From One Ancient Church Song to Another

“The Lord said unto my Lord, ‘Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.’ The Lord shall send the rod of Thy power out of Zion: be Thou ruler in the midst of Thine enemies. Thy people shall come willingly at the time of assembling Thine army in holy beauty: the youth of Thy womb shall be as the morning dew” (Psalm 110:1-3, Geneva Bible).

While this Psalm is certainly one of the favorites of the New Testament (Matthew 22:44//Mark 12:36; Acts 2:34,35; Hebrews 1:13; 10:12,13), today it has me looking back to a much earlier song of the people of God.

“Then sang Deborah, and Barak the son of Abinoam the same day, saying,

‘Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel,

and for the people that offered themselves willingly.

Hear, ye kings, hearken ye princes:

I, even I will sing unto the Lord:

I will sing praise unto the Lord God of Israel.

Lord, when Thou wentest out of Seir,

when Thou departedst out of the field of Edom,

the earth trembled, and the heavens rained, the clouds also dropped water.

The mountains melted before the Lord,

as did that Sinai before the Lord God of Israel...

...mine heart is set on the governors of Israel,

and on them that are willing among the people: praise ye the Lord...

...for the noise of the archers appraised among the drawers of water:

there shall they rehearse the righteousness of the Lord,

His righteousness of His towns in Israel:

then did the people of the Lord go down to the gates.

Up Deborah, up, arise, and sing a song:

arise Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.

For they that remain, have dominion over the mighty of the people:

the Lord hath given me dominion over the strong...

...the Kings came and fought:

then fought the Kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo:

they received no gain of money.

They fought from heaven, even the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.

The River Kishon swept them away, that ancient river the river Kishon.

O my soul, thou hast marched valiantly...

...so let all thine enemies perish, O Lord:

but they that love Him,

shall be as the Sun when he riseth in his might,

and the land had rest forty years’” (Judges 5:1-5,9,11-13,19-21,31).

In free and holy dedication to the only King of the Church (and the heavens and the earth, Matthew 28:18), may we go to “teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever” He has commanded us” (28:19,20).