Living Out God’s Calling. Leave an Inheritance of Wisdom and Justice. (Judges 4-5)
- Little Flock Church
- Sep 30
- 7 min read
Sermon on 28 September 2025 by Pastor Justin Chia

An inheritance rooted in the fear of the Lord, love for His word, and a life of righteousness.
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Deuteronomy 6:6-9 - ““And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Judges is in the Old Testament before the monarchy under Samuel. The children of Israel went through the darkest moments under the sin cycle of apostasy. They continue to sin and God punished them by allowing a foreign force to oppress them. They will then cry out in repentance to God. God held back His punishment and raised up 12 military leaders/judges. When the judge dies, they will continue sinning against God until another judge delivers them out of oppression.
The 12 judges were:
Othniel (Judges 3:7-11)
Ehud (Judges 3:12-30)
Shamgar (Judges 3:31)
Deborah (Deborah was both a prophetess and a judge, Judges 4–5)
Gideon (Judges 6–8)
Tola (Judges 10:1–2)
Jair (Judges 10:3–5)
Jephthah (Judges 11–12)
Ibzan (Judges 12:8–10)
Elon (Judges 12:11–12)
Abdon (Judges 12:13–15)
Samson
Judges 21:25 - “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
When there is no law, people will do whatever is right in their own eyes. What is right in the eyes of man is cleverness while in God it is wisdom. Everyone will think that they are right and everyone else is wrong. You cannot have pride and peace together.
Proverbs 21:2 - “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.”
Proverbs 16:2 - “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the spirits.”
Judges 4:1-9 - “When Ehud was dead, the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth Hagoyim. And the children of Israel cried out to the Lord; for Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron, and for twenty years he had harshly oppressed the children of Israel. And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. Then she sent and called for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “Has not the Lord God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun; and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand’?” And Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!” So she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.”
Judges 4:14 - “Then Deborah said to Barak, “Up! For this is the day in which the Lord has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the Lord gone out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.”
Judges 4:21 - “Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went down into the ground; for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.”
Proverbs 8:11-13 - “For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.”
Wisdom will dwell in people without pride. People who are proud and arrogant will not find wisdom. People who have a perverse mouth will not find wisdom. Only those who fear the Lord (which is to hate evil) will find wisdom. We want to teach our children wisdom as wisdom is better than anything we desire.
Deborah’s wisdom and encouragement are grounded in God’s word (Judges 4:6,9,14,21). Barack’s obedience. Jael’s courage. Deborah’s wisdom is evident in thanksgiving, giving God the glory and a prayer of vision. Let our children see our thanksgiving and heart of gratitude. Let them see that we give glory to God in every little success. Encourage your children in every step of their journey too.
Judges 5:1-2 - “Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying: “When leaders lead in Israel, When the people willingly offer themselves, Bless the Lord!”
Judges 5:31 - ““Thus let all Your enemies perish, O Lord! But let those who love Him be like the sun When it comes out in full strength.” So the land had rest for forty years.”
Pray this prayer for your family and friends. The only way that our children can prosper is to be shielded by wisdom. It starts from you. Wisdom is more important and precious than anything else. It is only given to those who are prudent and righteous.
Leave an inheritance of wisdom rooted in God’s word
Judges 4:6 - “Then she sent and called for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “Has not the Lord God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun;”
Judges 4:14 - “Then Deborah said to Barak, “Up! For this is the day in which the Lord has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the Lord gone out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.”
Wisdom is only from God. When we humble down, God gives wisdom. Wisdom is only stored for people who are prudent and pure.
Proverbs 2:6 - “For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;”
James 3:17 - “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”
Leave an inheritance of wisdom rooted in God’s word - not relying on my own wisdom or trusting man’s strength in spiritual guidance.
2. Leave an inheritance of justice and righteousness
Judges 4:5 - “And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.”
Judges 5:2-3 - ““When leaders lead in Israel, When the people willingly offer themselves, Bless the Lord! “Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I, even I, will sing to the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.”
Deborah upheld justice and righteousness, stressing the importance of faithfulness and courage.
Proverbs 2:7 - “He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;”
Micah 6:8 - “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”
1 Samuel 12:23-24 - “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.”
Some might wonder what is the good and right way. Every way is right in everyone’s own sight. God weighs your spirit and heart instead.
Romans 12:2 - “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Be an agent of justice, showing fairness and compassion. Let others see how we treat them.
Philippians 4:5 - “Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.”
Romans 16:19 - “For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.”
3. Leave an inheritance of praising and honouring God
Judges 4:9 - “So she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.”
Don’t steal God’s glory. Praise God in the slightest of your success. Teach our children that all praise and honor be directed to God, and victory comes from God alone.
Psalms 115:1 - “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth.”
Isaiah 42:8 - “I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images.”
Acts 12:23 - “Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.”
Why is God so serious about not giving glory to Him?
1 Corinthians 1:29-31 - “that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.””
Leave an inheritance of praising and honouring God - be quick to give God credit for His victories in my life.
How can I pass down an inheritance of wisdom, justice, and righteousness? Have wisdom rooted in God’s word. Be an agent of justice, showing fairness and compassion. Be quick to give God credit for His victories in my life.
Deuteronomy 6:7 - “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”
Be intentional in seeking God’s wisdom, do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly.
Amen.
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