Judges 4-5

As a result of their wickedness, the Lord delivers the Israelites into the not so friendly hands of the Canaanite king Jabin. He oppresses Israel for 20 years, which is no small statement!

Under the leadership of the prophetess Deborah, a plan is hatched to attack Jabin's forces with the help of Barak from the neighboring people of Kedesh. The Canaanite forces led by Sisera are lured out to attack the 10,000 men led by Barak, and the Lord gives the enemy over in victory. The commander Sisera escapes to the tent of what he thought was an ally, where he attempts to hide from the pursuing forces. The woman who offered him shelter waits till he is asleep and drives a tent stake through his temple. That's one way to do it!

The defeat of Sisera's forces helped lead to the deliverance of the people from Jabin. The people sang a song of praise for the defeat the Lord had handed them.

"So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But may they who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength."

After twenty years of oppression as a result of their wickedness, the people of Israel are free once again. They acknowledge the source of their deliverance, and surely will not forget this time!

Then the land had peace forty years.

 After two decades of suffering, peace is restored. Things are looking up again, for now at least...

It was quite difficult to find a personal day-to-day application in these passages, but after great searching I finally found it - if the Lord ever asks you to kill an oppressive tyrant to deliver your people from bondage, be shrewd about it and attack their weak spot. Preferably in their sleep.