Deborah

Deborah

Scripture References: Judges 4-5

Her Situation:

The heart of where the Israelites were at:

               “They were hardly steeled in the land when they proved to be greedy, selfish, and forgetful of Him from whom all blessings flowed. They took God’s earthly gifts but rejected His Word. God’s purpose was the destruction of idolatry, but theirs became the enjoyment of their vineyards and the mixing of cultures. In spite of pious promises, the Israelites turned their backs on God and became carnal and increasingly corrupt, becoming friends with the sensual Canaanites and bowing down to their idols (Judges 2; 3:5-7). Then the anger of the Lord burned against the children of Israel and, wherever they went, the hand of Jehovah was against them for evil. God’s promises to His people are sure, but He cannot condone disobedience and evil. His hate of sin is as certain as His marvelous display of grace. God’s people had forsaken Him, and now He would no longer help them to drive out the rest of the Canaanites. Many heathen nations would now remain in the land (which they could have possessed completely), and these people would be like unrelenting thorns in their sides. Their gods would be snares to them. Distressed as Israel became, they had no excuse for their predicament, for Jehovah had warned them repeatedly and had reasoned with them, ‘Why have ye done this?’ With their lips they said, ‘We will serve Jehovah,’ but they bowed in the dust before Baal and gave the strength of their bodies to Ashteroth. How like God’s ancient children we are! We say, ‘Use me for Thy glory,’ and then seek our own. We pray, ‘Help me to live for Thee,’ and then spend all of our strength to satisfy selfish desires. We read that God sold the nations to their enemies, as if to say ‘They are not Mine, they are yours; do with them as you will’ (Josh. 23:13; Judges 4:2). So Israel was exploited and burdened; their crops were eaten by another, their property pillaged. People were turned out of their homes, their women were molested, and their young men were made slaves. Warriors were cowed and leaders dispersed. They were in extreme distress. Independence was gone, and they were oppressed by a strong military power with no sense of justice. This time it was Jabin, the king of Canaan, and ruthless Sisera, who held them in iron clutches. At last there was no way for this stiff-necked people to look but up. They cried out to God, and He heard and provided a deliverer, the strong-minded Deborah. It was in her ear that they poured out their troubles. They knew her to be a courageous, wise, and godly woman, and they cried, ‘Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, awake, utter a song’ (Judges 5:12), hoping that, though they were sore distressed and deeply humbled, they would once again come to sing the glorious praises of the great I AM. ” –Frances Vander Velde

Her Inspiration

Read Judges 4

Deborah was a prophetess. The gift of prophecy is “the ability to discern the mind and purpose of God and declare it to others.” –Herbert Lockyer

She was the wife of Lapidoth. (This is the only genealogy we have of Deborah)

Lapidoth’s names means “torches” or “lightning flashes” which indicates he may have sparked the flame in Deborah’s heart to do what she did.

“To become like Deborah –a woman used powerfully by God, a woman entrusted with leadership responsibility, a woman given a great ground for service to the kingdom –you must first be faithful as a wife.” –Elizabeth George

The role of a wife:

To Help: Genesis 2:18 NLT “Then the LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.’”

To Submit: Ephesians 5:22 KJV “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.”

To Respect: Ephesians 5:33 ESV “However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

To Love: Titus 2:4 NKJV “that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children”

She was called “a mother in Israel,” though we have no record of her children we are not sure if she was just a mother figure to Israel or actually bore physical children. Either way, she was a mother figure in Israel. She portrayed a tender power and was approachable to the men around her.

If you are going to be a powerful woman of God and influence others around you and gain their respect, you must have a motherly sense about you. Others will not respond with this lacking as it will keep them from trusting you.

Deborah was the only woman to serve as a judge of Israel. She was the fifth judge.

She was also a poet.

Deborah’s name means “a bee,” which would leave me to believe that Deborah was a very hard working woman.

“Science confirms the ancient belief that, of all the animal kingdom, the bee ranks among the highest in intelligence,” says Mary Hallet. “So Deborah stands out as among the wisest of all the Old Testament women.”

How did Deborah show wisdom with her position? Through HUMILITY.

●     Judges 2:16 tells us the Lord raised up judges. The Lord Himself had raised her up and given her this position.

●     Deborah called for Barak to lead the people, not seeking to do everything herself.

●     Deborah served Barak when he asked her to come alongside him in the mission.

The way to be great in God’s kingdom is to walk the path of humility.

1 Peter 5:5 NKJV “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:6 NKJV “Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”

Deborah ruled under a palm tree and this was a land mark because palms were rare at that time in Palestine. (Judges 4:5)

What idols do you personally struggle bowing down to? (A perfect Christian marriage or home, a booming ministry, wealth, beauty, control)

What sins do you need to confess to the Lord and forsake them and DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEM? (self-worship, self-centeredness, self-dependence, impurity, hypocrisy, discontentment, worry, discouraging others, complacency)

Leviticus 19:4 NASB “Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods; I am the Lord your God.”

1 John 5:21 NASB “Little children, guard yourselves from idols.”

1 Corinthians 10:14 NASB “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

“Paul knew something that many Christians still have not learned –that the human heart is idolatrous and will worship anything it can possess. Therein lies the danger of the ‘good’ things. We have surrendered evil things, bad things, but we hold on to the good things and these we are prone to worship. Whatever we refuse to surrender and count but loss, we will ultimately worship. It may be something good, but it gets between you and God –whether it be property or family or reputation or security or  your life itself.” -AW Tozer

Prophets were inspired and Deborah the prophetess was full of inspiration! She had the gift to stir up people and move and motivate them.

Her Bravery:

Deborah saw a need and rose up and did something about it! She did a good job because the land had rest for forty years.

Deborah called for Barak, telling him to deliver the country. He said he would go only if Deborah went with him. They needed a brave heart!

The odds were against them but Deborah believed her God.

Deborah was a warrior.

Her Song:

Read Judges 5

Out of the conquest and victory, Deborah wrote a song. Her calling from God not only inspired her to fight, it inspired her to sing.

Outline of Deborah’s Song

(v. 1-5) –History verifies that the Lord sent a rainstorm and all of Sisera’s 900 chariots got stuck in the mud.

(v. 6-8) -Shagmar was a previous judge at a time when it was not safe to travel on the highways.

             -Deborah’s pride was in that she was a mother.

             -The people rejected the One True God and turned to false gods and worshiped them.

(v.9 ) –Deborah showed her support for other godly rulers in the land.

(v.10-11) –The gates were a place of assembly and where the people would meet and talk about topics of the day. Now the topic would be the righteous deeds of the Lord.

(v.12-13) –After the victory Deborah still tells Barak to rise up.

(v.14-18) –not all the tribes helped. Reuben acted as if there was no war. The tribe of Issachar stood with Deborah and Barak. Dan was busy in commerce. Asher continued on the seashore. Zebulun and Naphtali fought really well.

(v.19-20)  –These former enemies of Israel helped fight at the water of Megiddo which is near what will be Armageddon one day.

(v.21-23) –Meroz did not come to help the work of the Lord and they were cursed. The Lord secured their victory.

(v.24-31) –Jael is blessed. With a motherly heart, Deborah thinks of Sisera’s mother. Taking anyone’s life is sorrowful.

Life Lesson:

“May we, like Deborah, awaken to the need of the kingdom of God, arise to do our part, and march on with the Lord of Hosts to victory. And those who love and serve Him will “be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might” (Judges 5:31). –Frances Vander Velde

Discussion Questions:

1.      Where did Deborah live? Who was her husband? Where did she sit as judge?

2.      How would you describe Deborah’s personality?

3.      What can you personally apply in the story of Deborah that you want to share with the group?