Judges 5:1-11 Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,… Archdeacon Hare tells us that of all peoples, so far as he knows, the English people are the only people who write the first personal pronoun in one capital letter, "I." He further tells us that this fact lets in a good deal of light upon the English character, much that is favourable to the Englishman, and perhaps a good deal that is unfavourable. Now I will dwell — I. Upon two of THE FAVOURABLE THINGS he mentions. 1. He says that the letter "I," that stands up by itself, expresses the freedom and independency of the Englishman. It is a good thing to be free and independent. But I don't want you children to be independent in the wrong sense. You are very dependent little creatures, and have all been very dependent ever since you were born — so dependent upon your mother's care and your father's love. I want you to feel that you are very dependent indeed, and above all that you are very dependent upon God. But yet there is a sense in which we ought to be independent and free. The boy who does not insist upon exercising his own freedom and independency is very soon despised, and he very soon goes to the bad. 2. The letter "I" also denotes the Englishman's firmness. It is wonderful how firm we can be if we have planted our foot in the right place. No one is so firm as the man who has planted his foot upon the Rock of Ages, or the Truth as it is in Jesus. When a man has learnt what the Saviour expects of him, and says, "God helping me, I will do it," he puts down his foot upon a foundation which can never give way. II. I will mention now two of THE UNFAVOURABLE THINGS referred to by Archdeacon Hare. 1. He tells us that the letter "I" shows a certain amount of arrogance. He says that the proudest word in English, to judge by its way of carrying itself, is this "I." There it is, lifting its head up above everybody else, and looking down with contempt upon its little neighbours. Now theft is not a good thing. That is utterly unlike the Lord Jesus. He was meek and gentle in spirit: He never looked down upon any one, but welcomed poor broken-down sinners to His presence, and ever spoke a kind word to the world's outcasts. 2. The capital "I" represents the Englishman's reserve and isolation. It loves to stand alone, and does not believe in mixing up with others. Let us no longer hold ourselves aloof, but be kind and gentle to all. Whenever you meet another, do not gather yourself up in your little coat, and conclude that you must be better than he; but be ready to draw near and shake hands with another little boy; and, if he is poorer than you, there is a special chance for you to do him a little kindness. Remember that it is the will of Jesus that we should be very kind to each other, and in His name, yea, and for His sake, bless all. (D. Davies.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,WEB: Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying, |
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