ESOCS Devotional 30 August 2026 – Arise in Praise
MEMORY VERSE: Judges 5:3“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.”
TEXT: Judges 5:1-12
Then sang Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam on that day, saying,
2 For the leaders who took the lead in Israel, for the people who offered themselves willingly, bless the Lord!
3 Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes; I will sing to the Lord. I will sing praise to the Lord, the God of Israel.
4 Lord, when You went forth out of Seir, when You marched out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled and the heavens also dropped, yes, the clouds dropped water.
5 The mountains quaked at the presence of the Lord, yes, yonder Sinai at the presence of the Lord, the God of Israel.
6 After the days of Shamgar son of Anath, after the days of Jael [meaning here Ehud] the caravans ceased, travelers walked through byways.
7 The villages were unoccupied and rulers ceased in Israel until you arose—you, Deborah, arose—a mother in Israel.
8 [Formerly] they chose new gods; then war was in the gates. Was there a shield or spear seen among 40,000 in Israel?
9 My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the Lord!
10 Tell of it—you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets, and you who walk by the way.
11 Far 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 His villagers in Israel. Then the people of the Lord went down to the gates.
12 Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, and lead away your captives, you son of Abinoam.
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In our text today, we hear the song of Deborah to commemorate a national victory. It is a tradition kept till date. In honour of God, people rise in songs to sing holy praises for what God has done. Our text is unique because it was a new song telling the story of the victory. How often do we compose and sing new songs that will tell what God has done and how he did it? We can learn from this study and join in keeping that tradition. Most songs we sing today were written by people who had a cause to celebrate the wonders of the all sufficient God. We have to join in that tradition so that generations to come will have something to remember us for.
Praise follows remarkable event. For Deborah and Israel, it was victory at war. It may be any kind of challenge for us. Like Israel, all hands must be on deck for to get a remarkable event. God uses us when we make ourselves available and take the necessary step that the family, church or community need to take. We must first venture and allow God do his part. In our text we see that both Deborah, the Army Chief (Barak) and the Princes of Israel arose to war and God blessed them with victory. (Judges 5:1-2).
Secondly, the glory of our attainment or victory should go to God. He is the source of our progress. Imagine what would have happened without God in your life and compose them in a song. Put your experience and how God intervened in the lyrics of your song. Deborah did so here. David had that habit. You can join in so doing. It is a godly tradition. (Judges 5:4-7).
However, if you can’t compose songs at least join in singing existing songs that relate to the wonders that God has done to you. As you sing, dance and make move in rejoicing to the glory of God. You can also listen to the lyrics, learn and apply the meaning to your life. This is another way of giving glory to God. (Verse 10-12).
Here is a call to find time and need to sing to the glory of God when he does another wonder in your life.
Question
Do you enjoy singing and dancing to glorify God?
PrayerFather, multiply your wonders in my life. I will ever sing and praise your name in Jesus name. Amen.
Further Reading: Matt. 5:13-20, Joshua 1:1-11, Heb. 13:1-16.
ESOCS Devotional 30 August 2026
