Hear Now The Voice Of Deborah

Judges 4:4-9, 18-25; 5:1-31
Recommended Tune: Haydn CMD
Attributed to: (Franz) Joseph Haydn (ca. 1790)

Hear now the voice of Deborah,
the prophetess who sings
a song to praise the Lord, her God,
who rules both princes, kings.
While sitting neath a shady tree
she welcomed those who came.
They heard her judge their piteous plight.
Could she their hope reclaim?

This mother of all Israel
relayed the Lord??s command:
"I will rout General Sisera,
give him into your hand."
She found a soldier named Barak,
gave him a strategy
to fight against the Canaanites
and gain the victory.

Barak respected Deborah
but said he would not go
unless she also came with him
to slay their common foe.
Fulfilling well God's prophecy
to use a woman's plan
together they assembled men
to battle Canaan's clan.

Then Israel's forces overthrew
the Canaanites' brigade,
and Jael was sent to Sisera
whom she by stealth betrayed . . .
God, with these women's bravery enable us today
to save our nation for your cause.
Send us new strength, we pray!

Edith Sinclair Downing's photo, biography, contact information and links to additional songs and choral music are available on the Discipleship Ministries website.

Additional information on (Franz) Joseph Haydn can be found here.

Copyright © 2007 Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc. Permission to copy this text for use in a church bulletin, etc., must be obtained from Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc. unless the church has a license from CCLI, OneLicense.net, or LicenSing.