Judges Series 3 - Deborah

This series that we are going through is on the book of Judges. But more specifically we are doing an overview of three of the people God called to be judges, how He used them, and how that translates to our lives.

Judges takes place in the years just after the conquest—a period of struggle as the Israelites’ faith weakened. Their stories follow a cyclical pattern: Israel turns from God, so God sends their enemies to oppress them. Israel cries out to God, so God raises up a judge to deliver them. While that judge lives, Israel follows God. When the judge dies, the cycle begins again, but at each cycle Israel falls further.

The judges were temporary and special deliverers, sent by God to deliver the Israelites from their oppressors. Their power only extended over portions of the country, and some of them were actually simultaneous.

The judge we are going to look at today is Deborah.

Two weeks ago we studied Ehud with the point that God can use us in spite of or defects.

Last week we studied Gideon with the point that God can use us in spite of our faithlessness.

As we go through this story of Deborah we will see how The Bible shows us that God can use us when others fail.

Judges 4:1–5 KJV 1900

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. And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Beth-el in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

So these verses tell us that in this time of oppression from the Canaanites, Deborah was actively working as a messenger and judge over the Isrealites. Gods inspiration and Spirit had rested upon Deborah and she was acting on His behaf.

Judges 4:6–7 KJV 1900

And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.

Now at some point God had spoken to this man named Barak. Barak was called to be the judge in this time for the Isrealites. But wait, didnt we just hear that Deborah was the judge. Isnt this story about Deborah. YES!

This story, like the rest of the Bible, is going to be extremely relatable to our world today. And I believe that is exactly why we should pay such close attention to it. God called a man, Barak, to deliver the Isrealites but he did nothing. So He spoke to Deborah and had her remind him. Look at Barak response in verse 8.

Judges 4:8 KJV 1900

And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.

So Barak was scared and wouldnt go without Deborah. And here is the distinction.

Barak was a weak, faithless man and needed a person that was strong and faith filled or Spirit filled to go with him. That person was Deborah. Back in verse six it tells us that they were to gather a 10,000 man army. We have a weak man that was to cowardly to rise to the occasion and task that God had given him. And much like are world now a strong woman had to rise up and take the lead.

We are very unfortunately living in a time of weak, faithless men. Men who dont rise to the occasion. Men who dont rise to the task. Men who dont spiritually lead their families. Men who dont physically or emotionally lead there families. Men who have never once truly discipled their wife and kids.

This time that we find ourselves in is full of women who are stepping up and spiritually leading their families and actively discipling their children.

It is important for us to know, and this isnt sexist its biblical. IT IS NOT A WOMANS JOB!! God has called men to be the leaders. But when they fail you better believe he will lift up prophtesses like Deborah. God used Deborah because of the lack of Godly men.

We are in a time of great TOLERANCE. Even the church is becoming more and more tolerant.

Tolerance

The virtue of being prepared to accept people and their viewpoints

Tolerance is not biblical. We are in NO way called to be accepting to everyone and their views. We are called to accept the teaching of God the Father and Christ Jesus. Nothing more and nothing less. That is exactly why we are in this mess in the first place. We christians started trying to not hurt peoples feelings. We started sugar coating the Bible so that people wouldn’t feel convicted. THATS THE WHOLE POINT. Thats how we know the Holy Spirit is in us. When he gives us conviction. The United Methodist Church , for example is now allowing same sex marriages. THATS NOT BIBLICAL.

Scripture insists that believers must have a vital concern for maintaining and defending the truth.

How much of this truth have we throw to the side? In your own life, how much of biblical truth have you thrown out?

Barak failed to take action on the truth that God revealed, so Deborah took up the torch and proceeded to carry out the commands of God. Gods will is GOING to be done. Gods will is not dependent upon whether or not of have the courage to carry it out. It is the plan of the Almighty and it WILL be done.

Judges 4:16 KJV 1900

But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.

Upon the command from Deborah, Barak and the army went into battle and killed every last one of them.

The great news for us is that our enemy is already defefeated. As children of God the battle is already won.

I will leave you with this. Where is your life can you pick back up the truth of the Bible and carry out as Gods has commanded?