8. Staying on Higher Ground: Deborah – When God Uses a Woman

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Hymns: 67 Praise the Savior 269 Come to the Savior 522 Jesus Bids Us Shine

Judges 4:1-24

1 And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. 2 And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. 3 And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel. 4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? 7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand. 8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. 9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him. 11 Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh. 12 And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. 13 And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. 14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. 15 And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. 16 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left. 17 Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. 19 And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him. 20 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No. 21 Then Jael Heber’s wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. 22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel. 24 And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

Deborah – When God Uses a Woman

“And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time…a mother in Israel…So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.”                                                                                 (Judges 4:4, 5:7, 31)

Let’s summarize the lessons we have learned in the first three chapters of the book of Judges in 4 practical points as a prayer.

  • Teach me Lord the evil of sin and the need for practical separation unto holiness.
  • Help me never make an intimate friend of anyone who is not a friend of God.
  • It is possible for me, with known weaknesses, yet serve God, so help me, Lord!
  • Help me to determine in my heart as long as I live to make the Bible my guide and adviser.

OUTLINE

  • SPIRITUALLY STRONG, STABLE & MATURED (Judges 4:4-7)  
  • A NURSING MOTHER (Judges 4:4 c.f. 5:7, 9)
  • A SUPPORTIVE MENTOR (Judges 4:6-24)

INTRODUCTION

Judges 4:1-3 “And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.”

The Judges of Israel, not only delivered the children of Israel from their oppressors, but also restrained the hands of the people from idolatry during their reign (Judges 2:18-19). But when the Judges passed on, Israel returns to wallow in the mud of idolatry. After Ehud was dead, Israel went a whoring after other gods. They fell into the chastitive will of God. We can observe here that there was sufficient time given for the Canaanites to become strong and armed themselves with the manufacture of 900 chariots of iron. These chariots were the most sophisticated fighting machines of biblical times. This formidable enemy oppressed Israel for 20 long years. The account of the Judgeship of Deborah is recorded in Judges 4-5. We shall examine Judges 4 in the light of the parallel passage in Judges 5 to furnish a clearer picture for our study.

God Raised a Woman – Judge/Prophetess Deborah

Deborah means “bee” (Strong 1683). A bee symbolizes constant activity, “a busy bee” showing industrious diligence and care in the work she was called to do.

  • SPIRITUALLY STRONG, STABLE & MATURED (Judges 4:4-7) 
    • Given wisdom to exercise authority as judge by God to deliver Israel from their bondage of idolatry. She exercised her judicial duties from the palm tree that bears her name. As judge, Deborah rules Israel, dispensing righteousness, justice and mercy. It takes a woman of strong convictions and character to stand up against sin and rebellion ruling for forty years to give Israel rest (Judges 5:31). 
    • She was also a prophetess. It symbolized a high office as a mouth-piece for God, which in today’s context, is a minister of the Word (Judges 4:4-5). It takes much courage for one to stand between God and man. She must not be a respecter of persons but to say what God says, every word of it, without fear or apology.  
    • The prophesy by Deborah for the defeat of the Canaanites and King Jabin’s demise by the hand of the woman Jael came true affirming her position of true prophetess (Judges 4:7, 23 & 9, 21).

Illustrations of women’s ministry in the Bible

God has a blessed place for women to serve in His kingdom. Certainly, women are not inferior to men. It is not a question of ability but of function. This is not an instance for justifying the ordination of woman pastors or elders (1 Corinthians 14:34-38, 1 Timothy 2:11-14, 1 Timothy 3:2, 1 Timothy 5:17), women have an important role to submit to male leadership in the church. The reason is simply God’s order of creation as Apostle Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 11:3 “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.” Eldership is a not biblical option for the Christian woman but we have Deaconesses (Romans 16:1-2) though not many, who assist pastors and elders in the church. In the period of the Judges, there were 12 judges raised of God, only one was a woman. Certainly, when there was no man to stand in the gap, God raised a mother of Israel, to stand in the gap. 

Testimony from Hudson Taylor

Hudson Taylor the founder of Inland China Mission later renamed the Overseas Mission Fellowship (OMF), in a day when the church evades the role of woman in spiritual leadership, he so respect the strength, potential, leadership and faith of women that he ignored the conventions of his time to give unprecedented responsibilities and opportunities to the women of his nation. These women served with him as missionaries in the mission field of China. Titus 2:3-5 gives to us the value of mature Christian women in the church – “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things. That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God is not blasphemed.” Many are full-time workers to ladies and children in their respective congregations. 

Application

  • It was also a lesson for the men who were too weak to lead in the church. 
  • The mantle had to fall on a woman. In the Bible, there are accounts where God uses a woman. Miriam was a prophetess (Exodus 15:20). In the New Testament, the four daughters of Philip (Acts 21:4) were raised up of God as prophetesses to preach the gospel. God has use for women in His vineyard. 
  • A NURSING MOTHER (Judges 4:4 c.f. 5:7, 9)
    • Her husband was Lapidoth (Judges 4:4). The name “Lapidoth” from the noun that means “a torch or a lamp” (Strong 3940), signifies “a fiery light” as the torch that Gideon held (Judges 7:16). Deborah was also a wife. Here, we cannot say that Deborah was a master of her own home although she was a prophetess and Judge of Israel. Her feminine quality shown through for she was addressed “a mother of Israel” (Judges 5:7). In Judges 5:9, Deborah testified that “her heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people”. The maternal instinct showed through as one who is gentle and cares, as a mother hen protecting and defending her chicks against aggressors. 

Illustration from the Epistle of Paul & Proverbs

The Apostle Paul highlighted this quality in his pastoral care for the Christians of Thessalonica in 1 Thessalonians 2:7 “But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.” It shows parental gentleness, born of love like a nursing mother. As a mother of Israel, she excels in how she feeds Israel (with tender loving care) and what she used to feed Israel (with God’s instructions). Israel may be said to heed Proverbs 1:8 “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother”. Israel had rest for 40 years under her Judgeship.  

  • A SUPPORTIVE MENTOR (Judges 4:6-24)
    • She chose faithful Barak to lead Israel against her oppressor, the Canaanites and their king in Hazor, Jabin (Judges 4:6, Hebrews 11:32). She chose according to God’s choice of Barak to lead Israel into battle against their enemies (Judges 4:6). Barak underestimated God’s estimate of him. He seemed to have difficulty believing he was capable of performing a task of such spiritual magnitude. Barak failed to see that it is God who enables us to do any task that he has called us to. How we often feel the cause of Christ can go on without me playing an obvious part. After all, Deborah has been established as Judge and Leader, who am I then to lead Israel’s army? Furthermore, when he saw the seemingly insurmountable might of the enemy, he crumpled. Deborah accompanied and supported Barak, at his request, all the way in the battlefield until final victory over the oppressing Canaanite army led by General Sisera (Judges 4:8-9). It must be said here of Barak – “A God honouring leader is a good follower”. Although he was hesitant at the beginning, he finally obeyed and led the army of Israel to victory. (Judges 4:6-24) 
    • Deborah together with Barak gave honour and glory to God in thanksgiving for delivering Israel from her oppressor with a poetic Hebrew song (Judges 5). If you are a leader, the greatest blessing would be to have disciplined and dedicated followers who have the capacity to believe and obey. Barak did according to what Deborah has instructed him. It must be said here of Barak – “A God honouring leader is a good follower”. Barak followed well although the task seemed impossible with just ten thousand men to gather in the slopes of Mount Tabor against an overwhelming infantry of the Canaanite army. He was to fight the Canaanites in the flat plains of Esdraelon where the chariots of the enemy were most effective. Barak followed the stipulated instructions given by Deborah as recorded in Judges 4:7 “And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.” The victory plan has already been pre-determined by God. Barak was to be God’s instrument to carry out the plan to the glory of God. Barak was highlighted as a man of true faith in Hebrews 11:32 “And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets. Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.”

The Triumphant Battle Against the Oppressor 

As the Canaanite army drew to the side of Mount Tabor, the rain came and the plain became a mud pool. The wheels of the chariots were stuck in the mud, rendering them ineffective for battle. This gave the soldiers of Israel easy targets. The shock of the overflowing banks of the Kishon River that rendered ineffective the deadly fighting machines of the Canaanites put them in disarray. Israel had a field day pursuing and defeating the enemy. How ineffective was Baal, the Canaanite god of the storm! The Canaanites were defeated on home ground! With God on our side, victory is assured!

Only six of Israel’s twelve tribes fought the battle against their enemies – Napthali, Asher, Zebulun, Issachar, Manasseh and Ephraim while the other tribes did not join in (Judges 5:15-17). Dan, Reuben, Gilead, and Benjamin, (consisting of half-tribe of Gad and half-tribe of Manasseh) did not fight. Dan was too busy trading, Reuben decided to stay home, Gad and Manasseh did not consider themselves part of the team since they occupy a territory at the fringe of the Promised Land. Their non-committal attitude was heinous in the sight of God. This is the same in the church today. There are those who are uncommitted, half-hearted, inactive and nominal members. 

God can use women in the church today to fulfill His will. These are the qualities gleaned of a woman who excelled in God’s service.

  • Spiritually strong, stable and mature, well-grounded in God’s Word and in living out His Word in her life. 
  • God can use a woman with the quality of a nursing mother, gentle and supportive.
  • God can use a woman in mentoring others in their Christian walk so that they can be stable, mature and reproducing disciples themselves.

CONCLUSION

God can use a Deborah. He can also use a Barak. Would you consecrate yourself as a vessel for His use? May the Lord grant to you a vision of His Great Commission yet unfulfilled.