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.
Judges 2:18-19 “Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived…” As per this verse, the Lord was with Deborah.
Deborah judged Israel, and led Israel for 60 years in the 12th century B.C. She had given leadership over approximately 20 years before the Canaanite war, and after the war a peaceful 40 years. Her governance is so good that “the land had rest for forty years” (Judges 5:31), a rare occurrence at any point in Israel’s history.
Deborah summons Barak to be her general to lead the battle against the Canaanites (Judges 4:6). She commanded him to go to battle but he demanded her to accompany him. The military hierarchy recognises her as the supreme commander. (Judges 4:9).
Barak’s words to Deborah reflect his willingness to go at the same time expected Deborah to give her critical guidance when a field decision to be taken. But, Barak will get no glory from the victory, for “the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hand of a woman” (Judges 4:9). So the Victory belongs to a woman. It was a Holy War under a Holy Woman.
Barak gathers the tribes of Ephraim, Benjamin, Machir (Manasseh), Zebulun, Issachar, and his own tribe of Naphtali. Asher, Dan, Gilead (Gad), and Reuben remain aloof. Judah and Simeon are not mentioned in this poem.
Jesus resided with the land of Naphtali for their good work for many centuries ago (Matthew 4:12-16 and Isaiah 9:1-2).
The Israelite clans fall on the enemy at Taanach; a thunderstorm, in which Israel sees the coming of God from Mount Sinai, strikes terror into the Canaanites; their 900 chariots of iron are useless on the waterlogged ground; and the Kishon River, swollen by torrential rains, sweeps away the fugitives.
Barak and his warriors destroy all the Canaanites except Sisera. Sisera escapes on foot, pursued by Barak, taking refuge in the tent of Heber the Kenite (the Kenites, a nomadic tribe, were supposedly at peace with Canaan). Jael was ‘the most blessed of woman’, most blessed of the tent dwelling woman. She was a descendant of Hoban, son of Jethro/Reuel, the father in law of Moses (Exodus 2-4, 18, Numbers 10:29-32).
Sisera was offered protection by Heber’s wife Jael but killed. It conveys the notion that being killed by a woman shames both the dead general and the live Israelite general, who had not slain him himself.
3. A passionate Mother of Israel (Judges 5:7)
The term "father of nation" is referred to different historical figures such as, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi for India, George Washington for United States, and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for Bangladesh, Nelson Mandela for South Africa, and Sir John A. MacDonald for Canada. Abraham is also biblically known as "Father of Nations" for his role as a progenitor of many peoples.
Deborah arose as a MOTHER IN ISRAEL (Judges 5:7). “Father,” can be an honorific title for an authority figure or protector in the community (compare 1 Sam 24:1 and Isa 22:21). Deborah is a protector of the community, so she is. Mother of Israel.
She was an Ephramite (4:5). Her home was between Bethel and Ramah in the hill-country of Ephraim. She was recognised and accepted as a woman of wisdom, rightful thinker, woman of integrity and justice. Deborah embodied many of the leadership qualities of the Proverbs 31 woman found in verses 10-31, serving with honor, strength, and dignity.
So, the Israelites came to her for judgment and guidance, for counsel and conflict resolution (Judges 4:5). The two chapters show her exemplary moral character and indicate the people gave her great love and respect.
She judged under a palm tree—a setting, rabbinic tradition maintains, that validated her fairness, openness, and refusal to show partiality. Leadership resides not in gender but in character and gifting.
The Israelites recognised her abilities and prospered under her tenure. She was an arbitrator and a peacemaker. Godly women have been doing this for centuries–as wives and mothers and in many other ways. Perhaps Deborah’s prior experience in her own home prepared her to be a judge and prophet. Where would the church, and for that matter the world, be without women like Deborah.
Deborah’s service as a prophetess-judge of Israel suggests that God does not regard women’s political, judicial, or military leadership as problematic. It is also evident that her husband Lappidoth and her immediate family had no trouble structuring the work of the household so that she had time to “sit under the palm of Deborah” to fulfil her duties.
She built the desolate villages. The people forsook all their unfortified towns, not being able to protect them from military insolence. Till Deborah arose and stirred up Barak, there was no one to put himself at the head of the people.
She gave life to the children playing on the streets. Young people freely enjoyed their freedom, the farmers enjoyed their harvest. People lived peacefully under their trees.
Conclusion:
Deborah proved herself a peerless prophetess, she was reliable and trustworthy woman. She was a powerful military leader. She led a powerful army and brought victory to her nation. The Lord was with her and he marched with her into the battlefield. She rose as A passionate mother to protect her community. She received word for her people. She spoke what the Lord has revealed to her.
