Song of the Stars
Judges 5:20-21
“From heaven the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera. The torrent Kishon swept them away, the ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. March on, my soul, with might!”
There are commentators today who view astronomical lines like “from heaven the stars fought” as windows into the wider cosmic spiritual war of which our little earthly lives are more permeations. Like when Paul pulls back the curtain in Ephesians 6:12 by proclaiming that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Words like these open our minds to the legions of angel armies all around us, fighting over us and with us and perhaps even for us as we do our part, choosing ambitions, words, and deeds that please God. Add to that the enigmatic proclamation from God to Job in Job 38:4 & 7, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me if you have understanding … when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”, and the mystery of stars and constellations and their connection to greater spiritual entities only deepens.
But before we get lost in the outer space of theological wanderings, recognize the gravity here in Deborah and Barak’s duet that brings us down to earth. Even the most ascendant truths they proclaim are truths that work themselves out in the minutia of our earthly lives. When they sing together, “March on, my soul, with might!”, that puts the impetus not on angels nor celestial courses, but on us. Think of it: Deborah, Barak, Jael, and those 10,000 warriors weren’t sitting around watching the stars while Sisera’s army advanced, were they? At some point, they saw an opportunity at their doorstep, followed the Spirit’s prodding, and responded, “Here am I, LORD—send me.” They recognized that whatever cosmic battles were taking place in the galaxies far, far away, and whatever cherubs were wielding flaming swords and riding invisible currents above, the spiritual battle was still humanity’s to fight. God did not fashion us in His image to strive at the tail-end of heavenly courses, but at the lead.
Friend, remember: your choices today are of cosmic significance. You don’t need to understand that truth to live it out.