- [Narrator 1] Deborah, the
judge and great prophetess. Before the reign of kings, the affairs of the nations of Israel were primarily handled by judges. One of these judges was Deborah. So, how did the nation
fare under her leadership? Did being the first woman in this unique position make
Israel stronger or weaker? Israel had gotten different judges that were quite excellent over the years before Deborah came on the
scene, from Ehud to Shamgar, so she had a really high
standard to look up to. Judges 3:31, "After Ehud came,
Shamgar, the son of Anath, who struck down 600 Philistine
men with an ox goad, he too saved Israel." Most people only remember the
bowdlerized version of Judges, which they learned in Sunday school. Thomas Bowdler didn't like some sections of William Shakespeare's play, so he rewrote them, leaving
out the naughty bits. His name is now engraved in history. Similarly, some of the
less appealing components of Judges' stories are omitted, such as concubines, murder,
phallic symbolism, and so on. As a result, while many
people are familiar with certain characters in the book, such as Samson, Delilah,
Deborah, and Gideon, many are unfamiliar with the rest of it, let alone its broader tone and purpose. Where did the judges come from? Who were they, and what did they do? We use the word judges to
refer to them in English, but that term doesn't give justice to the original definition. The Hebrew word translated as judged here means troubleshooters, because of their role
in rescuing God's people from themselves and others. They are never given a title but are described in terms
of their accomplishments. It would be more accurate to
say that God is the Savior, or troubleshooter, who
works through these heroes, through his spirit, for
the people's welfare. During Israel's darkest hour, one of the judges was
a woman named Deborah. She's the wife of Lapidoth, and
has the title of prophetess. The Lord spoke through her as she held court under a tree called the palm of Deborah in Ephraim. Israel frequently strayed from God's ways and got in trouble for some reason. However, each time they strayed
from God's will for them, an enemy nation would often overcome them and terrorize them relentlessly. But they were smart enough
to call on God for help. This is probably why
God chose these judges to guide them along the right path. One of those enemies that dealt with them terribly was
Jabin, the King of Canaan, and he had a great commander
that helped to wreak havoc on Israel known as Sisera. But the Israelites, again, did
evil in the sight of the Lord after Ehud died. So the Lord sold them
into the hand of Jabin, King of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth Haggoyim. "Then the Israelites cried
out to the Lord for help, and Jabin had 900 iron chariots, and had oppressed and tormented the sons of Israel severely for 20 years. Now, Deborah, a prophetess,
the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at the time." Judges 4:1-4. Their plunder went on for 20 years until the Lord God heard their cry and raised a judge called Deborah. She was a prophetess that
listened to the disputes of the children of Israel
as she sat under a tree and passed wise judgment
on issues as led by God. Israel was too dear to God for him to just ignore their rebellion. Even though there are moments when we'd rather God just leave us alone, we're grateful that he
keeps dealing with us, even when it hurts. This time, God had chose to
employ a different oppressor. God can and will use
anything to get our attention and keep us in line with his will. Some people think it's strange that God would choose to
use a woman as a prophet. However, 1 Corinthians 11:5 makes it plain that women are also given
the gift of prophecy and are expected to use it Godly. She used to sit to hear
and decide disputes under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in
the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came
up to her for judgment. "Now she sent word and summoned Barak, the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-Naphtali, and said to him, 'Behold,
the Lord the God of Israel, has commanded, go and march to Mount Tabor and take with you 10,000 men of war from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun. I will draw out Sisera, the
commander of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his infantry to meet you at the River Kishon. And I will hand him over to you.'" Judges 4:5-7, Amplified Bible. She continued to judge Israel according to God's instructions and leading, but she was also a prophetess that God told about things that
would happen in the future. So a time came when he told her of Israel's coming
deliverance from his enemy and how he would give victory over the Canaanite
commander called Sisera. According to God, the man
that would lead Israel was an army commander called Barak. He was also a great army commander, but he understood the wisdom
of giving God the first place and had the utmost respect
for Deborah the prophetess. We read, "Has not the Lord
God of Israel commanded?" This expression implies that
Deborah was merely restating to Barak what the Lord
had already told him. God often brings confirmation
when he speaks to us, especially if what we believe he wants us to do will affect other people. Many people also find it shocking that God chose a woman to
rule Israel as a judge, a shaphat, and a heroic leader. Deborah was a woman greatly used by God, and she also respected the people God put in authority over her, notably Barak. "Then Barak said to her, 'If you will go with me, then I will go. But if you will not go
with me, I will not go.' She said, 'I will certainly go with you. Nevertheless, the journey
that you are about to take will not be for
your honor and glory, because the Lord will sell
Sisera into the hand of a woman.' Then Deborah got up and
went with Barak to Kedesh. And Barak summoned the fighting men of the tribes of Zebulun
and Naphtali to Kedesh. And 10,000 men went up under his command. Deborah also went up with him." Judges 4:8-10. Barak didn't seem unwise to
ask Deborah to come with him, yet the fact that he demanded it showed that he trusted more in
Deborah's relationship with God than in his own relationship with God. We read, "There will be no glory for you." Nevertheless, Barak and all that went with him showed real courage in trusting God to go out
against Sisera and his army. They had no weapons to fight against a
technologically-advanced army, 900 chariots of iron. Additionally, God directed
them to a plain for the battle which greatly favored the charioteer army. "When someone told Sisera that
Barak, the son of Abinoam, had gone up to Mount Tabor, Sisera called together all his
chariots, 900 iron chariots, and all the people who were with him from Harosheth Haggoyim
to the River Kishon." Judges 4:12-13. Sisera was ready for battle with a larger army of
foot soldiers and chariots that could carry soldiers with spears. But in comparison, Barak
had just two tribes. This was so because of what Deborah had directed as God led her. The fact you have prayed over an issue and are sure that God has led you to take steps regarding
that matter does not mean there will be no challenges to face. You must set your eyes on the goal and follow what the Lord tells you to do. "Deborah said to Barak, 'Arise, for this is the day
when the Lord has given Sisera into your hand. Has the Lord not gone out before you?' So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with 10,000 men following him, and the Lord routed Sisera
and all his chariots and confused all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak. And Sisera dismounted from his chariot and fled away on foot. But Barak pursued the chariots and the army of Harosheth Haggoyim, and the entire army of
Sisera fell by the sword. Not even one man was left." Judges 4:15-16. This was an incredible
act of faith by Barak, who moved to a battleground
where his armies were at a significant disadvantage against the enemy's chariots. The Bible says, "God confused Sisera and this mighty army until
they fell before Barak and his soldiers." When God goes before you, seemingly impossible and
hard-to-believe things are bound to happen. Just like Barak, it's time to get ready for your victory over all every challenge. It doesn't matter what you are faced with, God has got your back. So be sure he will give
direction on what to do and not one of the troubles
will be left unresolved. Glory to God. After this defeat, Sisera
was no longer proud. The mighty Sisera had finally
been brought down low, so he got scared and tried to escape. But the story takes an unexpected turn. God promised that a woman
would defeat Sisera. We would assume this would be Deborah, but God had something else in mind. "But Sisera fled on foot
to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was peace between
Jabin, the King of Hazor, and the house of Heber the Kenite. Jael went out to meet
Sisera and said to him, 'Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me. Have no fear.' So he turned aside to her
and went into the tent, and she covered him with a rug. And he said to her, 'Please give me a little water to drink because I am thirsty.' And she opened the skin of
milk and gave him a drink. Then she covered him. And he said to her, 'Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and
asks you, is anyone here? Tell him, no.'" Judges 4:17-20. No matter how smart
the devil thinks he is, he can never be smarter than God. For God himself is wisdom personified and no spirit or man
could be wiser than him. Sisera's tricky thought was to escape to Jael's tent to stay
with his wife called Heber. She was a part of Abraham's
lineage, but not from Israel. So the army commander thought
he was safe in her house. He was offered milk to
drink, a bed to rest, and even a blanket to
soothe his tired body from the battlefield. He did not know that he
had just walked right into the plan the Lord had
intended for his punishment. "But Jael, Heber's wife, took a tent peg and a hammer in her hand and came up quietly to him and drove the peg through his temple, and it went through into the ground, for he was sound asleep and exhausted. So he died. And behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him and said to him, 'Come and I will show you the
man whom you are seeking.' And he entered her tent with her, and, behold, Sisera lay
dead with the tent peg in his temple." Judges 4:21-22. Barak chased hard after the
Canaanite army commander for so long so as to defeat him, but eventually he was
stopped in his tracks by a woman in the house. Jael slayed Sisera just as the prophecy given by the Lord through Deborah, the prophet. This shows how accurate Deborah was. Judges 4:9. "She said, 'I will certainly go with you. Nevertheless, the journey
that you are about to take will not be for
your honor and glory, because the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.' Then Deborah got up and
went with Barak to Kedesh." So Israel was delivered from their enemies
according to God's word, and true prophecies always come to pass because God is faithful. However, if you have received
a prophecy from the Lord, it's important to know
that you also have a role to play to fulfill that word from God. Barak was given a word from God, but still had to go out
to fight that battle. Your little effort will
yield great results if God's word has gone before you. Judges 4:23-24. "So on that day, God subdued and humbled
Jabin, King of Canaan, before the sons of Israel. And the hand of the sons of
Israel pressed down heavier and heavier on Jabin, King of Canaan, until they had destroyed him." They did not just take out the captain, but also defeated the king
and were completely free. Israel rejoiced greatly
and sang a song to the Lord who had led them into victory through the valiant
effort of one great woman, judge and prophetess, Deborah. Judges 5:1-2. "Then Deborah and Barak,
the son of Abinoam, sang on that day, saying, 'For the leaders
who took the lead in Israel, for the people who volunteered for battle, bless the Lord!'" This song is commonly
attributed only to Deborah. Barak's role in the composition and perhaps performance is overlooked. This song is well within the traditions of other Jewish songs of
deliverance and celebration, such as Miriam's song and the song celebrating
David's victory over Goliath. Deborah was a poetess
as well as a prophetess. We read, "When leaders lead." Leadership is essential in every endeavor, but especially vital in the task that God has called us to do. God expects leaders
among his people to lead, showing a genuine need for
leaders and their leadership. Israel overcame their
battle with Sisera thanks to God's provision of a heavy downpour. In this song, Deborah recalled a time when God did the same
thing on behalf of Israel in the days of the Exodus. We would do well to reflect on the fact that God's kindness to us is
not something that began today. Deborah even reflected on the soon disappointment
of Sisera's survivors. Judges 5:28-30. "Out of the window, she
looked down and lamented, cried out in a shrill voice, "The mother of Sisera through the lattice. Why is his chariot delayed in coming? Why have the hoof beats
of his chariot delayed?' Her wise ladies answered her, 'Indeed,' she repeated
her words to herself. 'Are they not finding
and dividing the spoil? A maiden, concubine, or two for every man; a spoil of dyed garments for Sisera; a spoil of dyed garments embroidered, two pieces of dyed garments embroidered for the neck of the plunderer?'" The entire chapter five
of the Book of Judges is a song of praise and worship unto God for the victory of the children of Israel. People follow those whose
leadership they respect. Individuals with less
expertise tend to follow those with greater skills and abilities. Generally, followers seek out individuals who possess superior leadership qualities. Someone with strong leadership skills can quickly identify
leadership qualities in others. Natural leaders will take charge when a group gathers for the first time. At first, individuals
may make tentative moves in several directions, but after they get to know one another, it doesn't take long to recognize and follow the strongest leaders. Despite the fact that
there were very few women in positions of power during
Deborah's time period, her leadership abilities
earned her the respect and admiration of both men and women. Even Barak, the military
commander of the Israelites tribe located in the north,
approached her for assistance. Look at the process any
leader, including Deborah, must go through, a process summarized by the word respect. Respect yourself and
those with whom you work. Gaining the respect of
others always begins with respecting yourself
and your associates. As a result of Deborah's actions, people from all across
Israel flocked to her to have their disagreements resolved. If you want to earn the respect of others, the first thing you need to do is show that you have a healthy
regard for yourself and the people around you. Deborah exceeded the
expectations of others. Few observers might have expected Deborah to change the way the Israelites lived. Despite this, she managed to
improve the standards of living for the average person and
bring peace back to the country. Leaders who earn the respect
of others go the extra mile. Deborah stood firm on her convictions. For Deborah to call for
Barak and order him to fight, she must have had firm convictions. Despite Barak's skepticism, she remained firm in her
belief in the campaign and even agreed to
accompany him into combat. Followers respect a leader with conviction and a willingness to join the journey. Deborah was also mature. When others contributed
to Israel's victory, Deborah never tried to
claim the glory for herself. Credible leaders share
the spotlight with others. They help others as much as
they can, think ahead of others. Deborah didn't simply tell Barak to fight. She furnished a plan for his attack, then she accompanied Barak to the battle. The result? Overwhelming victory. How could the people not respect a leader of such strategy and vision? The least effective kind
of leadership is conveyed through one's title or job description. People only follow these leaders because they feel compelled to do so. Deborah began in such a capacity,
serving as a prophetess. However, leadership that remains at this level deteriorates, rather than grows stronger over time. Leaders who expect others to follow them just because they are the boss will find they quickly lose
their followers' respect. As followers grow to
like and trust a leader, they begin to follow because they want to. People came to Deborah
seeking out her influence. Let us pray. Father, thank you for your love because you always hear me when I call. I am grateful for your grace
that creates a new beginning. In the name of Jesus, I ask that you forgive me of all my sins and be the Lord of my life. I believe the Lord Jesus died
for me and rose from the dead for my victory in salvation. I receive him into my heart
as the Lord and Savior. I also receive the victories he has for me as I submit to your daily
leading in Jesus' name. Amen. - [Narrator 2] In closing,
our question for the day, what's a worship song that has helped you feel closer to God?
