2 When they let down their hair in Israel, they let it blow wild in the wind. The people volunteered with abandon, bless God! 3 Hear O kings! Listen O princes! To God, yes to God, I'll sing, Make music to God, to the God of Israel. 4 God, when you left Seir, marched across the fields of Edom, Earth quaked, yes, the skies poured rain, oh, the clouds made rivers. 5 Mountains leapt before God, the Sinai God, before God, the God of Israel.
6 In the time of Shamgar son of Anath, and in the time of Jael, Public roads were abandoned, travelers went by backroads. 7 Warriors became fat and sloppy, no fight left in them. Then you, Deborah, rose up; you got up, a mother in Israel. 8 God chose new leaders, who then fought at the gates. And not a shield or spear to be seen among the forty companies of Israel. 9 Lift your hearts high, O Israel, with abandon, volunteering yourselves with the people - bless God!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 5:2-9
Commentary on Judges 5:1-5.
(Read Judges 5:1-5.)
No time should be lost in returning thanks to the Lord for his mercies; for our praises are most acceptable, pleasant, and profitable, when they flow from a full heart. By this, love and gratitude would be more excited and more deeply fixed in the hearts of believers; the events would be more known and longer remembered. Whatever Deborah, Barak, or the army had done, the Lord must have all the praise. The will, the power, and the success were all from Him.
Commentary on Judges 5:6-11.
(Read Judges 5:6-11.)
Deborah describes the distressed state of Israel under the tyranny of Jabin, that their salvation might appear more gracious. She shows what brought this misery upon them. It was their idolatry. They chose new gods, with new names. But under all these images, Satan was worshipped. Deborah was a mother to Israel, by diligently promoting the salvation of their souls. She calls on those who shared the advantages of this great salvation, to offer up thanks to God for it. Let such as are restored, not only to their liberty as other Israelites, but to their rank, speak God's praises. This is the Lord's doing. In these acts of his, justice was executed on his enemies. In times of persecution, God's ordinances, the walls of salvation, whence the waters of life are drawn, are resorted to at the hazard of the lives of those who attend them. At all times Satan will endeavour to hinder the believer from drawing near to the throne of grace. Notice God's kindness to his trembling people. It is the glory of God to protect those who are most exposed, and to help the weakest. Let us notice the benefit we have from the public peace, the inhabitants of villages especially, and give God the praise.