way to: The land had rest forty years, that is, so long it was from this victory to the raising up of Gideon. And well would it have been if, when the churches and the tribes had rest, they had been edified, and had walked in the fear of the Lord.