These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them

This chapter starts with a great definition of faith being the substance of things hoped for but evidence of things not seen. The main content of this chapter uses key people in the Old Testament and shows their faith led life. Starting from the very beginning was the faith of Abel that pleased God. Then the details of the faith were given of Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Rahab. Then the judges and prophets were also mentioned: Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel.

All these well-known Old Testament figures exercised faith and pleased God. It was not the things they did or the sacrifices they made. Their faith kept them looking to the future that was promised by God. A lot more of others not mentioned, suffered greatly for their faith, often resulting in physical harm. They looked forward to the promise with such great faith, so we who live in the time after the Promised Messiah had come, should be in an even better position to exercise faith.




Hebrews 11
By Faith We Understand

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Faith at the Dawn of History

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; [a] for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Faithful Abraham

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child[b] when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

The Heavenly Hope

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them,[c] embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

The Faith of the Patriarchs

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,”[d] 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

The Faith of Moses

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.

24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in[e] Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

By Faith They Overcame

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again.

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted,[f] were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

Song of Deborah

This seems to be a victory song to celebrate the defeat of the Canaanite forces under Sisera. Typically, God's people's victory songs are often based on praising the LORD and giving thanks to Him. It would be wonderful to hear how this song sound musically but we can leave that to the imagination.

Following the victory, Israel had peace for another 40 years.


Judges 5

The Song of Deborah

 1 Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying:
 2 “When leaders lead in Israel,
      When the people willingly offer themselves,
      Bless the LORD!

 3 “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.

 4 “ LORD, when You went out from Seir,
      When You marched from the field of Edom,
      The earth trembled and the heavens poured,
      The clouds also poured water;

 5 The mountains gushed before the LORD,
      This Sinai, before the LORD God of Israel.

 6 “In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath,
      In the days of Jael,
      The highways were deserted,
      And the travelers walked along the byways.

 7 Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel,
      Until I, Deborah, arose,
      Arose a mother in Israel.

 8 They chose new gods;
      Then there was war in the gates;
      Not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.

 9 My heart is with the rulers of Israel
      Who offered themselves willingly with the people.
      Bless the LORD!

 10 “ Speak, you who ride on white donkeys,
      Who sit in judges’ attire,
      And who walk along the road.

 11 Far from the noise of the archers, among the watering places,
      There they shall recount the righteous acts of the LORD,
      The righteous acts for His villagers in Israel;
      Then the people of the LORD shall go down to the gates.

 12 “ Awake, awake, Deborah!
      Awake, awake, sing a song!
      Arise, Barak, and lead your captives away,
      O son of Abinoam!

 13 “Then the survivors came down, the people against the nobles;
      The LORD came down for me against the mighty.

 14 From Ephraim were those whose roots were in Amalek.
      After you, Benjamin, with your peoples,
      From Machir rulers came down,
      And from Zebulun those who bear the recruiter’s staff.

 15 And the princes of Issachar[a]were with Deborah;
      As Issachar, so was Barak
      Sent into the valley under his command;[b]
      Among the divisions of Reuben
      There were great resolves of heart.

 16 Why did you sit among the sheepfolds,
      To hear the pipings for the flocks?
      The divisions of Reuben have great searchings of heart.

 17 Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan,
      And why did Dan remain on ships?[c]
      Asher continued at the seashore,
      And stayed by his inlets.

 18 Zebulun is a people who jeopardized their lives to the point of death,
      Naphtali also, on the heights of the battlefield.

 19 “The kings came and fought,
      Then the kings of Canaan fought
      In Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo;
      They took no spoils of silver.

 20 They fought from the heavens;
      The stars from their courses fought against Sisera.

 21 The torrent of Kishon swept them away,
      That ancient torrent, the torrent of Kishon.
      O my soul, march on in strength!

 22 Then the horses’ hooves pounded,
      The galloping, galloping of his steeds.

 23 ‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel[d] of the LORD,

      ‘Curse its inhabitants bitterly,
      Because they did not come to the help of the LORD,
      To the help of the LORD against the mighty.’

 24 “Most blessed among women is Jael,
      The wife of Heber the Kenite;
      Blessed is she among women in tents.

 25 He asked for water, she gave milk;
      She brought out cream in a lordly bowl.

 26 She stretched her hand to the tent peg,
      Her right hand to the workmen’s hammer;
      She pounded Sisera, she pierced his head,
      She split and struck through his temple.

 27 At her feet he sank, he fell, he lay still;
      At her feet he sank, he fell;
      Where he sank, there he fell dead.

 28 “The mother of Sisera looked through the window,
      And cried out through the lattice,

      ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming?
      Why tarries the clatter of his chariots?’

 29 Her wisest ladies answered her,
      Yes, she answered herself,

 30 ‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil:
      To every man a girl or two;
      For Sisera, plunder of dyed garments,
      Plunder of garments embroidered and dyed,
      Two pieces of dyed embroidery for the neck of the looter?’

 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.