Killing Sin

In the Old Testament book of Judges, chapters 4 and 5, there is a little detail that has mystified me. Judges 4 tells the story of Israel's oppression by an enemy, and a man named Barak being raised up to defeat them. But Barak is hesitant, refusing to do so unless Israel's judge, Deborah, goes with him. Deborah agrees, but tells Barak that because of his hesitance, the honor of the final victory will go to someone else.

The leader of the enemies is a man named Sisera, who army is crushed in the battle. Sisera escapes and takes refuge on the way home at the tent of Jael. While he naps, Judges 4:21 tells us this:

"But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. Then she went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground while he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died."

Judges 5 is the song of Deborah and Barak, basically repeating the details of the story, describing the death of Sisera like this:

"She sent her hand to the tent peg
    and her right hand to the workmen's mallet;
she struck Sisera;
    she crushed his head;
    she shattered and pierced his temple.
 Between her feet
    he sank, he fell, he lay still;
between her feet
    he sank, he fell;
where he sank,
    there he fell—dead."

Judges tells the history of God's people shortly after the time they took possession of the Promised Land. Because they were often disobedient to God they had a lot of trouble with their neighbors. The story of Judges 4 & 5 is one of God's mercy as he delivers them from an enemy. But today, several thousand years later, do we read anything within the story besides a historical account? Is there anything here to guide us as we live by faith in Jesus? I believe there is, and that it is seen in the details of the death of Sisera.

Israel is victorious as Sisera flees from the battle. But Sisera is still a danger, and so his death is necessary. Similarly, sin is defeated by Jesus on the cross, but it remains a danger to those of us living with faith in Jesus as our Savior and Lord.

We cannot live lives that are free of sin, but we mustn't play with our sin, or minimize it, or ignore it, or pretend it doesn't exist. We must deal with it. We must put it to death.

We all have sins that we struggle with. The story of Sisera reminds me to see mine for what they are, and to seek God and his rescue from them. May you also seek the Lord's help as he shapes you in his image, killing the troubling, persistent sins in your life.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.