Justin Houtz

Judges 4-5; Psalms 39, 41; 1 Corinthians 13

DateVersionReading Plan
March 28, 2026ESV (2016)ESV Life Journal Plan – 2026

Judges 4-5

Observation & Interpretation

Following Ehud’s death, the people once again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and He sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan. Deborah, a prophetess, was judge at the time who sent and summoned Barak to draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army. Deborah and Barak went to Kadesh where the LORD orchestrated their meeting with Sisera and the defeat of his army. Sisera fled away on foot, entered into the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite and Jael drove a tent peg into Sisera’s temple while he was sleeping. Chapter 4 of Judges ends with a conclusion of how it began, that God had subdued Jabin the king of Canaan and his destruction by the people of Israel. Chapter 5 is often called the “Song of Deborah” and is “a poetic account of the events described in ch. 4”. (FSB)

Application

Verses 23-24 of chapter 4 provided for us the proper framework for understanding the narrative it contains. It was the LORD’s doing to subdue the enemy of Israel. Despite the persistence of the Israelites in selfishness and rebellion, the LORD was faithful to His people with which He had established His covenant. It is important to reflect that we are in no wise deserving of no such treatment, but our Lord is abundant in grace that He so chooses to lavish us with His love for the magnification of His glory.

1 Corinthians 13

Observation & Interpretation

Continuing from the previous chapter on Paul’s exposition on the spiritual gifts, he now speaks on the necessity of love in their possession and usage. Paul clarifies the attributes of true love, its enduring nature and its supremacy among the three elements that abide: faith, hope and love.

Application

However familiar we are with this chapter, it is crucial to be frequently washed anew with the truth it contains. It is so easy to drift into the cultural streams of how we understand love; whether as only a feeling, the expression of kindness, unconditional affirmation or whatever host of unbiblical perspectives are present in our day. May God’s children never be far from this chapter and the way in which we are called to love, that it would be driven by utter gratitude in the One who first loved us.

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