In the Book of Judges chapter 5, the warrior leader Deborah sings out a battle song. The opening lines run like this: “When locks are long in Israel, when the people offer themselves willingly — bless the Lord!”

Curious! The Hebrew text here is mysterious – the correct reading is debated. The New King James Version (NJKV) translates this line, “When leaders lead,” but Jewish scholars translate it “When men let their hair grow!” The Jewish Publication Society and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) translate it per the above reading: “When locks are long in Israel.” It is curious, because elsewhere God commands men to cut their hair, in honor to Him, and only select men in Israel could have long hair.

As ever in Scripture, where there is mystery, there is great meaning. The context reveals an incredible lesson for Americans on Independence Day. The text is from the time of Judges in Israel when the land was threatened yearly with enemies, yet few men stood forth as defenders. Each person and tribe looked out after their own interests – more concerned with their private crop than the national destiny. They grew fat and comfy. Deborah was severely vexed that men would not go into battle without her. Later, Saul cut an ox in twelve pieces and sent out a piece to every tribe. It was his way of saying, “If you don’t send warriors to fight for the land, I’m coming after you!”

The situation was bleak: Many enemies of right, few warriors to fight. It is thus that Deborah sings, with the heat of battle in her blood, “False men! ‘Not a shield or spear to be seen among forty thousand!’” “When locks are long in Israel… bless the Lord!”

Here we begin to see the meaning of this verse. It is as if Deborah is saying, “O that men would be like Nazarite warriors, with every hair committed to God, filled with the Spirit of God for battle… and people fully with them!” What if every tribe had a Samson and a thousand men ready to follow at one command? What if men were dangerous toward evil, and intentional toward good? How long would the enemies of God stand? So Deborah sings her prayer song and war song: “When locks are long in Israel, and the people’s hearts offered willingly – bless the Lord!”

It is a poignant and powerful prayer. She stands before God in battle array and sings out words of truth: Her nation can only stand if men will dare to be holy warriors, living under vows to God, for others. This is the same truth that Keith Green once sang: “Lord, I pledge my head to heaven for the gospel!”

P.T. Forsyth says that if our public life is not made by men who are made by God, we will eventually share in the doom of the old empires. We still need warriors – warriors of spirit and body, men and women who consult the will of God in private about all public life, living with the very hair of their head dedicated to God, and divine sword close at hand.

Enlistment lines are short for these kinds of warriors. But the need has never been greater. Will you step up? Men and women, if you love your families, if you love your land, dedicate your head to heaven daily. Let your locks grow long in spirit, living in prayer, and carry the sword of the spirit in hand.

Like this we will remain free: Happy Independence Day!