Do we weed out those negative pictures of ourselves, you know the ones that seem to add fat to the face, or to the waist, or those that appear to make the nose look the Rock of Gibraltar? Or how about those pics that make you look like someone you never met before? You know, you have to ask who is the woman in the center of the picture and it turns out to be you! We would feel comfortable with that which at least looks like us and not some creature thing from a swamp, right?
No one wants to be cast into a negative light of any kind! Yet, we find the people of Israel in a negative place. And that light of negativity was due to rampant sin!
The people had been drifting away spiritually coming to a place of experiencing God’s judgment. AND this is well seen when other
nations come to dominate their potential existence in that place. In the book
of Judges you can see Gideon who is down in a wine vat threshing out wheat for
his family. Yes, those who ravaged the land came to take whatever crops had been harvested, and
Gideon and his tribe hid that wheat in the grape vat. Yikes! ( makes you wonder where they put the grapes, right?)
Waking up
to the things of God in hearing Him and obeying takes a repentant heart! It is
choosing to do right according to God and not to man’s idea of being right! A
leader raised up in this time was Deborah. She stands out in spiritual
leadership as well as in her civil leadership.
READING Judges 4:4-10 NKJV 4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 5 And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6 Then she sent and called for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “Has not the LORD God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and deploy troops at mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun; 7 ‘and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand?” 8 And Barak said to her: “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!” 9 So she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; he went up with ten thousand men under his command, and Deborah went up with him.
Deborah was the available and the wise: A. Service as a Judge: Judges 4: 4. And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 5 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.
The military prowess of his rule was an enemy that would be significant in dealing with according to a military action.
In Judges 4:3 And the children of Israel cried out to the LORD; for Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron, and for twenty years he had harshly oppressed the children of Israel. To defeat this Jabin and those with him would take something that could override the normal seen in war. His relentless attitude toward God’s people was such an oppression that they thought it would never end.
Deborah's
coming to the position as a judge in Israel came about as seen in Judges 4:1
when the death of Ehud appeared. The people
were back once again in sin. And sin brings with its oppression multiplied by
the consequences of that “sin”.
Deborah: remarkable! She was a prophetess, a wife and a judge. She was married, known as a leader and a woman of faith. She was also known as a poet. “She was a mother in Israel.”
a. Her husband was Lappidoth (Judges 4:4)
although nothing is known of her husband, we are told his name and she was his
wife.
b. She loved God, and she obeyed
c. She was a remarkable witness due to the
time period she lived. The book of Judges was a time for Israel that was
characterized by idolatry, defeat and disobedience
d. Deborah became Judge at the time of when
Jabin was king of Canaan (he oppressed the Israelites for 20 years.
e. As a Judge, she was a discerner and
declaration to the mind of God. She ministered in His wisdom, knowledge and
instruction.
f. Remarkable wisdom: gained through her
humble path of service. She was not the aggressive or assertive. She was
appointed by God!
g. She was submissive to her husband and to
those in leadership.
h. Deborah: waited on God, always encouraged
others to lead and assisted when needed. And when they refused, she went into battle with them!
Deborah’s position was the title “Judge”. It is bringing into right relationship which also meant having that spiritual dimension. Her civil tasks that she would function in was in administration, to the settlement of disputes or like issues and then to military leadership. We know that she was called a prophetess and this would certainly distinguish her from other judges. No others were given this designation as she had.
We know
that her responsibilities were set in the cities of Raman and Bethel. These
being few miles from Jerusalem, we are also told that she held court under a
Palm Tree. ( I often wonder if she was
ever bitten by the spiders that make their homes there)
Deborah as
the Messenger is given by the LORD direction to give to Barak. From verses 6-7:
6 NKJV 6 Then she sent and called for
Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “Has not the
LORD God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor; take with
you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun; 7 ‘and
against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his
chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into
your hand?”
The instructions of the LORD are important and one with the hearing and obeying heart will heed them! So the LORD could speak through the mouth of the prophetess. Connection is made between Barak and the Judge Deborah. Upon his arrival, Barak notices the specifics of Deborah's message for him. There are no generalities which could lead to insecurity or to the wrong actions for she had laid out God's plan for him. Victory is guaranteed. Barak simply needed to apply himself to the instruction and fulfill it. The instruction was as he was directed toward Mount Tabor, a stronghold that would be of great advantage in that location for a military meeting!
The
instructions further state the size of the military force and from which tribes
they are to come. Since the regions being oppressed are Naphtali and Zebulun,
it's only logical they should be the ones to participate in the deliverance. BUT to gather such a great size of men to make this force work, Barak had to know those he could mobilize
for the occupation in that region. And the PROMISE: “ I will deliver him into
your hand!”
Deborah
gave the specific plan of the Lord. Sisera would be lured into a situation
which would bring about his defeat. In order to attack Barak's forces, the
enemy chariots would need to cross the plain through which the River Kishon
flowed. In the original language of these scriptures, the word for river
literally means "torrent bed." The Kishon would flow when flash
flooding took place. The Lord always clearly gives His instruction so that they
are not misunderstood. No, God was doing this mighty work, and Sisera would
fall into Israel’s hands.
Have you ever been given a word and
then wondered how it could come to pass? Is it possible for God to pull off
such a ploy here to bring victory to Israel? Is God even in our plan of hearing
the next step into this day and hour? Crazy things are going on in the world
and you and I both require to hear Him so that He directs our way into His
light, truth and peace!
Sometimes, when things we pray for
do not turn out like we thought they should have been :Luke 22: 42….take this
cup from me; nevertheless Not my will
but Yours be done. Help me discern Your
will for my life. If I live in the flesh, I cannot please God. (Romans 8:8)
Father, I pray my eyes are opened to Your truth about this which was planned
but did not come to pass. I thank You for revelation from You that gives me
insight that I do not have but am asking about this planned event. I understand
that the kingdom of God cannot be understood without revelation from God, so I
call to You and You will answer and show me great and mighty things which I do
not know. (Jeremiah 33:3) I know You will reveal that which concerns me.
LORD, I submit to James 4:7
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Lord, I
will not live by lies but only truth of Your word that is revealed through me. I
submit my work, this tribulation and the outcome to You today & ask YOU to
infuse it with Your life, Your power & productivity. I ask YOU for a super
flow of Your Spirit through me in this specific day that will enable me to be
more creative in the process. I ask You what YOU desire me to do so that good
fruit is produced in my life.
11 Now Heber the Kenite, of the
children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had separated himself from the
Kenites, and pitched his tent near the terebinth tree at Zaanaim, which is by
Kedesh. 12 And they reported Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up
to mount Tabor. 13 So Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine
hundred chariots of iron, and all the people wo were with him, from Harosheth
Hagoyim to the River Kishon. 14 Then Deborah said to Bark, “Up! For this is the day in which the LORD has
delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the LORD gone before you?” So Bark
went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.
15 And the Lord routed Sisera, and
all his chariots, and all of his army with the edge of the sword before Barak;
so that Sisera alighted off his chariot, and fled away on foot. 16 But Barak pursued the chariots, and the army as
far as Harosheth Hagoyim: and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the
sword; not a man was left. 17 However, Sisera had fled away on foot to the tent
of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite; for there was peace between Jabin king
of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18 And Jael went out to meet
Sisera, and said to him, “Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me; do not fear.”
And when he had turned aside with her into the ten, she covered him with a
blanket. (rug)
19 Then he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink for I am
thirsty.” So she opened a jug of milk, gave him a drink and covered him. 20 And
he said to her, “Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and inquires
of you and says, “Is there any man here?” you shall say, ‘NO’.”
21 Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and took a hammer in her hand,
and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple and it went down into
the ground; for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. 22 And then, as Barak
pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him and said to him, “Come, I will show
you the man whom you seek.” And when he went into her tent, there lay Sisera,
dead with the peg in his temple. 23 So on that day God subdued Jabin king of
Canaan in the presence of the children of Israel. 24 And the hand of the
children of Israel grew stronger and stronger against Jabin king of Canaan,
until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.
Indicating he would go with the plan, he did not hesitate to say that he
did not want to go alone in this matter. If she did not go, he would not go
either! She did not lambaste him, but he agreed. She pointed to the truth that there
would be no personal honor for him in this victory. He could lead, gather the
forces into battle, but he would have no acclaim to Sisera’s death.
The timing
was perfect. Sisera moved his forces toward the mountain and to the River
Kishon. God had given the prophetess the instruction and she gave the signal to
begin. Barak led his men down the mountain. When God is allowed in our circumstances,
the enemy will be scattered. He causes them to become confused to fight among
themselves. The very point this was sent at the River Kishon proved to be a
muddy situation in the relentless pursuit. Not one of Sisera’s men stayed
alive. Sisera leaves the battle, runs away from the pursuers to find a way out.
Sisera so
confused, finds the wrong place to rest. Coming into the tent of Jael the wife
of Heber, she shows him safety and that place to rest. Alas his downfall has come. He
receives the covering of the rug and drinks the milk only to fall asleep to his
own doom.
And the
ending: well, Jael receives the honor! She overcame the enemy. And Judges 5
displays a praise sang by Deborah, the Judge in Israel and Barak: Then sang Deborah and Barak the
son of Abinoam on that day, saying, 2 When leaders lead in Israel, when the
people willingly offer themselves, Bless the LORD! 3 Hear, O kings!
Give ear, O princes!: I, even I,
will sing to the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel. 4 Lord, when You went out from Seir, when You
marched from the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens poured, the
clouds also poured water; 5 The mountains gushed before the Lord, This Sinai,
from before the Lord God of Israel. 6 In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, in
the days of Jael, the highways were deserted, and the travelers walked along
the byways. 7 Village life ceased. It ceased in Israel, until I, Deborah arose,
arose a mother in Israel.
Deborah, the Judge in Israel, found her feet on the battlefield. A leader
called by God to see victory come and not to a man! Praise came! The Lord had
avenged Israel and the oppression and bondage was removed. Those willing and
obedient will eat the good of the land. It is the Prophetess that describes the
Lord’s presence in the battle marching from Mount Seir in Edom bringing a
rainstorm, a super storm having all kinds of elements to stop an oppressive
leader, would be sung about as God intervened so decisively in the lives of His
people.
New teaching at: Voice of Prayer
God’s Spirit Poured Out Blood, Fire, Pillars of Smoke
