The Biblical Deborah
Deborah's biblical story is one of the few which featured female abilities and leadership. It is a wonderful example of how God can use any person who wants to be His servant. In fact, He even used people like Jonah who resist God at every turn, and John who argued with the other disciples about which one of them would be the greatest.
But resistance was never the case with Deborah, who was thought to be an Ephraimite because she resided in Ephraim. She was a judge and led Israel for 60 years in the 12th century before Christ. Her oversight covered approximately 20 years of national hardship before the Canaanite war and the peaceful 40 years aftermath. Arguably, Deborah was first and foremost recognized as a female prophet, then as a judge, then a leader in a military role, and even as a songstress. Also, she was a courageous warrior, minstrel, and mother.
The book of Judges chapter 4, rightfully identifies Deborah as one of the most influential women of the Bible. Biblically, she was and is in good company with other important prophetesses in the Bible: Moses’ sister Miriam in Exodus 15:20; Huldah in 2 Kings 22:15; Anna in Luke 2:36 and Phillip’s daughters in Acts 21:8-9. However, her full range of attributes might place her “head and shoulders” above them.
The Israelites with matters to be litigated would always come to their house, between Ramah and Bethel, with their legal proceedings. Deborah was the wife of Lapidoth. She sat outside under a palm tree, because it was inappropriate for a woman to stay alone in a house with a man who was not her husband. During the days, she adjudicated and settled the disputes placed before her judgment.
As a mother in (or of) Israel of all the things Deborah could have rightly called herself—judge, prophetess, warrior, deliverer, minstrel, faithful follower of God—she chose to call herself a mother. This much seems clear-cut, she is credited with regarding all of Israel as her children, and she faithfully worked towards their deliverance and peace.
The Bible says no one in Israel would arise and fight until Deborah arose as a mother. She was ready to take the risk for the safety of her children! Just like a mother would inspire her children to greatness. However, via extensive internet research, I found no account or names of any actual children of Deborah and Lapidoth.
Deborah was one of the few rulers of the Hebrews, who were called judges and the only female leader so identified in the Old Testament book of Judges. Like other Judges of that era, Deborah often sought guidance from the Lord by praying and meditating before pronouncing an edict on any disagreement.
By doing so, she fulfilled a role that originated when Moses appointed helpers to assist him in resolving arguments among the people (Exodus 18). She was acclaimed for upholding the prevailing law of the land by showing even-handed fairness, open transparency, and impartiality in passing her judgments.
Known for wisdom and courage; Deborah is a woman of the Old Testament also famed for her own faith and actions, and not because of her relationship with her husband or another man. She certainly had a very personal relationship with God, so much so– she was a prophetess!
As a prophetess, Deborah heard God’s voice and shared God’s message with others. As a priestess, though she did not offer sacrifices as the men did. She is credited with holding worship services and preaching to the people who petitioned for her judgments.
Recognizing Deborah’s qualities of judgment and leadership, the Israelites prospered under her tenure. This was at a time when the Israel people sinned and suffered the subsequent hardships, repented by crying out to the Lord. Our Father God responded with an unusual deliverance by gifting them the leadership of Deborah. Her tenure started with the Lord’s judgment against Israel. The people did evil in the sight of God, and he sold them into the hands of Jabin, king of Canaan. Deborah called for Barak from Kadesh in Naphtali and gave him the Lord's Word to deliver the Israelites from the bondage of the Canaanites.
Yes, the one leader who trusted the prophetic wisdom of Deborah was Barak who led a force of 10,000 men into a major battle. Barak stated to her, “If you will go with me, I will go; if not I will not go” (Judges 4:8). Barak was insisting he would not go to the battlefield without Deborah.
Deborah agreed, but she told Barak: “However, there will be no glory for you in the course you are taking, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman,” who would weld the glory of conquering the Canaanite Commander.
Sisera, the Commander of King Jabin's army, had a considerable advantage because he fielded 900 iron chariots. In ancient warfare, chariots were swift, intimidating, and very lethal to foot soldiers, and even horse-mounted warriors. Deborah told Barak not to be fearful and advance because the Lord was with him and his army. Barak and his men raced down Mount Tabor in full battle armament.
Under her prophetic advice and orchestration, Barak conquered the armed forces of Sisera and delivered the Israelites from the oppression of King Jabin of Canaan. But Sisera escaped. In accordance with Deborah's prophecy, after Sisera escaped from that battle, he was killed shortly thereafter by a woman named Jael, wife of a clan leader. With a mallet, she hammered a tent peg into his temple while he was fast asleep.
Judges chapter 4:14-17 recorded very specific details of Jael's episode with Sisera.
Sisera ran away to the tent where a woman named Jael lived. Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite. His family was at peace with King Jabin of Hazor. That is why Sisera ran to Jael’s tent. Jael saw him coming, so she went out to meet him and said, “Sir, come into my tent. Come in. Don’t be afraid.” So Sisera went into Jael’s tent, and she covered him with a blanket.
But first, Sisera asked Jael for a drink of water. Jael had some milk in a bottle made from animal skin. So she gave him a drink of the milk and then covered him up.
Then Sisera said to Jael, “Go stand at the entrance to the tent. If anyone comes by and asks you, ‘Is anyone in there?’ say, ‘No.’”
But Jael found a tent peg and a hammer. She quietly went to Sisera. Sisera was very tired, so he was sleeping. She put the tent peg to the side of Sisera’s head and hit it with a hammer. The tent peg went through the side of his head and into the ground. Sisera died.
Just then Barak came by Jael’s tent, looking for Sisera. Jael went out to meet Barak and said, “Come in here, and I will show you the man you are looking for.” So Barak entered the tent with Jael. There Barak found Sisera lying dead on the ground, with the tent peg through the side of his head.
On that day God defeated King Jabin of Canaan for the Israelites. So the Israelites became stronger and stronger until they defeated King Jabin of Canaan. The Israelites finally destroyed him.
Few Biblical scholars disagree about Barak’s acceptance of Deborah’s battle leadership. Some feel that Barak respected her as a leader and prophetess and willingly heeded her call. Others, however, concluded that his response in Judges 4:8 pointed to his discomfort in taking orders from a woman, despite the esteem she is held in. Might similar, erroneous feelings be reflected by some men even today?
In Judges 5, we read of Judge Deborah's attributes again, but this time as a poem. The Scripture in this chapter is frequently referred to as The Song of Deborah. This is believed to be written as early as the 12th century BC and reasoned by many biblical scholars as one of the earliest examples of Hebrew poetry. Her poem records a celebration of the victory over Sisera’s Canaanite army.
“On the day that the Israelites defeated Sisera, Deborah and Barak, son of Abinoam sang this song:
“The men of Israel prepared for battle.
They volunteered to go to war.
Praise the Lord!
“Listen, kings.
Pay attention, rulers.
I will sing.
I myself will sing to the Lord.
I will make music to the Lord,
to the God of the Israelites.
“Lord, in the past you came from Seir.
You marched from the land of Edom.
You marched and the earth shook.
The skies rained.
The clouds dropped water.
The mountains shook before the Lord, the God of Mount Sinai,
before the Lord, the God of Israel!
“In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,
and in the days of Jael, the main roads were empty.
Caravans and travelers traveled on the back roads.
“There were no soldiers in Israel
until you came, Deborah,
until you came to be a mother to Israel.
“God chose new leaders
to fight at the city gates.
No one could find a shield or a spear
among the 40,000 soldiers of Israel.
“My heart is with the commanders of Israel.
They volunteered to go to war.
Praise the Lord
“Pay attention you people riding on white donkeys,
sitting on saddle blankets,
and walking along the road.
At the watering holes for the animals,
we hear the music of cymbals.
People sing about the victories of the Lord,
the victories of his soldiers in Israel
when the Lord’s people
fought at the city gates and won!
“Wake up, wake up, Deborah!
Wake up, wake up, sing the song!
Get up, Barak!
Go capture your enemies, son of Abinoam!
“Now, survivors, go to the leaders.
People of the Lord, come with me and the soldiers.
“The men of Ephraim came from the hill country of Amalek.
Benjamin, those men followed you and your people.
And there were commanders from the family of Makir.
Leaders from the tribe of Zebulun came with their bronze clubs.
The leaders of Issachar were with Deborah.
The family of Issachar was true to Barak.
Those men marched to the valley on foot.
“Reuben, there are many brave soldiers in your army groups.
So why did you sit there against the walls of your sheep pens?
The brave soldiers of Reuben thought hard about war.
But they stayed home listening to the music they played for their sheep.
The people of Gilead stayed in their camps on the other side of the Jordan River.
As for you, people of Dan, why did you stay by your ships?
The people of Asher remained by the sea,
camped near their safe harbors.
“But the men of Zebulun and Naphtali risked their lives
fighting on those hills.
The kings of Canaan came to fight,
but they didn’t carry any treasures home.
They fought at the city of Taanach,
by the waters of Megiddo.
The stars fought them from heaven.
From their paths across the sky, they fought against Sisera.
The Kishon River, that ancient river,
swept Sisera’s men away.
My soul, march on with strength!
The horses’ hooves hammered the ground.
Sisera’s mighty horses ran and ran.
“The angel of the Lord said, ‘Curse the city of Meroz.
Curse its people!
They did not come to help the Lord fight.’
They did not help the Lord against his powerful enemies.
Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite.
She will be blessed above all women.
Sisera asked for water.
Jael gave him milk.
In a bowl fit for a ruler,
she brought him cream.
Then Jael reached out and took a tent peg.
Her right hand reached for a workman’s hammer.
She put the peg against the side of Sisera’s head
and hit it with the hammer.
He sank down between Jael’s feet.
He fell, and there he lay.
He sank down between her feet.
He fell there.
Where Sisera sank, he fell,
and there he lay, dead!
“There is Sisera’s mother, looking out the window,
looking through the curtains and crying.
‘Why is Sisera’s chariot so late?
Why can’t I hear his wagons?’
“Her wisest servant girl answers her.
Yes, the servant gives her an answer:
‘I’m sure they won the war,
and they are now taking things from the people they defeated.
They are dividing those things among themselves.
Each soldier is taking a girl or two.
Maybe Sisera found a piece of dyed cloth.
That’s it! Sisera found a piece of fancy cloth,
or maybe two, to wear around his neck in victory.’
“May all your enemies die like this, Lord!
But may all those who love you be as strong as the rising sun!”
And there was peace in the land for 40 years.” (Judges 5:1-31)
The singing of a song of victory was the traditional way the Israelites memorialized their victories.
What can we learn from Deborah’s story? It can teach us very much, but the most important examples are: Be obedient when God is telling you to do something or go somewhere, consider that to be His personal instruction to you! Despite any of your big or little fears, obey His call. We cannot begin to understand the depth and far-ranging effects of His plans for us. Hearts and lives may be changed by our obedience, how can you fail Him?
Possibly you will need to show more courage than you had ever demonstrated. Like the old saying "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called" certainly is applicable to apply to your life. Stepping out of our comfort zone on the pentacle of faith can be extremely frightening. Yes, doing anything out of your comfort zone to glorify Him might be terrifying, but accomplishing acts of faith was never promised to be easy. March forward boldly, be courageous and steadfast, all for His glory.
Stand tall and true in faith. We don’t have to understand every subtlety of God's whys or hows. We just need to feel confident that God will guide us faithfully. Judge Deborah listened under the palm tree taking in information from both sides and then, with God speaking to her, passed her sentiments. It is very necessary to listen, then ask God to reveal which direction you should go.
Never waiver in or with your faith, for while we may not know how high the bumps are in the road ahead, we only need to remember that God is there by our side to guide us and faithfully lead us along the way.
Amen, the end
