Heaven's Heroes #5: Deborah the Daring
Judges 4
Introduction:
Joke: Today we are
going to be looking at Deborah Daring one of the Judges of Israel. Now some men
have a problem understanding strong women like Deborah, so I’ve got a little guide to
communication that might help you.
Words Women Use and Men Should Understand
FINE This is the word women use to end an argument when they
feel they are right and you need to shut up.
Also never use "fine" when asked to describe how a woman
looks. This will cause you to have one of those arguments, that ends with,
fine!
FIVE MINUTES This is closer to half an hour. It is equivalent to the "five
minutes" that your tv sporting event is going to last before you take out
the trash, so it's pretty much an even trade.
NOTHING This is heard when a man asks a woman, what’s wrong.
Contrary to literalness, nothing means something, and you better be on careful. "Nothing" usually signifies an
argument is coming that will last "Five Minutes" and end with the
word "Fine."
GO AHEAD (With Raised Eyebrows) This is a dare. One that will result in a woman getting upset
over "Nothing," and will end with the word "Fine."
GO AHEAD (Normal Eyebrows) This means "I give up"
or "do what you want because I don't care." You will get a Raised
Eyebrow "Go Ahead" in just a few minutes, followed by
"Nothing"
and "Fine," and she will talk to you in about
"Five Minutes" when she cools off.
LOUD SIGH This is not actually a word, but is a non-verbal
statement often misunderstood by men. A
"Loud Sigh" means she thinks you are acting like an idiot at that
moment, and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with
you over "Nothing."
SOFT SIGH Again, not a word, but a non-verbal
statement. "Soft Sighs" mean
that she is content. Your best bet is to
not move or breathe, and she will stay content.
THAT'S OKAY This is one of the most dangerous statements
that a woman can make to a man.
"That's Okay" means that she wants to think long
and hard before paying you back for whatever it is that you have done. "That's Okay" means it is not okay
at all.
PLEASE DO This is not a statement, it is an offer. A woman is giving you the chance to come up
with whatever excuse or reason you have for doing whatever it is that you have
done. You have a fair chance with the
truth, so be careful and you shouldn't get a "That's Okay."
THANKS A woman is thanking you. Do not worry everything is good, Just say you're welcome.
THANKS A LOT This is much different than "Thanks."
A woman will say, "Thanks A Lot" when she is really ticked off at
you. It signifies that you have offended
her in some callous way, and it may be followed by the "Loud Sigh."
Be careful not to ask what is wrong after the Loud Sigh," as she will only
tell you "Nothing” And things will only get worse from there.
Deborah Dares, Barak Balks Judges 4:1-9
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 Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of
Israel came up to her for judgment. 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. 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. And
she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou
takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the
hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
Deborah Encourages Barak
Deborah was already the Judge of Israel when God sends her His message to deliver the Israelites from the Jabin. No other female judge is ever named. She is unique in her
calling. God spoke to Deborah as judge and prophet and then Deborah
called for Barak. Barak has one condition, “If thou wilt go with me, then I
will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.” It has been thought
that Barak was fearful but I think at most he was simply needing the assurance
of God’s messenger being with him. Deborah agrees to go but tells Barak, “Even
though you have agreed to go, the honor of the victory will go to a woman.”
Now Barak has reason to balk, Sisera had 900 iron chariots!
This was the tank of the ancient world, the wheels were iron and often the hubs
had swords and blades attached to them so as they drove through the armies they
would literally mow down people by cutting through their legs. Israel had nothing but foot soldiers with bronze swords
and perhaps some slingers. They were an untrained army, really just a militia called
up to serve from their farms and villages. Sisera had 900 iron chariots filled
with trained drivers and spear men or bowmen riding beside them.
Encouraged To Serve
Implicit in the call to salvation is the call to service.
You cannot separate one from the other
Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest. Take my
yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall
find rest unto your souls. For my yoke
is easy, and my burden is light.
We are very familiar with the call of Jesus to come to Him
but we often neglect to read the rest of the invitation. Jesus says, “Take my
yoke” Jesus is telling us to give up our burden which will break us and even
drag our souls to Hell. Give up our burden and take His yoke. His invitation is
to quit laboring in our own power and to enter into his service, to take on His
yoke. “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Our burden of sin and shame will destroy us
but Christ’s burden of faith and service will lift us.
Will I serve and be as daring as Deborah? Serving whenever,
wherever and however God sees fit to use me? Perhaps I have balked or hesitated
in answering that call as Barak did? There
is no sin in that hesitation unless it becomes a lifestyle. Barak need the word
of God in the form of the prophetess Deborah, to give him assurance and then he
was ready to serve. You and I don’t have or need a live prophetess because we
have a the living word of God. And if you need assurance to go and do what God
has called you to do then pick up your Bible read the commands of God and
you’ll find the confidence to continue in God’s calling.
Scripture: Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick
(living), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, …
Because it is living it is the assurance and comfort you
need for every decision you will make and every future you will face.
Illustration: Facing my heart surgery with my tabbed New
Testament and Ps 27 on my wrist
Transition:Once Barak has his assurance the deliverance of Israel
begins.
Barak Begins, Sisera Sails Judges 4:10-16
And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him. Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh. And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. 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.
Beginning The Battle
Deborah and Barak march with ten thousand to the upper
slopes of Mt Tabor.
Camped there is Heber from the family of Hobah or Jethro the
father in law of Moses. It seems that Jethro or some of his descendants, settled
in this area. As the Bible gives us a foreshadowing here, these people have a
long and strong relationship with the Hebrews.
Barak and his army of footsoldiers are up the slope on Mt.
Tabor having taken the high ground from Sisera and his chariots. Chariots are
useless in mountains or on rocky terrain both of which were probably true here.
When Deborah says “Up, for this is the day!” that was the
assurance Barak had been waiting for. To he begins his attack down the mountain
and God delivers the Canaanites to the army of Israel. Some commentators think
the chariots had just forded a river and so were caught in soft mud, others point
to a possible rainstorm that stalled the chariots in mud. Judges 5:19-21 The kings came and fought, then
fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no
gain of money.
They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought
against Sisera. The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river,
the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.
Either way or both, the negation and impotence of the
chariots is so complete that Sisera has to abandon his and flees of foot.
Get Up, It’s Time!
When you consider the great victory against insurmountable
odds won that day, I think we all could understand why Barak needed a Deborah
in his life, to say, “Up, for this is the day.” I think we all could use
someone like that in our lives to tell us “Get up, its time!”
No, I’m not talking about your wife telling you its time to
mow the lawn, either. We don’t need haranguing, but we do need encouraging people
to urge us on in God’s work. People who pick us up when we are discouraged,
people who restore us when we have are wounded in the battle for faith.
This is what we read in Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and
charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk
worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
Hebrews 3:13 But
exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
We need the encouragers that God sends into our life and we also,
in turn, should be encouragers like Deborah, to others who are lagging or hurting.
Who has God placed in our life that we might exhort them? Who do we know that
needs to be encouraged? It could be that you are part of God’s providence in
the life of someone else to comfort and help them. This is a very important part
of our calling as Children of God. We don’t need special training or schooling;
we just need to be daring as Deborah and reach out and encourage those who are
hurting.
My journalism teacher in College was a politically and
religious liberal but he was a good newspaper man. His favorite saying was “The
job of a journalist is to comfort the hurting and discomfort the comfortable.”
The saying is even more true of a Christian.
On the other side of that providence is the question, how
have I responded to the exhortation, encouragement and comforting from others
acting as Deborah in my life? I believe God always sends certain people in my
life to spur me to action or hope. So, am I heeding God’s voice through them
and am I going to respond as Barak did and win the victory God has prepared? Or
will I ignore those God has sent and miss the victory because I balked in my
hesitation or fear?
Sisera Sleeps, Jael Jabs Judges 4:17-24
Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him. Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No. Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples. So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel. And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.
God Uses Jael
Sisera flees to the tent of Jael, first because his master
was not at war with Jael husband, Heber and also because no one would look for
him in a woman’s tent. It was forbidden by eastern custom to enter a woman’s
tent.
Jael gives him milk to drink and being weary he falls asleep
after urging her to stand guard at the tent door. After he is asleep, she takes
a tent peg, and with a hammer in hand creeps back into the tent. It was often
the job of women in nomadic tribes to set up the tents and so Jael know exactly
how to do what she is about to do. She positions the peg at his temple and then
with a mighty blow drives the nail through his head and into the ground.
Probably, heads are softer than rocky soil.
When Barak come by with his search parties, she calmly take
him into the tent and shows the great captain Sisera of the Canaanites dead. And
believe it or not this is where we get the word, pegged as in “He was in the
batters box but the pitcher made a wild throw and pegged the batter right in
the shoulder.” Now that’s some really etymological studies right there.
And so Jael the woman earns the honor of the victory, just as
Deborah had prophesied earlier to Barak.
Will God Use Us?
When God makes a plan he also plans the victory and with God,
that plan cannot fail. It does not matter that the enemy has 900 iron chariots
and you are on foot, God has a mountain and a rainstorm to bring victory. God
always has a plan to victory, yet within that plan, drawn from the unalterable omniscience
and inviolable omnipotence of God, is the variable of God using man and man’s
freewill operating within the providence and plan of God.
It seems incredible to us that those who God has revealed
his plan to, must determine if they will surrender to God, rebel against God or
like Barak balk at first but then after encouragement from Deborah, be used of
God?
Please understand God’ plan of victory is never dependent or
conditional on any man’s choice but man can choose to be used of God greatly, insignificantly
or not at all. God will still bring about his victory but we will have been
bypassed and God will use someone else.
Deborah was willing to do her part and encouraged Barak to
do his. Barak seemed to hesitate, but then fully and willing served after being
receiving assurance from God’s messenger that is a good thing. Jael did not
appear to be someone God could use in a battle. She was a woman, a wife and
probably a mother, no where near the battle and certainly not a warrior, yet
God used her and her loyalty to His people to accomplish His victory.
Illustration:
Do you remember Mordecia’s words to his niece, Esther in the
book of Esther 4:14? God’s people were under a order of extermination even more
terrible than that of Hitler’s Third Reich. The Persian king, who was at the
zenith of his power and ruled and empire much greater than any modern day
nation, had been tricked into signing a decree that all Jews could be killed by
anybody, anywhere in his vast empire and to motivate the killing, the
possession of the Jews could be taken by the people who killed them. Mordecia
goes to Esther and tells her she must talk to the King but she is just a member
of his harem, little more than a privileged slave and slaves don’t tell kings
what to do or even talk to them without an invitation. Mordecia takes the role
of the encourager, the spirit of Deborah and tells Esther, “For if thou
altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and
deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's
house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom
for such a time as this?”
He tells her God’s people will be delivered, no matter what
you choose, but you are in this place and position by the providence of God,
for just such a time as this.
In all of God’s plans there are people in place for such a
time as this. Be that person who seizes the opportunity and is used by God.
Conclusion
Who then will you be when God reveals his plan?
Will you be Deborah, ready to step forward, encouraging
others and going in service to God. Will you be Barak perhaps lagging for a
while but still faithful and a great servant and warrior for God. Or simply
Jael, no one that anybody notices or anybody even knew, except God, and isn’t
His notice the only one that really counts? Jael, knew God’s will without being told by a
prophetess and using only what she had at hand slew a great and powerful enemy
of God’s people.
God asks no more from any of us than simply that. Know His
will, serve where you have opportunity and use whatever you have as God gives
opportunity.
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