KNOWN AS THE FIRST FEMALE JUDGE
Judges 4, 5
IMAGINE: Being a wife, prophetess, patriot, Judge, warrior, and “a mother in Israel”. This would cause time management to be brought to a whole new level.
Deborah lived in the land of Israel when Judges ruled the land before God allowed Israel to have kings to rule them.
There is no early history concerning this prophetess/Judge. Her name means ‘bee’. Science confirms of all the animal kingdom the bee ranks among the highest in intelligence. Deborah does stand out as one of the wisest of Old Testament women.
There is no family history concerning this female warrior other than she was “the wife of Lapidoth”. (Judg. 4:4). Their home was in the hill country of Ephraim between Bethel and Ramah. Deborah ruled from under a palm tree, known as the “palm of Deborah” at a time when palms were rare in Palestine.
Deborah is referred to as a “mother in Israel.” Although, there is no record of her being a mother to natural children from her marriage to Lapidoth. It is believed she is said to be a “mother in Israel” referring to her position as ruler and Judge over the Israelites as children of God.
Deborah is gifted with superior spiritual, mental, and physical powers for the deliverance of God’s distressed and defeated people. She is known for several different positions she held while serving the Lord.
She was the wife of Lapidoth. His name means ‘torches’ or ‘lightening flashes’. Nothing but his name is mentioned, but since he is notably referred to it is likely he supported and encouraged his wife in all her activities. Both he and Deborah seem to be content with his “behind the scenes” assistance that he surely gave for her to be the success she was.
Deborah is one of several females in Scripture distinguished as being endowed with the prophetic gift, which means the ability to discern the mind and purpose of God and declare it to others. In the days of the Old Testament, a prophet or prophetess was the mediator between God and His people Israel and were perceived to be divinely inspired. Deborah would sit under the palm tree declaring divine wisdom and instruction.
She was known as a patriot who stirred the pot, so to speak, with the view of producing change from the low spiritual condition Israel had fallen into. The land was ruined and under the rule of the Canaanites. All liberties had been lost. The people were dejected and afraid. Their spirits were broken, and all hope of deliverance had vanished. Deborah aroused the nation from its lethargy and despair. Deborah was a leader who awoke in God’s people a determination to free themselves from their bondage and degradation. Through divine wisdom she told of certainty of deliverance from their enemy if they would lose their fear and go out and fight.
Deborah was the fifth of the ‘Judges’ of Israel raised up by God to deliver His people from the bondage their idolatry had caused. She was Judge at a time when men “did what is right in their own eyes.” She ruled at a time in history when women were subordinate to men which made her remarkable. All of Israel was under her jurisdiction where she ruled with righteousness, justice and mercy. After the victory over their enemy she ruled with a land that had rest from war and captivity for forty years.
Deborah was a fighter in every sense of the word. She sent for Barak and told him it was God’s will that he should lead her forces and deliver the country. Because of repeated failures, Barak hesitates but then decides to lead the army as long a Deborah goes with him. They, together, go out to meet Sisera, a mighty man of war, who had terrorized Israel for many years. Deborah and Barak’s army consisted of some 10,000 men. Sisera’s army was 100,000 strong with 900 iron chariots. The odds did not look too good except that Deborah had God on her side. A horrible hailstorm overtook the land, and the Canaanites were almost blinded by the rain, and were ultimately overwhelmed in the swollen river of Kishon. Sisera escaped but was killed by Jael while asleep in her tent. Thus, Deborah’s fame came as the female warrior who rescued her people from their enemy.
Deborah, as mentioned, is best known to be ‘a mother in Israel’. As far as we know she never experienced actual motherhood but was considered a mother to all in Israel and especially the spiritual mother of all Israel. Above all her remarkable gift was her trust in God. Deborah served God mightily to the limit of her ability and capability that God bestowed upon her for His glory.
It is said she had a psalm on her lips and a sword in her hand. This is good instruction for us today: we need to have a psalm on our lips and God’s sword, His Word, in our hands and on our hearts.
Something to consider:
Be the kind of woman
that when your feet hit the floor each morning
the devil says, “oh no, she’s up.”
BIBLICAL PEOPLE 