Commentary on Judges, Sermon 26
THE TWENTIE SIXE SERMON ON THE FOVRTH CHAPTER OF THE BOOKE OF IVDGES.
WE hauehave heard of Deboras meſſage to Barak, in the two Verſ. 8.former verſes. Now followeth Baraks anſwere to her meſſage in this eighth verſe. If (ſaith hee) thou wilt goe with me, I will goe, elſe not. This anſwere of his ſeemes to yeeld little to Gods commandement, ſent to him by Deboras miniſtery, neither to aſcribe any thing to Gods promiſe, and therefore ſhewes how he profited not by thoſe two ſtrong peſwaſions to leade to duty, mentioned before, but proues that hee aſcribed more to her preſence, then to Gods promiſe: which, what could it be leſſe, then a great blemiſh in him, Heb. 11. 32.as may bee ſeene by his amending his fault afterwards? Whoſe faith is ſo highly renouned among the worthies, in the epiſtle to the Hebrues? Beſide, ſhe was offended with him, for his ſo anſwering, and therefore it was (doubtleſſe) infidelity in him. If it bee asked, why then is hee afterward ſo highly commended for his faith? I anſwere, that when the meſſage came firſt to him, the thing enioyned him from God by Deboras meſſage, ſeemed to be moſt full of difficulty. For he was commanded to make commotion, and to rebell againſt him that was King ouer them, to wit, this Iabin, who was very great and mighty; he was alſo charged to gather an armie of men together, though hee was but a priuate man himſelfe. Theſe things therefore for him to take in hand, and that againſt ſuch a fierce and ſtrong captaine as Siſera was, it made him afraid to ſet vponupon ſuch a worke, and eſpecially, while he was vnexperienced in ſo great a triall and difficulty, and this was the cauſe why hee could not beleeue, except ſhee went with him, that God would deliuer him with his men of warre into his hand.
But afterward weighing better the commandement of God, and his promiſe, God by his ſpirit aſſiſting him, hee beleeued the words of Debora, and obeyed, and ſo obtained the victory by faith, as it is ſaid in the forementioned place to the Hebrues. And how vſually this falleth out, and commeth to paſſe, euen to the godly, that at the firſt they doe ſtagger and doubt, How ſoone faith is quailed.and beleeue not by and by, and that through the ſtrong reliques of the old Adam, there is no man of God but hath proofe; and yet for all that, afterward they being ſtrengthened by the ſpirit of God, recouer themſelues againe, Note.and beleeue confidently. This is apparent in Dauid, euen after he had beleeued, ſaying, O Lord, waſh mee throughly, cleanſe me, for I am wholly filthy: Pſal. 51. 2. 10.And againe, Create in me a new ſpirit; as if the old had been vtterly loſt. Alſo in Moſes, when he was firſt commanded to goe to Pharaoh, how fearefull he Exod 3. 11. compared with 10. 26.was at the hearing of the meſſage, and how hee ſhrunke backe: but afterward, how boldly did he execute the ſame, and deliuer it vntounto him? Euen Note.ſo the beſt of vsus, when we heare of the death of our deare friends, or of great loſſes that are befallen vsus; alſo at the beginning of great ſickneſſe and paine arreſting vsus, oh how doe we faint, and diſtruſt that we ſhall neuer ſubmit our ſelues, and yeeld obediently to them (though God command vsus ſtraitly to Pſal. 37. 3.doe ſo) while we caſt both our eyes on the burthen and croſſe; that is, on the the things that are ſeene, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, and while wee are not 1. Cor. 4. laſt.yet come to our ſelues to looke vp to God with confidence, and to things not ſeene, but eternall. But when we weigh how they come from him that loueth vsus, and therefore cannot intend our hurt; we then ſubmit our ſelues to God, and ſtay vponupon him for grace to go vnderunder all, and waite patiently for a good iſſue. And becauſe our hearts ariſe oft times againſt our brethren, when we ſee theſe weakeneſſes in them, and begin to iudge and thinke too hardly of them for the ſame, the Lord therefore letteth vsus ſometimes ſee the ſame or other ſuch in our ſelues, that ſo wee may learne to beare with the infirmities of them.
And when wee hauehave experience of this, it cauſeth vsus to bewaile tenderly Gal. 6. 1.the weakneſſes that we ſee in our brethren, and with the ſpirit of meekneſſe helpe to hold them vp, rather then by and by to cenſure them ouer ſharply for the ſame. And it is to be deepely bewailed, to ſee how farre off many are from duty in this behalfe, (though otherwiſe religious, and ſuch as louelove the truth frō their herts) are ouercome with deadly cōceits againſt their brethrē when they ſee they hauehave fallen by infirmity, & are ſtrongly incenſed againſt Note.them, & leaue thē to themſelues, neuer telling them of it kindly, as if they ſee thē ouercome of impatience, teaſtineſſe, anger, or if their zeale & feruency in ſeruing God be ſlaked, & abated, or that they be offenſiuely taken vp of, and carried away with the world. Theſe and the like (I confeſſe) are ruſt cauſes to raiſe griefe in vsus, and are much to be diſliked of vsus, when we eſpy them in ſuch as be well thought of by vsus, and they are blemiſhes in them not to be borne with or allowed: but yet for all that, when wee ſhall ſee ſuch things in them, wee muſt beware that wee cenſure them not too hardly, (for who hath giuen vsus authority to iudge them?) crying out vncharitably, that there is no religion in them. For though it cannot bee denied, but that the diuell hath, by watching his opportunitie, got aduantage ouer them; yet they being not vntractable, but only deceiued in their ſo offending, and yet in other parts of their liues they holding their care to pleaſe God, and labouring to keepe a good conſcience; we muſt not for ſome one ſuch weaknes, fall by and by to ſuch hard iudging of them, and to depart from them (which is vtterly againſt charitie and dutie) but to think, that there being ſo many ſnares to intangle men, it may eaſily enough be ſo with them, as wee may ſee it to be with our ſelues (if we be not blinded with ſelfeloue) in the like trials, for that we doe not, without ſpecial grace, and heed taking, auoid the like falles. And therfore we muſt hope that they may, yea and ſhal (no doubt) through Gods helpe, ariſe, and grow in good ſort out of them againe.
And yet I doe not ſpeake this as though I would iuſtifie ſuch offences in the liues of Gods people, or as though I went about to ſalue them vp with gentle words, (for I know, that where ſuch breaches are ſuffered to paſſe in the liues of them who are otherwiſe religious, they doe much hurt to other by example, and to themſelues by quenching the ſpirit in them, ſpecially if they be defended and continued long in, vnconfeſſed, and renounced, that they may be forgiuen them) but yet we that behold them, muſt wiſely ſhun extremities in iudging of them, on the one ſide, as well as on the other; as I hauehave ſaid, and no more condemne the perſons, then we allow the ſins. And as for the common profeſſors, who when they ſee ſuch, frailties appeare in the forwarder ſort of Chriſtians, begin to pleaſe themſelues therein, and to condemne all other good parts in them, I ſay to them, if they ſtumble thereat, and they themſelues walke on in their groſſenes, they ſhall in time ſee themſelues guiltie of farre greater and more horrible ſinnes; or if they ſtill goe forward in condemning and inſulting ouer them, they ſhall doe it to their owne confuſion. And this by occaſion of Baraks diſtruſt.
More particularly alſo let Baraks anſwere in clinging ſo to Debora, teach Gods people this wiſdome, not ouer-much to giuegive place to their affections, Doct. 1. in verſ. 8.euen in things lawful, but to ſubmit themſelues to the will of God, and pray for ſtrength to reſt therein. It ſeemed a very equall and commendable requeſt in Barak, to deſire the companie, aduice, and direction of Debora: and ſo it was in the generall: but when hee ſaw it was Gods will hee ſhould depend immediatly vponupon him for ſucceſſe, he ſaw againe that it was his weaknes ſo much to depend vponupon her preſence. And although it is ſo commendable a thing for men to cleaue to the Miniſtery and aſſiſtance of their faithfull guides, while they continue among them, yet if any eſpieth his owne weakenes and childiſhnes in this, that he cleaueth too neere vntounto them, as thinking that without them hee ſhall miſcarrie, and cannot bee vpholden without them, let him checke himſelfe, and labour for ſuch ſtrength of knowledge and faith, as may inable him to go vponupon his owne feete, and liue by his owne faith, depending directly vponupon Gods promiſe of vholding and preſeruing him in the middeſt of his diſcouragements, feares, and weaknes, without ſuch meanes, if he may not enioy them. But while ſome with Barak aſcribe too much to the Miniſter of God it is too true, that many deſpiſing and nothing regarding the miniſterie of men, grow ſhiftles and ſhameles, being as farre from hope of happineſſe, as they are voide of grace and goodneſſe.
Now followeth the ſpeech of Debora to Barak, when he made the forementioned anſwere vntounto her, to wit, that he would not goe, vnleſſe ſhe went Verſe 9.with him. And this ſhe ſaid: I will go with thee, but it ſhall not be for thine honour. Wherein ſhe findeth fault with him, and tels him, that hee ſhould ſuffer the puniſhment of his infidelitie, while the glorie which he might otherwiſe hauehave had thereby, ſhould be giuen to a woman, meaning Iael, and not in the leaſt part to her ſelfe: whereby ſomewhat may be noted, both generally and particularly. For the firſt, we may learne that which may do vsus much good; to wit, that God will puniſh vsus ſome way for our vnbeliefe. Doct. verſ. 9.For wee ſee, that God doth not put vp at mens hands, this and ſuch other ſinnes, as I named in the former verſe; eſpecially, when they come more of knowledge then of frailtie, and when we ſee that we doe amiſſe, and yet Note.through blind ſelfeloue, we will not finde fault with our ſelues for the ſame, but extenuate or hide our ſinne, God therefore ſpared not Zacharias for his vnbeliefe, though otherwiſe a righteous man, but made him dumbe for a Luke 1. ….ſeaſon. And he telleth vsus all as much in the Pſalme, where he ſaith, If mine owne children breake my ſtatutes, and keepe not my commandements, I will viſite Pſal. 8… 31.their tranſgreſsion with the rod, and their iniquitie with ſtrokes; although I will not take my louing kindneſſe from them. The like is to be ſeene in Moſes, who becauſe he diſtruſted the Lord in ſmiting the rocke, bare the ſcarre thereof to his death, being denied entrance into the land of Canaan. So Ioaſh for diſtruſting Eliſhas meſſage, and ſmiting the earth but thrice, was rebuked by 2. King. 13.the Prophet, who would not hauehave found fault with him, if he had not bidden him ſmite it oftner. Thou ſhouldeſt (ſaith he) hauehave ſmitten fiue or ſixe times, and ſo thou ſhouldeſt vtterly hauehave deſtroyed Aram, but now thou ſhalt ſoile them but thrice; and ſo they ſhall get ſtrength againe to reuenge themſelues. And euen ſo doe ſuch both feele and finde, who regard not what the Lord ſaith vntounto them, neither giuegive credit to his word, and much more all ſuch, as giuegive the bridle more groſſely to their vnruly paſſions. And this ſhould (a man would thinke) both cauſe vsus all to ſhunne ſuch boldnes with God, as will prouoke him to make vsus ſmart for the ſame: and alſo, it ſhould make vsus beare the more with the infirmities of our brethren, for as much as wee ſee God correcteth them for the ſame, and ſhall wee alſo adde ſorrow to their ſorrow, when wee ought rather to hauehave compaſſion on them, and pitie them? This be noted in generall.
Now more particularly, ſeeing Barak was puniſhed with loſing the glorie, Doct. …. in verſ. ….which he ſhould hauehave had but for his vnbeliefe, this teacheth vsus, that glorie, and good name & report, is reckoned among the good things that a godly perſon may deſire and be glad to enioy: nay, it is that which hee ſhould enſue, becauſe it is a token of Gods approbation, if his people report well of vsus: ſeeing they are taught by the ſame ſpirit, to diſcerne who are like them. Therefore Iohn, by a probable argument, proueth Demetrius to be a …. Ioh. 11.good man, becauſe of his good report. It is to bee lamented, that all they whom God alloweth, doe not deſire this alſo, and deſerue it by the fruites of their louelove toward his Church: For it is the note of an arrogant and diſſolute perſon, to ſcorne the good opinion that his brethren conceiue of him. Euen as precious oyntments are knowne by their ſmell, ſo is a godlie Chriſtian by the ſauour of his good name, eſpecially in the place where he dwelleth, as being beſt knowne there. Indeed, the principall care ſhould be to giuegive the Lord his due praiſe, for elſe we beguile and deceiue men in cauſing them to thinke well of vsus, and much more we doe dangerouſly deceiue our ſelues: but that being well regarded and looked vntounto, in the next place let our care be that the Church of God may giuegive vsus allowance, and ſee iuſt cauſe to report well of vsus. As it is ſaid of Zacharie and his wife, that both they Luke 1. 6.were iuſt before God, and toward men vnreproueable, and therfore of good report. So Cornelius had a good name among the Iewes. Now glorie or Act. 10. 22.good name, is a certaine good opinion and eſtimation conceiued of a man for his well doing. For thoſe things which good men doe vertuouſly and well, doe purchaſe commendation and glorie vntounto them. The end to the which which we ought to vſe and direct this good report, is this, namely the aduancing of the name of God, and alſo to giuegive good example to other of following vsus: and as the ends are both good, ſo is that good alſo, by the which they are procured. Therefore although a good name bee not to bee ſought for it ſelfe, as though that were the thing wee chiefly intended, and reſted in, and no other, yet it is not to be deſpiſed, for thoſe ends which I hauehave mentioned, namely, the glorifying of God, and the edification of our brethren.
Now to end this verſe, let this be briefly added, that Debora yeelding to, Doct. 3. in verſ. 9.and helping the weaknes of Barak in going with him, teacheth vsus thus to regard, helpe, and incourage our weake brethren, by counſell, trauaile, and example.
Verſ. 10. And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedeſh, and hee went vp on his feete with tenne thouſand men, and Debora went vp with him.
Verſ. 11. Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab, the father in law of Moſes, was departed from the Kenites, and pitched his tent vntill the plaine of Zaanaim, which is by Kedeſh,
Verſ. 12. Then they ſhewed Siſera, that Barak the ſonne of Abinoam, was gone vp to Mount Tabor.
Verſ. 13. And Siſera called for all his charets, euen nine hundred charets of yron, and all the people that were with him, from Haroſheth of the Gentiles vntounto the riuer Kiſhen.
IN theſe foure verſes, the holy Ghoſt ſheweth, how they did on both ſides prepare their armies, both Barak and Siſera. He accompanied with Debora at Kedeſh, gathered together ten thouſand men out of the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun to Mount Tabor, which of the writers is called alſo Ithaberins, not farre off from Kedeſh, for they went on foote. The place is neere to the borders of Aſher, Naphtali and Zebulon. And this mount hath neere it, the riuer Kiſhon, where the Prophet Elias killed the prieſts of Baall. And note, for the better vnderſtanding of the ſtory, that al the places mentioned, to wit, Kedeſh, the plaine of Zaanaim, mount Tabor, were all neere ioyning together, and to the riuer Kiſhon. This of Barak. Siſera hearing of this preparation of Bazak, did alſo make ready his armie, which is not mentioned here, ſaue his nine hundred charets of yron: but Ioſephus ſaith, he had thirtie thouſand footmen, tenne thouſand horſemen of the Canaanites, and three thouſand other charets. But howſoeuer it was, ſure it is, that hee made a mightie preparation, and therewith he came to this riuer Kiſhon. And this of the preparation on both ſides, mentioned in theſe foure verſes And with both there is a briefe ſtorie put in, of the dwelling of Heber the Kenite, the ſonne of Hobab, Moſes father in law, that he had pitched his Tabernacle, and was by Gods prouidence come to dwel nigh the riuer Kiſhon, and in a part of the border of Kedeſh. But why this is brought in, ſhall appeare better afterward in verſ. 18.
The chiefe thing in this verſe to bee noted, is the faith wherein all theſe agreed and conſented, which are here ſpoken of and mentioned, I meane Barak and his armie, with Debora. For they tooke in hand a moſt hard work againſt ſo fierce a Captaine, as Siſera was; ſo well prouided and appointed by Iabin, who was King ouer the Canaanites. And who would not hauehave ſaid, that their preparation againſt the Iſraelites, muſt needs in the reaſon of man, hauehave wrought an vtter ouerthrow of them? As ſure it is, if they had been ouercome, as they were an handfull, and few to many; and weake alſo, but their enemies ſtrong; they had bin moſt cruelly and barbarouſly handled by them. But notwithſtanding all this, when they were perſwaded, that as they were ſet on worke by God, ſo in his power they went about it, and tooke it in hand; not caſting their eyes vponupon the difficulties and diſparagements, that were in the way againſt them, for God (they beleeued) would ſtand with them, and giuegive them the victorie. And this indeede is the Doct. verſ 10.right propertie of faith thus to doe, to look vp to God, who hath commanded that which we take in hand, and promiſed bleſſing thereto. By this and Ioh. 14. 1.by no other meanes, Abraham the father of beleeuers, forſooke his owne Heb. 11. 8.countrey, and went whither God ſent him, from all his kindred, not knowing what he ſhould finde in the place whither he went. And Moſes choſe rather to ſuffer affliction with the people of God in the wilderneſſe, then to Heb. 11. 24.enioy the pleaſures of ſinne for a ſeaſon in the houſe of Phaeraos daughter, which the Scripture ſaith he did by faith. And thus did the walles of Iericho Ioſ 6. 20.fall downe, as God had promiſed, at the ſeuenth daies end, the people beleeuing it ſhould be ſo, and compaſſing them about all that time, with the blowing trumpets of rammes hornes, as God had commanded. And this is it, which we ſhould intend and looke to doe in all that we goe about. This faith, for which alſo theſe worthie perſons are by name commended in the A commendation of ſaith.eleuenth to the Hebrewes, is able to carrie vsus, as well as euer it did them, through all difficulties, while we hauehave an eye to the charge giuen vsus, and the promiſed reward, although we ſee nothing with bodily eyes, but that which is againſt vsus, and matter of diſcouragement. For ſo the Apoſtle S. Iohn ſaith, that this ſaith ouer commeth the world, euen all the difficulties that are in it. This 1. Ioh. 5. 4.faith, when it is once ſetled on the great promiſe of ſaluation, is afterward the fitter to apprehend and lay hold on theſe temporarie promiſes of this life, about the which (it being a Iewell of inualuable price) if we were occupied and exerciſed with ſo conſtant a care, as wee are about matters of leſſe waight, (if not needleſſe and vnprofitable) we ſhould be able to ſay much of the benefit that commeth by it, and hauehave neere acquaintance with God by the helpe of this our faith. But ſeeing I hauehave ſpoken of this matter before, I will bee the briefer in it, though wee cannot heare too often of it, from good ground of the word, as occaſion is offered.
But whiles I am thus in commending of Bararks faith, me thinkes I heare ſo me obiecting, that the laſt thing ſpoken of him in the ninth verſe, was his vnbeleefe; how is hee therefore ſay they, ſo ſuddenly brought to ſuch a change? I anſwere, that though Barak had been hindred before by vnbeleefe, yet afterward hee recouered himſelfe, as wee ſee heere; and that was when God had giuen him better conſideration of the charge enioyned him, and promiſe made vntounto him. So if we hauehave failed in beleeuing through the difficulty that wee ſee, or by raſhneſſe, yet let vsus weigh Gods promiſe more duly, and ſo beleeue more hartily, and be better ſtayed by good conſideration. And to that end let none ſit downe like a tyred perſon, and giuegive ouer his hold and hope, ſaying; I ſee this is too good and precious for mee to enioy, for I ſhould neuer be able to beleeue it, &c. Not ſo; but then let thy want encreaſe thy thirſt, as Dauids did, Pſal. 51. and deſire to bee enlarged, Pſal. 51. 2. 3.and pray, Lord helpe my vnbeleefe. And remember that weakeneſſe may be forgiuen, where there is ſtriuing againſt it; but wilfulneſſe, or prepoſterous and inuincible vnbeleefe is damnable; for God lookes to bee credited Ioh. 3 1….vponupon his word, promiſe, and oath, beſides the many experiments which we hauehave, if not of our ſelues, yet of other men; who of weake became ſtrong. And as God bare with Baraks infirmity heere, in yeelding to him, that Debora ſhould goe with him: ſo he will tender and helpe our weake faith, and that many more waies then we can ſee, and all to encourage vsus. Thus much be ſaid of this.