"Deborah, A Judge in Israel"

 

Read Judges 4:1 thru 5:31 "And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel. And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time...."

"The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel."  Judges 5:7

Every once in a while, the LORD chooses a person to lead who surprises everyone. The nation of Israel, at this time, is in a sad condition. Freedom is being lost. The enemy, with their false gods, is taking over. GOD's people are afraid to do anything about it.

Israel has an army, but they do not know who or what to fight. The land is filled with pockets of people who do not have Israel's best interest at heart. It is a time in Israel's history when "...every man did that which was right in his own eyes"  Judges 17:6. In a quest for personal liberty, they have lost their freedom. No longer is there a clear sense of right and wrong.

GOD is looking for a leader to turn things around. There are some good men, but HE chooses a woman, "...a mother in Israel...," to deliver HIS people and to be a judge.

This is a first in Israel's history. The LORD has used many women in the past, the strongest of whom was Miriam, Moses' sister, but this is the first time a woman would be put in such a high position of leadership in their nation. Deborah was chosen to be one of Israel's judges. She made a real difference in people's lives. A song about her life is given to us in Judges 5.

Her life accomplished something. The world was not the same after she lived. A great statement about one life making a difference is in Judges 5:7: "...until that I Deborah arose..." She brought victory to a defeated, fearful people. What do we know about her life ?

I.   What was Her Background ?

Judges 4:4 (pictured above), "And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time." The questions people would have asked about her were, "Who is she ? Where did she come from ?"

She was a Prophetess v.4, "And Deborah, a prophetess..." The LORD raised her up.

She was a Wife v.4, "...the wife of Lapidoth..." We know nothing about her husband except his name.

She was a Mother Judges 5:7, "...a mother in Israel." There is no greater calling than that of a mother.

II.   The World She Faced

Judges 4:1 (pictured above) "And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud died."

There was a widespread rejection of GOD. v.1, "...Israel again did evil..."

Before anyone does evil, they must reject what's right. When a nation rejects GOD and HIS WORD, they have accepted a different standard. We do not get what we expect; neither do we get what we inspect, but we get what we accept. Proverbs 18:5: "It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment."

GOD's People had Rebelled Against HIM v.1, "...the children of Israel..." The problem was not just with those who did not know GOD. The root of the problem was that GOD's people had rebelled.

Some Good People Refused to Get Involved  Judges 5:15-16, "...For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart." One speech Deborah could not make was, "If everyone will do their part..." Everyone was not going to do their part.

1. Reuben talked and did nothing (Judges 5:15-16) These people were not traitors; they did not join the enemy. They just did nothing to help. Some "...stand aloof..." Psalm 38:11

2. Meroz stood back to see what would happen and did not help. Judges 5:23, "Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty."

III.  Her Life Made a Difference

Judges 5:7 (pictured above) "The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Debora arose, that I arose a mother in Israel."  How did this woman, with what appeared to be limited experience, make such a difference in a nation's future ?

She Took it to Heart v.7, "...until that I Deborah arose..." She did not hide behind her being a woman. She accepted responsibility to change things.

She Made it a Matter of Prayer v.7 "...until..." The job was too big, and the need was too great. Nothing could be done "until"  GOD helped them. The LORD JESUS said, "...without ME ye can do nothing" (John 15:5).

She Enlisted the Help of Others  Judges 5:15-18, v.18, "Zebulan and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field."

Not all joined, but those who did join were the ones who would risk their all for victory.

IV. The LORD was in the Battle

Judges 5:20 (pictured above), "They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera." The LORD GOD of Israel was in the battle, and HE gave the victory. 

Deborah understood the hour she faced. She knew that much was at stake, but she also knew what the LORD wanted her to do. She believed that the LORD was able to do all that HE said HE would do. One person stepped up and made a difference. That person was a woman. The LORD will always find one of HIS children with a heart for HIM; and sometimes that person is a woman.

Lessons We Learn:

1. Nothing will change until someone decides to make a change. 

2. There will always be those who stand back and watch, waiting to see how things turn out.

3. It is hard to get people, who have gotten used to doing their own thing, to change.

4. The LORD will help those who are willing to put their all on the altar.

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

WordToTheWorld@aol.com

www.FiveStarChristianMinistries.com