Judges 5

LORD God of Israel

Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves. Judges 5:2–3

Deborah and Barak give the praise for the victory to Jehovah, not to themselves. The God of Israel they sing to is the premortal Jesus Christ.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a traditional type, cited

Jehovah of Sinai

LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water. Judges 5:4–5

The song remembers Jehovah coming in power at Sinai, where the earth shook at His presence. The God who appeared on Sinai and gave the law is the same Jesus Christ who later came in the flesh.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · the verse itself names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him · a footnote points to Him · a traditional type, cited

• alludes to Deuteronomy 33:2 — "The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them" - the same march from Seir and Sinai.
• alluded to by Psalm 68:7-8 — "The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel" - the Church footnotes this song at both verses.
• alludes to Exodus 19:18 — "Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire ... and the whole mount quaked greatly."

Righteous acts of the LORD

They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates. Judges 5:11

The delivered people are to retell what Jehovah did for them. Remembering and testifying of the Lord's saving acts is how faith in Him passes to the next generation.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him · a traditional type, cited

Leading captivity captive

Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam. Judges 5:12

Barak leads away those who had held Israel captive. The same phrase appears in Psalm 68:18, which Paul applies to the risen and ascended Christ, who 'led captivity captive' by conquering death and hell. Here it is only an echo, since the one who leads is Barak.

How we know: a traditional type, cited · proposed by the reading

• alluded to by Psalm 68:18 — "Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive" - the same phrase, in a psalm that twice borrows the wording of this song (compare Ps. 68:7-8 with Judg. 5:4-5).

Angel of the LORD

Angel of the LORD - messenger of Jehovah

Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty. Judges 5:23

The angel of the LORD speaks with Jehovah's authority and condemns those who would not come to the help of the LORD. Standing on the Lord's side when His people need help is what He asks of every disciple.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a traditional type, cited

• the same title in Judges 6:11-12 — The angel of the LORD appears to Gideon in the next chapter and speaks for Jehovah there as well.

O LORD

So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years. Judges 5:31

The song ends with a prayer to Jehovah: those who love Him will shine like the rising sun. Loving the Lord changes a person into someone full of His light.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · the verse itself names Him · a traditional type, cited