Judges 5 is the song of victory sung after the defeat of King Jabin and general Sisera. Deborah, Barak, Jael, and the armies of Israel are mentioned, but the hero is Almighty God. It is similar to the Song of Moses (Ex 15), reminding us that when God gives triumph, we must praise Him.
Song lyrics, like all poetry, can be figurative or symbolic, revealing simple truth by emotion or verbal images. Hebrew poetry is noted for its sudden outbursts of praise or prayer.
Poetry doesn’t mean we look for deeper, secret meanings hidden by the author (allegory), but we seek to discover the simple over-arching truth and how to apply it to our own lives.

I. Praise God (Judg 5:1-5). Deborah compared God’s deliverance from Egypt with the victory at Mt Tabor. God met His people at Sinai (Ex 19) and at Mt Tabor. The One who powerfully delivered Israel by grace at the Red Sea (Ex 14:13-31) also delivered Israel by grace at the Kishon River. God isn’t stuck in the past at Sinai, but is everywhere present with His people.
He is omnipresent and omnipotent, thus worthy of all praise. The word praise means to give thanks and has a two-fold quality (Ps 97): first, it directs thanks to God for His character and works (Judg 5:3); second, it teaches others about the Lord (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16). Praise focuses on God not people, Heaven more than earth, giving not receiving, and God’s glory over our comfort. This in mind, it’s vital our praise in song, deed, or word, accurately reflect Him.

II. Reasons To Praise God (Judg 5:6-30). Israel’s economy and safety were distressed under King Jabin (Judg 5:6-11). Israel was defenseless, helpless, and hopeless because they’d sinned by turning away from God and seeking new gods (Judg 5:6-8). But God remained ever-faithful to His people.
Leaders matter, and God raised up some odd leaders for Israel like Shamgar (Judg 3:31; 5:6) and Jael (Judg 4:17; 5:6, 21) who were not Israelites, lacked respectable backgrounds, and used ordinary tools to fulfill God’s will. Deborah was a mother in Israel (Judg 5:7) not a mother “to” or “for” Israel. She had godly love, comfort, nourishment, and protection for her family.
Some Jews refused to join the war effort, offering excuses about their livelihood, geography, and the economy (Judg 5:14-17). Their good intentions were more self-concern (Phil 2:4).
While God gives victory, His people aren’t spectators in His works. We are to come to the help of the Lord (Judg 5:24). This doesn’t mean God needs us, but that He calls us to participate with Him in His work. For example, God alone saves sinners, yet He uses us to carry the gospel to those He saves.
It seemed God didn’t care about Israel’s troubles, even giving Sisera an advantage through the advice of a traitor and an easy road up a dry riverbed. God, however, had set Sisera up for disaster (Judg 5:20-21). Don’t despair! God is at work on behalf of His own, even when it seems the wicked prosper (Gen 50:20; Ps 37:1-2, 9-10; Jer 12:1-2; Rom 8:28).
During the battle (Judg 5:24-30), Sisera’s mother sat at home worried and waiting for her son’s return. When he delayed, she assumed he was busy dividing the spoils of victory and raping Jewish girls. At the same time, Jael was killing Sisera. We get extremely picturesque details about Jael’s work, every little detail being savored and enjoyed. We seldom understand what God is doing; one event may have very different appearances from what God is actually doing.

III. Now Praise God (Judg 5:31). Deborah praised God for destroying each of His enemies. Who are God’s enemies? Those who do not love Him, as evidenced by opposing Him (Judg 5:31): demons, death, sin, and the unsaved (Rom 5:10; 1 Cor 15:24-26; 2 Thess 1:5-10). These He’ll judge and destroy, as He did Sisera. So now praise Him!