Willingly

 DEVOTION

JUDGES

WILLINGLY

Judges 5:1-5

5:1 On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:

2 "When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves praise the LORD! 3 "Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I will sing to the LORD, I will sing; I will make music to the LORD, the God of Israel.  "O LORD, when you went out from Seir, when you marched from the land of Edom, the earth shook, the heavens poured, the clouds poured down water. 5 The mountains quaked before the LORD, the One of Sinai, before the LORD, the God of Israel.

NIV

This song is too long to take in the whole, still, there are great truths in each stanza. Here we have the idea the way to take the lead is to willingly offer themselves, praise the LORD. Because the mountains shook and the heavens poured we understand the LORD is the Almighty God of creation, and that all the earth is subject to his authority and power. Why wouldn’t we make music, to celebrate the Almighty God who gave us life and when we took that life into our own hands and it became death, He sent his Son to conquer death and bring us back to life. We should be singing from the depths of our souls, pouring out praises to God, our Father, Jesus the Son, and the Spirit who has taken up residence within us, to lead us into all truths. Deborah and Barak sang that the kings and rulers were to listen. We should be singing not just from the depths of our soul, but at the top of our lungs so the world can listen to praises of the Lord God of heaven and earth. Understanding that we cannot shake the mountains, or make the heavens pour water, but what we can do is, first, offer ourselves to the Living God, and praise His excellent name. We can make music to him, for he has all the authority and power over the heavens and the earth. How can we not give praise and honor to our King, our Lord, and Savior, Jesus, who brought us out of death and gave us life, and life eternal? We cannot sit on our hands, or keep our voices still, but we must praise Him with all we are, all we have, our whole being, holding nothing back, for the Father held nothing back from us when he sent Jesus, he gave it all just for us. Let us take the lead, offering ourselves willingly, praise the LORD!