BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE:
Judges Chapters 4 and 5
“APOSTASY” is an ongoing theme throughout the book of Judges.
Apostasy is the act of rebelling against, forsaking, abandoning,
or falling away from what one has believed. My Pastor speaks of
this term quite a bit, as it is apparent that apostasy is
something that is not new, but still goes on today with God’s
people.
It is believed that Samuel is the author of Judges. This is
according to tradition. The date of composition is unknown, but
it was undoubtedly during the monarchy. The frequent expression
“In those days Israel had no king” (which is found in various
chapters in Judges) suggests a date after the establishment of
the monarchy.
The book of Judges is a frequent account of the Israelites
apostasy. As such, Judges also tells of urgent appeals to God in
times of crisis, moving the Lord to raise up leaders (judges)
through whom He throws off foreign oppressors and restores the
land to peace. It should be noted that God was, and is, the
ultimate Judge. But the Israelites, through their apostasy,
began to adopt the ways of the Cannanites. They even began to
worship their gods. Obviously, faith was scarce and when trouble
rose, the Israelites felt the need to have a “leader”, being
oblivious to the fact that it was God who lead them all along.
Judges describes the life of Israel in the promised land from
the death of Joshua to the rise of the monarchy (kings). Prior
to our subject’s reign, there was an 80 year period of peace
over the land. However, after Ehud died, the Israelites once
again “did evil” (Judges 4:1). There was unrest. No peace. An
apostasy.
We know that when one falls away from God, there can be no
peace! There is no rest. There is trouble all around.
The Bible doesn’t say how Deborah came about being a judge. Why
or how she was chosen. But she was indeed chosen by God. Deborah
is described not only as a judge, but also a prophetess. She
spoke the word of God, as God gave it to her. As a judge, she
settled disputes between the people, but she also served as a
leader. Deoborah was also the wife of Lapidoth.
Deborah’s ministry was quite effective and powerful. After
Moses, only Samuel filled the same combination of offices as did
Deborah. That being prophet, judge, and military leader. Wow,
what a woman!!!!
Deborah served regularly as a judge, hearing and deciding cases
brought to her by the people of Israel. (Judges 4:4-5) She held
court at the “palm tree of Deborah,” in the southern part of the
territory of Ephraim.
God gave Deborah a message to deliver to Barak, the Commander of
Israel’s army. The Lord wanted Barak to take 10,000 men from the
tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead the way to Mount Tabor.
The Lord would lure Sisera, the Commander of the Canaanite army
of chariots, to the Kishon River. Once Sisera arrived with his
troops, the Lord would give them over to the Israelites.
Barak was hesitant and showed signs of anxiety. He told Deborah
that he would go only if she went with him. Deborah told him
that the Lord has already gone before him, but she did not
hesitate and agreed to go with him, but warned Barak that his
lack of confidence would result in him losing his reward.
Thusly, the Lord would reward a woman instead.
Doesn’t this remind you of us today? So many men are not willing
to stand up and be a real man. So many have dropped the ball and
are hesitant to lead where they should be. Some are not taking
care of their families — they’re leaving it up to the women.
Some are not even in their homes, and some who are do not serve
as the head of the household. And that is by their own choice!
We’re in a war today as well. We have to fight against the
streets for our children. We are fighting against the wiles of
the devil who is trying to destroy the family. We have men who
are in leadership positions but are not leading by good example.
Women are taking up the slack.
Well, as always, God was true to His Word. And this is something
else that Judges demonstrates quite loudly — the faithfulness of
God. God had never forsaken the Israelites, and never will He
forsake us. He is faithful!!!! God destroyed all of Sisera’s men
as He said. But, Sisera got away and fled. He went to Heber, the
Kenite’s home (tent), where his wife Jael took him in. She
persuaded him in to rest. Sisera asked Jael to watch out and not
let anyone know he was there. Once Sisera was asleep, Jael took
one of the tent’s peg and stabbed him in the temple ---- killing
him. Thus the prophecy, “the Lord will hand Sisera over to a
woman” was fulfilled. Interesting note here. Jael was a Kenite.
Kenite’s were Ethiopians. Black people! God chose, not only a
woman, but a Black woman to be a heroine in this event. So, this
is not only about Deborah, a woman, but also Jael, a Black
woman.
Jael is again referenced in chapter 5 of Judges, through the
words of a song written by Deborah. Verse 24 says “Most blessed
of women be Jael.....most blessed of tent-dwelling women.”
Deborah and Barak sang this song after the victory. They praised
God for His faithfulness and protection. They thanked God for
what He did. We should all praise God for certainly He has moved
a mountain or two in your life. Certainly He has blessed you.
Certainly He has done great things in your life. One thing we
know about God is that He’s consistent! We can always trust and
depend on Him. We can believe that He will send someone with a
word for you. We know that He will go, and has gone, before you
in your journey. He has already made the way.
Though Barak was hesitant to take the lead, God had already
prepared Deborah for the task. God prepares leaders. He equips
them. And sometimes leaders come in forms that we may not
expect. But, what Deborah shows is that God can and does use
ordinary people for His extra-ordinary work. He can use a woman
just as well as a man to lead His people. Women, you are
beautiful, you are strong, you are blessed!
