I may get Brenda to read a passage this morning: It will be 1 Kings 3:16-28. I believe that she will be reading the NKJV.
Happy Mother’s Day
Cotr/ss051202
Scripture: Psalms 113:9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD
Read Judges 5:6-9
6 ¶ In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.
7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.
8 They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?
9 My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD.
10 Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.
I. Judges 5:6
A. In the days: (Even though there were mighty men and women)
1. Shamgar: Judges 3:31 Killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad ...
2. Jael: Judges 4:21 went softly ... drove the peg into his temple ...
B. The highways (right ways) were deserted (straight ways abandoned)
1. travelers: Heb: walkers of paths (natural look at)
2. byways: Heb: walked crooked paths (a spiritual truth)
II. Judges 5:7
A. Village Life ceased
1. no community
2. no family or society values or commitments
3. it ceased in Israel ...
B. Until Deborah Arose a MOTHER in Israel
III. Judges 5:8 A Picture Of A Motherless Society
A. On top of what we have already read:
1. v.6: people abandon straight paths for crooked ones
2. v.7: family, community & eventually society ceases
Note: I am the product of a mother’s choice to have a home & build a family. She had no real help and little support, but she did it. The sins of the father’s may visit their children to the 3rd or 4th generation, but the blessings of righteousness endures to a 1000 generations.
B. When there are no mothers making their voice & demands heard:
3. v.8: people will choose new gods and stray from Jehovah God
4. v.8: war & fighting comes to the very doors of cities
5. v.8: people grow defenseless (value life less) without a Mother’s protection, or perhaps without a mother to protect.
a. Quote: James Stephens: (women are creatures who) are wiser than men because they know less but understand more.
b. Perhaps God gave every man a mother to raise their estimation of women. It’s time that we realized that all mothers are women first.
IV. Mothers Arise (take your place)
A. Teach us the straight ways of life
1. not to lie, cheat, steal, loose our tempers, be dishonest
2. to respect our elders and honor our parents
3. to keep our commitments and pay our just and honest debts
B. Build family and community relationships
1. you have the grace for interaction
2. you have the pattern for family imprinted in your lives
C. Introduce us to and keep us close to God
D. Keep war from our doors
1. we need you to give us perspective on the cost of war
2. we need a reason to negotiate with & live with each other
E. Give us a cause to be prepared for war should it arise
