A Nail and Hammer
Today’s Verse:
Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. ~Judges 4:21
Every carpenter and contractor is skilled in using a hammer. A hammer is the most basic tool of necessity for construction and repair. To hammer something down means to pound away at it until it is firmly installed. Our text is about a woman who did a man’s job and did it right the first time. Would you consider how Jael used a nail and a hammer to attain victory?
We see the worm.
Sisera was the captain of the armies of Canaan. He was the evil frontman who oppressed Israel. Sisera was overthrown by the Lord in his attempt to conquer Israel. With the tide turned against him, he fled from being captured and, of all things, looked for safety by hiding in the tent of Jael. He dared to enter into the domicile of Heber and Jael and take up temporary residence there. Sisera is a picture of Satan, who is always looking for an opening in our home life and, like a squatter, takes control. “Neither give place to the devil.”
We see the woman.
Jael was the wife of Heber. Sisera approached Jael for safety. Every husband should be concerned for the spiritual well-being of his wife and daughters. The evil one is subtle in trying to attack our loved ones. However, Jael realized what was happening and, with quick thinking, knew that she could not allow Sisera to assume that he could stay there. She knew that she had to exercise boldness and decisive action to deal with Sisera. Every woman is to be a keeper at home to protect and defend her home from spiritual attack.
We see the weapon.
Jael gave Sisera some milk to drink and covered him with a blanket. He assumed that she was on his side and fell asleep. She took a tent nail and a hammer in her hands and smote the nail into his head. She got the nail in on the first blow. The hammer is a picture of the Word of God. “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:29). Like a hammer, God’s Word pounds away until something breaks. Jael used the hammer to stop the enemy in his place. She correctly used the hammer for the defeat of the enemy. Similarly, we must use the Word of God to stop the enemy in his advances.
We see the wisdom.
She used what was available to her. Daily reading of the Bible prepares you for when Satan attempts to be an uninvited guest into your home and family. The devil is an enemy that we must prepare ourselves against by an adept use of the Word of God. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Don’t despise the hammer of God’s Word!
Jael knew her hammer and what it could do. Jael hammered down at the right time. Hammer down on temptation! Hammer down when Satan whispers into your ear! Hammer down on discouragement! Hammer down on your faith in God!
Have a diligent God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Deuteronomy 1-3