Devoted Deborah

Read Judges 4-5
 
Judges 4:4-5 Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. 5 She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided.
 
JUDGES is so named because it informs us of about 400 years of Israel’s history under a series of men and this one woman. Israel was generally a theocracy. That means God was its supreme authority. The King of Kings was king over his people. That makes sense, doesn’t it? The judges were then God’s appointed leaders, as Moses and Joshua, to settle civil matters that could not be settled at a more local level. Deborah was a unique judge – a woman, gifted with prophecy in the same manner as Moses’ sister, Miriam in Exodus 15:20.  It is possible to see Deborah in some form as Moses and Miriam combined. Deborah’s met people at the Deborah Palm, named specifically for her court.
    As Deborah administered God’s civil rule and prophesied God’s Word to Israel, the LORD also used her leadership skills for military victory. She offers Barak the opportunity to lead Israel’s army. But he would only do so with Deborah at his side. Judges 4:8 Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go.” Apparently, Deborah evoked a God-given strength, courage and confidence. Her wisdom was evident to all. Appointed to lead, she would do so. She is a good example of a gifted leader.
    It is easy to see Barak as unsure of himself or even afraid. But could Barak’s insistence of Deborah’s presence be his humility? But as we learned in our previous lesson, he was submitting to God’s choice of Israel’s leader. We know not many, if any, men of that period would have said to Deborah, “You lead.”
    The victory won, Judges 5 is Deborah’s celebration. She is one of five women in the Bible who have a lengthy praise to God in this type of song. (Do you know the other four?) Judges 5:5 On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song: 2 “When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves – praise the Lord! 3 Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I will sing to the Lord, I will sing; I will make music to the Lord, the God of Israel”. As a God-chosen leader, Deborah credits God for his power to destroy the enemy and protect Israel.
    Deborah’s purpose was to faithfully demonstrate God’s authority through her leadership and prophetic gifts. If you read through the long line of Israel’s leaders from the judges to the kings, you will see Deborah was a rare leader in Israel’s history. She is one of only a few so committed to God’s justice, so faithful to praise his power to give Israel the victory. Her life glorified God.
    Deborah gives us a good pattern to shape our lives.
 
Psalms 143:8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.