The source of the worldliness of many professors is, they do not make full proof (Rom. xii. 2) of what God in Christ is to His people. Idols bring with them chastisements. God overrules chastisement to be the means of driving His people to prayer. The way of transgressors is hard; and the backslider, reproved by his own backslidings, at last knows to his cost, and sees that it is an evil thing and bitter, that he has forsaken Jehovah his God (Jer. ii. 19). The cry of carnal men is merely that of pain by reason of the multitude of oppressors, but the Israel of God calleth upon God our Maker, whose prerogative it is to "give songs in the night" (Job xxxv. 9, 10).

(2) Its severity.-The servitude of the Israelites under Jabin was of longer duration than either of the former servitudes, and it was the more galling, as being within their own borders. Jehovah, who had redeemed' them (Deut. vii. 8), 'sold' them now into the hands of the heathen. The retribution was just; they had sold themselves to heathenish ways, so now He sold them to the heathen oppressor. So always, when the professing church and its individual members yield themselves up to worldly ways, the Lord righteously gives them over to the world to distress and harass, that they may learn by experience the contrast between His happy service and the degrading yoke of the prince of this world (see 2 Chron. xii. 8; John viii. 34; Rom. vi. 16; 2 Pet. ii. 19). The Israelites were afraid to show themselves on their own public roads, and at the places of drawing water (v. 6, 11). How many Christians so-called are, through fear of the world, ashamed to avow their convictions in public, or even to resort to prayer meetings or other religious assemblies, where they might draw the water of life! (Mark viii. 38; John iii. 2, xix. 38.) The carnal influences around them as effectually disarm them of the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit, as Israel was stripped of shield and spear among its thousands (v. 8), lest they should rise against the oppressor. Hence they are an easy prey to the fiery darts of the wicked one. The place of spiritual privileges (v. 11) is one of special danger. Worldly thoughts there intrude, and Satan will tempt us, amidst the services of the closet and of the sanctuary, to wander in thought after earthly

idols of pleasure, gain, and ambition. This is the way to uncomfortable in our religion. The Laodicean professor, wh aims at being as like the men of this age as possible, and see to combine the service of God and Mammon, misses bo worlds. He cannot enjoy thoroughly this world, nor has any real delight in the heavenly world. Such a one lacks spiritual power, for worldly policy is incompatible with spirity power. If Jehovah were to leave such a time-server to hi self, he must be lost. But the objects of His grace are in time chastised of the Lord, that they may not be condem with the world (1 Cor. xi. 32). Their 'peace' is taken fr them, in order that they may return to the only rest for soul (Ps. cxvi. 6, 7; Matt. xi. 29-31). They are put mental bondage through fear of death (Heb. ii. 15; P xxviii. 1; Ps. liii. 5), that calling upon God in trouble, being delivered, they may no longer be in terror of God ( iii. 8, 10), but see His face with joy, and know Him in Ch Jesus as their Deliverer and their Life (Job xxxiii. 23–28).

2. The answer to prayer.-To the eye of man there see no hope for Israel, few in number of soldiery and without a whereas their oppressors were an armed multitude, supplied 900 war chariots of iron, and supported by royal allies (iv. v. 19). Such was man's state, helplessly bound under power of the strong man armed, who kept his palac peace (Luke xi. 21), and unable to resist the principa powers, and world rulers of this present darkness (Ep 12 in the Sinaitic, Vatican, and Alexandrine MSS.). Jehovah looked when there was none to help, and sav there was no man, and wondered that there was no interc therefore His own arm brought salvation (Isa. lix. 16, 1x The means used were so inadequate in themselves deliverance of Israel, that none could doubt it was who God, in answer to His people's cry. Deborah, a woman moned Barak, who had some faith, yet a faith so feebl it could not stand alone. He commanded but ten th But one power they had, which was more than a for all their foes. It was the same as that which saves "Is not Jehovah gone out before thee?" (iv. 14). The Lor

men.

which are mighty (1 Cor. i. 27). It is so especially in th deliverance wrought by our Redeemer. He, the antitypic Barak, was "made of a woman," in order that He might brui the serpent's head for us (Gen. iii. 15; Gal. iv. 4, 5). Havi ascended up on high, Jesus "led captivity captive" (Judg. 12; Ps. lxviii. 18; Eph. iv. 18). Sin and the curse, Satan a Death, are the captives which he led in triumphal procession their ultimate destruction (Rev. xx. 10, 14; Col. ii. 15; 2 H ii. 4. Religious and patriotic enthusiasm impelled Barak rush down on foot (v. 15) at all risks, into the valley wh the enemy awaited him in their chariots. Zeal for the will the Father and for our deliverance impelled the Captain our salvation to volunteer to descend from heaven to this lo world, and in the greatest humiliation to encounter and o come our great adversary (Heb. x. 5-10). His true follo share in some degree His zeal (Acts v. 41; Phil. ii. 17). being willing now to spend and be spent in His ser "jeoparding their lives in the high places of the field," Zebulun and Naphtali (ver. 18, Acts xv. 26), they shall His coming triumph.

(3) The powers of nature fought, at God's bidding, for 1 against the foe (iv. 15, v. 20, 21). So in the final tri of Christ Jesus and His saints over Antichrist and the p of darkness," the sun shall be darkened, and the moon sha give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, an powers of the heavens shall be shaken" (Matt. xxiv. 29)

4. The thanksgiving.—(1) Those who shall join Deborah and Barak sang their ode of triumph on the the victory. Not a day should be lost in rendering t the glory due for His grace. All the willing commande soldiers and people of Israel joined in it. We Christian to sing of an infinitely greater deliverance than that of from Jabin. Every soul that has known it experim will sing, "The Lord has brought me up out of an pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a ro established my goings. And he hath put a new song mouth, even praise unto our God" (Ps. xl. 1-3; so 1-3). That song shall be ever new,' sung by the r