Deborah

Text: Judges 4:1-10

Theme: Holy Woman, Deborah

Greetings: The Lord is good and His love endures forever!

Have you ever watched a honey bee? They are very busy work of pollinating flowers and gathering pollen and nectar to feed the colony, keeping it alive and supporting its growth. Watching the dedication, perseverance, and beauty of the black and yellow stripped insects was enjoyable, and loved to hear the high-humming sound of the buzz as they flew past.  Of course the favourite thing about honey bees is HONEY!

The book of Judges has a cycle that is repeated as: the Israelites did evil by worshipping other gods and abandoned God, so God delivered them into the hand of foreign leaders who oppressed them. Then, the Israelites cried out to God, who heard their cry and raised up a judge to deliver them. The judge was a successful military leader, and the Israelites enjoyed peace, but when the judge died, the people sinned against God, and the cycle repeated again.

Introduction:

Deborah was born in the tribe of Issachar, one of the 12 tribes of Israel. She was an extremely righteous and praiseworthy woman. The Rabbis derive “eshet lapidot” from the word lapid(torch) and this phrase would therefore refer to her vocation, which was preparing the wicks for the Tabernacle (Judges 4:4). According to Rabbinic Tradition, She was a keeper of tabernacle lamps.

The name Lapidoth means “flames,” “lamps,” or “splendours” and she was called “a woman of lamps,” from making the wicks for the lamps of the sanctuary. “eshet lapidot” may mean “woman of [the town] Lappidoth,” “wife of [the man] Lappidoth,” or “woman of torches” (“fiery woman”).

Her name in Hebrew ‘D’vorah’ means ‘honeybee’. The name means “bee,” in Greek ‘Melissa’. Bees are a lowly insect, reminds God’s children are humble in nature. She was ‘a sting for foes, and honey for friends.” She served Israel as a prophet, judge, military leader, songwriter, and minstrel (Judges 4–5).

The story of Deborah and Barak and their defeat of the Canaanites in the north is a twice-told tale, once in Prose (Judges 4), and once in Poetry (Judges 5). Deborah’s Song (Judges 5:2-31) is one of the most ancient and magnificent remains of early Hebrew literature.  

Today, we will meditate about this Holy Woman, Deborah. She was a peerless prophetess (Judges 4:4-5), powerful military leader (Judges 4:8-9), and A passionate mother (Judges 5:7).

1. A Peerless Prophetess (Judges 4:4-5)

Deborah was a peerless prophetess means an incomparable woman, she served as a judge and prophetess.

Deborah was also the only female in the Bible who was a prophet and judge, joining the ranks of Moses and Samuel. The word “mishpat” refers “judges.” A role that originated back when Moses appointed helpers to assist him in resolving arguments among the people.  (Exodus 18).

The title prophetess referred to her extraordinary inspired servant of God. She was endowed with a power of working miracles, and foretelling things to come. She had the better understanding of and discoursing of the Word and Mind of God, for praising of God.

Deborah is one of the five female prophets in the Hebrew Bible. She is compared with Miriam (Exodus 15:20), sister of Moses and Aaron; with Huldah (2 Kings 22:14, 2 Chronicles 34:22), who prophesies the end of Israel’s time in Canaan; with the unnamed wife of Isaiah the prophet (Isaiah 8:3); and with Noadiah (Nehemiah 6:14), Added to that NT mentions about Anna who was a prophetess (Luke 2:36) and the four daughters of Phillip (Acts 21:9.

Deborah can be compared with a wise woman of Abel, who speaks for and rescues the city of Abel. She talks about the whole city being filled with spirt of wisdom to settle the disputes (2 Samuel 20:15–22).

Her prophetical knowledge is seen through her song. As a singer of victory songs, she echoes Miriam, and foreshadows latter women who celebrate David’s military success (1 Samuel 18:6–7).

Everything was revealed to Deborah by the spirit of divine inspiration, such as, the thoughts of Sisera’s mother, his wife, and his daughters in law. Sisera’s mother asked “Why is his chariot so long in coming?” (Judges 5:28). His wife questioned “Why so late the clatter of his wheels?” (Judges 5:2). And her daughters-in-law declared “They must be dividing the spoils they have found.” (Judges 5:30). In this Deborah encouraged the Israelites to participate in prayer and study, and by the merit of those who do so, God will deliver them from their enemies.

2. A powerful Military Leader (Judges 4:8-9)

Deborah is one of the major judges (charismatic military leaders, not judicial figure alone) in the story of how Israel takes the land of Canaan. Deborah, as a respected politico-judicial authority, the only female judge, and the only one described as performing a judicial function.