- Animal Stories to Women of the Bible
- Who are these Women?
- The Woman who caused a Revival
- The Woman in room 2
- The mother of Ishmael
- The mother of Isaac
- The Leader under the Tree
- Deborah, the Woman Judge
- Three Women related to a Great Leader
- The Women in Moses’ life
- Paul and Silas meets a Business Woman
- Lydia, the Business Woman
- 7 Queens in Scripture
- 3 Queen Mothers in Scripture
- Queens from Sheba and Persia
- Queens from Babylon and Ethiopia
- Her Story
Judges 4-5
The next day the heroes and heroines did not bother to knock on the door of room number 6. They went directly to the tree. Once again the woman was sitting under the tree and the other women were listening to what she was saying. This time she was singing a song. When she saw the heroes and heroines, she quickly ended the meeting and stood up to great them. Excitement and eagerness was displayed all over her face.
The heroes and heroines were just as eager to tell the woman who she was.
“Who am I?” she asked them.
You are called Deborah. Deborah means bee. You are the wife of Lappidoth.
You were the fourth judge of Israel and the only woman judge Israel had. You sat under a palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim. The people came to you for judgment. Before Israel asked for a king, the Lord sent judges to rule Israel. The function of a judge was not only to settle disputes. A judge of Israel functioned as a ruler, a governor. A judge had also legislative and military authority.
You had the respect of Israel, including the men of Israel. The reason for that was your relationship with God. God called you as a judge and as a prophet.
Israel had been oppressed by a Canaanite king, Jabin, for 20 years. He was very powerful and had great military strength. Jabin had 900 chariots of iron at his disposal. You prophesied that God would give Barak and 10,000 Israelites victory over the army of Jabin lead by Sisera.
Barak was willing to obey the Lord and fight against this army on one condition. He wanted you to go with him. You did go with Barak and the prophecy was fulfilled. Israel was victorious over the Canaanite king and his army.
“I remember”, Deborah said. I remember when the Lord gave me the prophecy for Israel. I also remember summoning Barak, the son of Abinoam to lead the army. He hesitated and wanted me to go with. I remember agreeing to go with him and prophesying over him:
“I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” (Judges 4:9 ESV)
His hesitation was the reason that he did not receive the glory for the victory but a woman did. Sisera, the commander of the army of Jabin fled on foot from our victory. He fled to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber. She drove a tent peg into his head while he was asleep in her tent.”
Deborah began singing a song:
“That the leaders took the lead in Israel,
that the people offered themselves willingly,
bless the Lord!
“Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes;
to the Lord I will sing;
I will make melody to the Lord, the God of Israel. (Judges 5:2–3 ESV)
The rest of the words of this song can be found in the book of Judges Chapter 5. The story of Deborah can be read in the book of Judges Chapter 4.
Related posts:
- The Leader under the Tree This entry is part 7 of 17 in the series...
- The Woman in room 2 This entry is part 4 of 17 in the series...
- Who are these Women? This entry is part 2 of 17 in the series...
- Three Women related to a Great Leader This entry is part 9 of 17 in the series...
8 comments
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Linda Luke
January 15, 2013 at 10:30 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Thank you for bringing this story to light.
Linda Luke recently posted..I’m Just Not Good at Small Talk
Retha Groenewald
January 15, 2013 at 10:46 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Hi Linda, thank you for stopping by and for your comment. It is appreciated.
Maggie Grice
January 15, 2013 at 10:30 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Love it – had to break out the Bible to figure it out. As always, can’t wait to see if I guessed right. These are fun! Thanks for sharing.
Maggie
Maggie Grice recently posted..Egg-citing Egg Whites
Retha Groenewald
January 15, 2013 at 10:45 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Hi Maggie, thank you very much. Comments like yours and Barbara’s makes my heart sing. Then I know I am not posting in vain for there are others that enjoy it as much as I do. Thank you
Barbara
January 15, 2013 at 10:34 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
I thought this was Deborah. I never knew her name meant bee,though. She is also recorded as one of the mother’s of Israel, along with Rebekah. I love the story of Deborah for she was an inspiration to me.
Barbara recently posted..It’s Time for Taco Soup
Retha Groenewald
January 15, 2013 at 10:41 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Hi Barbara, fantastic. Yes, Deborah is one of my favorites. She inspires us to walk in our calling and not to hesitate.
Sue Worthington
January 19, 2013 at 8:24 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Hi Retha
I too love the story of Deborah – it is my sister’s name and I love it
Sue
Retha Groenewald
January 19, 2013 at 9:19 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Hi Sue, thanks for stopping by. Wow. That is wonderful, Deborah is such a beautiful name. Is you sister also a woman of wisdom?