This audio sermon and transcript is entitled deborah, the exceptional, and is from the ministry of david legge, a christian preacher and bible teacher from belfast, northern ireland. Jan 25, 2008 deborah s story would stand out even without her unusual role as a military leader. He was to lead an army against sisera and is promised victory. But, barak was less than willing to lead the army of israel on his own.
Clearly one of the bibles most outstanding figures, she served ancient israel as a prophet, judge, military leader, songwriter, and minstrel. The canaanites had 900 chariots of iron and ruled over israel for 20 years judges 4. Alone among the judges, she is called a prophet or prophetess judg. The lord also used her to set her people free and defeat the king of canaan. The israelites had been under the control of the canaanite king jabin and the commander of his army, sisera. The military power of this enemy of israel was significant. The book of judges, which is believed to have been written by the prophet samuel around 1050 bc, presents us with a sad and turbulent period in israels history. And for the record, i thought it was pretty accurate to the story of deborah in the book of judges. Now deborah, a prophetess, the wife of lappidoth, was judging israel at that time. If we had to come up with the names of the judges, we could probably get judge judy and judge wapner, but thats about it. Service as a judge and deborah, a prophetess, the wife of lapidoth, she judged israel at that time. The book of judges is the second book in the deuteronomic history, a history that begins with the farewell address of moses in deuteronomy and ends with the exile of judah in 587 b.
Book of judges bible study outline judges commentary part one the cycle of sin defined by i gordon. The story of deborah in the bible, judge, prophetess. While this book contains certain qualities that might appeal to men more than women, the book of judges is a book that actually elevates the position of. And the lord routed sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before barak judges 4. And she would sit under the palm tree of deborah between ramah and bethel in the mountains of ephraim. We would expect that the woman to do this would be. There is no indication who deborahs parents were, what kind of work lapidot did, or whether they had any children.
A novel and millions of other books are available for instant. She is mentioned as the only female leader in the book of judges, a woman who followed the lord and was greatly used by him to provide direction and encouragement to israel. So the lord sold them into the hand of jabin king of canaan, who reigned in hazor. This is part 5 of a bible study series through the book of judges. The book of judges picks up the history of israel after the death of joshua. The story of deborah prophetess and judge in israel is a powerful.
Israel continues to conquer canaan after the death of joshua, but fails to completely drive out the canaanites as god commanded. That breaks israels covenant not to mention hurts gods feelings, but god steps back and lets israel learn from its mistakes, leaving them with no divine leader. But he worries they dont stand a chance against canaanite commander sisera and his modern technology. It is rare to hear anyone project deborah as an example of spiritual and civil leadership to follow. According to author joseph telushkin in his book jewish literacy, the only thing known about deborahs private life was the name of her husband, lapidot or lappidoth. As deborah prophesied, a woman settles the score with sisera. He had been oppressing israel for twenty years, and the people were disheartened. Deborahs reference to herself as a mother in israel could mean simply that she was a woman of influence in the nation.
But the fact that he demands it shows that he is trusting more in deborahs relationship with god than with his own relationship with god. Is the history of the judges of israel and is connected with the previous book of joshua, as a link in the chain of books. Being a prophetess must have helped deborah to solve these disputes spiritually rather than simply politically or judicially. Now im the one serving in a methodist church, and im the one trying to get teenagers hooked on reading the bible. The tabernacle, the tent of god, the ark, and above all the law should have been rallying points for all israelites, but instead this was an age when, in the famous words that close the book of judges, everyone did what was right in his own eyes judges 21. Because of deborahs strong, confident, commanding words to barak and her presence with him, barak did take 10,000 israelite troops down from mount tabor as commanded.
Now were turning in our bibles to the book of judges chapter 4, and we have been going through a series intermittently with some interruptions for obvious reasons in the book of judges, entitled men for the hour. During this period the israelites, now in the promised land after the military conquests of joshua, went through a constant cycle of falling into sin, being punished by god via an attack by enemy invaders, crying out to the lord in repentance and a judge being raised up to lead. Deborahs story is not as well known as some of the other judges stories, samsons in particular. Then sang deborah and barak on that daythis noble triumphal ode was evidently the composition of deborah herself. Leaders are magnets, not bulldozers, and deborah was a magnet.
This is no easy task, especially when it comes to the old testament. Different english translations are likely to read quite differently. Learn about her courage and prophecy in this video, part of our judges series and. Deborahs high reputation can be seen by the fact that when she shared with barak, one of israels military leaders, her plan to overcome jabin and sisera, he refused to engage in the campaign unless deborah was present to counsel and to guide. God uses a good woman only when a good man cant be found, she said. Prophet deborah is the only female judge in the torah.
Deborahs story is found in judges, chapters 4 and 5. As we come to deborahs story in chapter four, we have just read the wonderful. She was a woman of faith and she flowed in the prophetic realm getting divine insight in solving disputes and in hearing from god what to do and how to do it. Women who rocked in bible timesstories of those who shaped their culture and still inspire you today shanna d.
Deborah assures barak theyve got god on their side. Do it like deborah an ordination sermon on judges 4. The account of deborah and barak is found in judges 4 and 5 in the old testament. Mar 25, 2009 the book of judges is the second book in the deuteronomic history, a history that begins with the farewell address of moses in deuteronomy and ends with the exile of judah in 587 b. If this were the name of a place, it is no where else mentioned. Deborah, the only female judge in the bible, excelled in multiple. But unlike the other judges, deborah was a woman, a prophet, and a public arbitrator. They were more like heroes, champions, or deliverers than what we think of as judges todaymany judges were chosen instead as military leaders to deliver israel from her enemies. Deborah, a prophetess, was called to be judge, and under assurance from the lord she called barak to be captain of israel s armies. Deborah, a prophetess, was called to be judge, and under assurance from the lord she called barak to be captain of israels armies. When ehud was dead, the children of israel again did evil in the sight of the lord. Deborah, the only female judge, is a prophetess who, along with her general. But the translations almost erase deborah as the leader with the different heart who led the people away from false gods, back to god.
Deborah lived somewhere about 1150 bce, about a century or so after the hebrews entered canaan. While this book contains certain qualities that might appeal to men more than women, the book of judges is a book that actually elevates the position of women in israelite society. We need women who do not get their cues for their moral standards from the world, but who look to the lord god for their. Study guide for judges 4 by david guzik blue letter bible. Remember that deborahs ministry is recorded in the book of judges. Compares gods present appearance for them with his appearance on mount sinai, ver. Deborah made good use of all the gifts and opportunities god sent her way.
Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of lappidoth, was leading israel. Deborah told barak that because he needed a woman to help him then a woman would defeat sisera. To be sure, the consensus outlined here is by no means perfect. Because of this, barak will not be the one to personally defeat sisera, the commander of jabins army but a woman will. She is called a prophetess and the wife of lappidoth. Sisera, the commander of his army, was based in harosheth haggoyim. Though angry with israel, god raised up judges to deliver them 2. Deborah was a leader in israel and revealed that a women can be chosen by god to lead his people. Its tucked way back in judges, a seldomread book in the seldomread old testament. Soldiers who fought a holy war often left their hair long this is hinted at in a previous description of soldiers in deborahs army judges 5.
But i have learned that judges is a great book for. The two literary creations have subtly different attitudes, and in placing them side by side, the historian of the book of judges encourages the reader to read them together as well as separately. The book of judges chapters 4 and 5 record the history of the nation of israel in the time of the prophetess deborah. While deborah went with the army, she did not engage in battle. When the time came for battle, god again spoke through deborah, who prompted barak to marshal his forces. He himself escapes on foot, while his army is pursued as far as harosheth of the gentiles and destroyed. The lord spoke through her as she held court under a tree called the palm of deborah in ephraim. The people of her time had no difficulty in accepting her as a judge. Deborah judges 45 bible commentary theology of work.
However, as will be seen below, deborahs actions and attitude deserve careful attention. Judges 4 niv deborah again the israelites did evil bible gateway. The israelites came against the army of sisera, and god granted the victory. Barak was given the victory, and the verse of our text is part of the song of deborah and barak after the battle was won. Unfortunately, there was a very clear pattern to this period in israels history, which is summarized in judges 2. Delilah tempted samson the strongman her story in the bible. When deborah told barak to begin the fight, the army rushed down into a valley to fight against siseras army and all of the strong chariots. Deborah is a judge before the battle, but the narrative does not include the story of how she became judge, why she is called a prophetess, or the way in which god commanded her to begin the battle against jabin, the canaanite king of hazor. From the miseries of former times glories in their present state, judges. The prophetess deborah a strong woman of god beginning.
In the book of judges, it is stated that deborah was a prophet, a judge of israel and the wife of lapidoth. When we peer into the book of judges in the old testament, we read of a time in the history of. Yet the writer of judges refers only to deborah as the judge to whom the word of the lord came judges 4. Learn about her courage and prophecy in this video, part of our judges series and curriculum. Jan 02, 2020 deborah agrees to accompany barak, but she also prophesies that the honor for the victory would belong to a woman, not to barak judges 4.
Until recently, biblical scholars generally identified the song as one of the oldest parts of the bible, dating somewhere in the 12th century bc, based on its grammar and context. But the book of judges regards her as the greatest of israels leaders during this period. Mickey anders the last political election was especially significant for women because hillary clinton. Someone had taught her that a godly woman leading meant a man had failed somewhere. Deborah a faithful focus on what you can do shanna gregor. And the children of israel came up to her for judgment. Deborah is one of the most influential women of the bible. Israel would not learn but continued to worship other gods 2. Jun 30, 20 this is the next sermon in the series called herstory. Deborahs story would stand out even without her unusual role as a military leader.
He had 900 iron chariots under the command of sisera judges 4. When deborah told barak to begin the fight, the army rushed down into a valley to. The story of deborah begins in the fourth chapter of the book of judges and extends for two chapters. Perhaps the new testament writer meant to list only those who literally conquered kingdoms. Today were turning our attention to the book of judges as we continue to explore the stories of some of the women of the bible. A modern counterpart would be the action and war movies that men find far more appealing than the romantic comedies preferred by the ladies. The book of judges begins with a summary of israelite settlement under joshua in. Rachel frey to write a hymn for this sermon series, and she s done a wonderful job. This suggests that judges were seen as gods people, and their gender was unimportant. Deborah, one of the most talked about women in the bible, tells barak they should take on the canaanite army. Jul 20, 2017 today were turning our attention to the book of judges as we continue to explore the stories of some of the women of the bible. I asked where she got that idea, and she said it was right out of the book of judges deborahs story, in fact. Jul 24, 2014 the judges became leaders by either selfappointment, the request of the israelite people, or the lords designation. According to the book of judges, deborah was a prophetess of the god of the israelites, the.
Moster 00 book summaries, 07 judges november 19, 2016 november 21, 2016 the book of judges recounts the battles between the israelites and enemies such as the canaanites, amorites, ammonites, arameans, midianites, and philistines. Deborahs name means bee or wasp and as one hebrew scholar wrote deborah was a bee in peace and a wasp in war. The song of deborah, one of the oldest in the bible, says the stars. Deborah a faithful focus on what you can do series. Jul 01, 2019 it is rare to hear anyone project deborah as an example of spiritual and civil leadership to follow. This poetry celebrates the hebrews victory over the canaanites and siseras army. Deborahs story comes about midway through this chaotic period. As a military leader, deborah is a rare biblical character politics. Deborah and the book of judges by avi lazerson the story of deborah the prophetess which is told in the book of judges shoftim in hebrew is a story that has a special relevance for our generation. At that time deborah, a prophetess, wife of lappidoth, was judging israel. Deborah was a judge that mainly settled disputes holding court under the palm tree of deborah between ramah and bethel in the mountains of ephraim judges 4.
This book represents the story of israel between the time in which the israelites moved into the promised land after the death of moses, and the time when israel began to be ruled by earthly kings, as other nations were. Jabin had a powerful army, led by sisera, that included 900 chariots of iron, which were by far the most sophisticated military equipment of the day. Deborah is the only woman judge mentioned in the book of judges. Book of judges bible study commentary the cycle of sin. Most of the major figures in the book of judges are acknowledged as leaders after military victory. Her story is told in the book of judges, chapters 4 and 5. However, as will be seen below, deborah s actions and attitude deserve careful attention. The book of judges follows the book of joshua which is the sequel to the five books of moses. Those that remain behind turn israel toward the worship of their idol gods not those gods. The book of judges was probably written after the reforms of josiah in 622 b. Deborah, the only female leader in the book of judges, rode into battle against the canaanites.