Deborah – the 4^th Judge of Israel… (5 things)

• 1^st – The 4^th time around…vs. 1-3 Read: Judges 4:1-5
  • After the death of Ehud – Israel rebelled again against the Lord…vs. 1-3
    • Having gone through the cycle 3 times – you would think Israel would have learned…
      • But people are like sheep – they follow the crowd no matter where they are going…
      • If one sheep sees another sheep jumping into a pit – they will jump in too…
      • To often in life we blindly follow the examples of others…
      • We do what others do – because everyone else is doing the same thing…
      • It is always a wise question to ask – whom am I following – where are they going…
      • Matthew 15:14 – “If the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
    • So God let King Jabin – who ruled in Hazor (a castle) – conquer Israel…
      • Israel was thick headed – so God made things VERY uncomfortable for them…
      • The captain of Jabin’s arm was Sisera – who was from the ‘woodland people’…
      • With 900 iron chariots – ‘tanks’ – he ruthlessly oppressed Israel for 20 years…
      • We tend to be stubborn – we do not easily let go of the sin in our lives…
      • Even when we face the consequences of our actions – we still do not give up…
      • I think of those who wake up with a hangover – only to grab another drink!
      • You have to wonder sometimes – how much will it take to get our attention…
      • God loves us enough – there is ‘no limit’ – to what He will do to get us to run to Him!
        
        
• 2^nd – A woman to Judge Israel… vs. 4-5 
  • Israel repented and cried out to the Lord… vs. 4-5
    • So God raised up a Deborah – the wife of Lapidoth – to ‘Judge’ Israel…
      • All of the people would come to her for her wisdom and judgment…
      • Unlike Othneil / Ehud / or Shamgar – Deborah was not a warrior…
      • But there can be no doubt she was the one God choose to lead His nation!
    • Can a woman be a leader…

• It turns out it depends on where – in society or in the church…
• The example of Deborah obviously shows us women can absolutely lead…
• In fact some of the greatest secular leaders in history were women…
• Margaret Thatcher – Prime Ministry of England – helped topple Communism…
• Golda Meir – Prime Minister of Israel – led Israel in the Yom Kippur war…
• Can a woman be a pastor – a hotly debated issue in the church today…
  • God does not work in chaos – God is God of order – He works through structure…
    • I Corinthians 14:33 – “God is not the author of confusion but of peace…”
    • Part of that order/structure – is a hierarchy of authority within the church…
    • I Corinthians 11:3 – “The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”
  • That structure is the reason why only men are called to be pastors in the church…
    • I Timothy 2:13 – “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man…”
    • This had nothing to do with ability or intellect – it is simply about structure…
    • Though as a general statement – there may be a purpose in God’s design…
    • In general women tend to be more emotional/compassionate than men…
    • But that can also be a down side for women – emotions can be deceptive…
    • I Timothy 2:14 – “Adam was not deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived…”
    • God has gifted women with a heart to love and nurture the body of Christ…
    • The famous lack of emotions men are known for – gives them the ability to lead
  • But – men are not greater/more important than women – Galatians 3:28…
    • Ultimately we are all equal under God – all sinners saved by the same grace!
    • God assigns positions for each one of us within the body of Christ…
    • WE give those positions value – WE elevate one above another…
    • But God does not say that one position is greater than another – all are equal!

• 3^rd – Taking a step for God… vs. 6-16 Read: Judges 4:6-9
  • Deborah called for Barak (lightning) to lead Israel to war…vs. 6-7
    • He was to gather an army of 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun…
      • They would meet Sisera at the Kishon River – and God would give them victory!
      • Unlike some of the more powerful tribes – like Judah / Ephraim…
      • Naphtali and Zebulun are two tribes you almost never hear about in the Bible…
      • But this battle was ‘in their backyard’ – so they fought for THEIR people!
    • We may not be motivated to fight for those who live far away from us…
      • But we should be stirred up to fight for the salvation of our family / friends…
      • If we do not stand up and tell them about Jesus – who will!
        
  • Barak agreed to go – but only if Deborah came along… vs. 8-9
    • The LXX (Greek OT) adds to the comment of Barak why he wanted Deborah to go…
      • ‘Because I do not know the day the Lord will send his angel to give me success.’
      • In other words Barak recognized the Lord spoke through Deborah…
      • And He did not want to move until he was certain it was ‘God’s timing’…
      • It is one thing to know what God has called us to do…
      • But it is just as important to wait for God’s timing so we are successful…
      • One way to know God’s timing – is to seek the advice of godly men/women…
      • Proverbs 15:22 – “Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.”
    • Deborah agreed to go along with him – but a woman would end up defeating Sisera…
      • This has often been seen as a rebuke – as if Barak were wrong for asking for help…
      • But Deborah was a prophet – more likely she just prophesied how Sisera would die
      • I know a lot of husbands who make decisions without consulting their wives…
      • Yet God has given great insight to women – and we would be smart to ask for it…
      • Men tend to see very well ‘down the road’ – but miss what is next to them…
      • Wives miss nothing – and a wise husband knows to seek their counsel in decisions!
  • The defeat of Sisera… vs. 10-16
    • When Sisera heard Barak had gathered 10,000 men to battle – he marched to war…
      • He brought all 900 of his chariots – and the full force of his army to the battle…
      • Deborah told Barak to ‘Get ready’ – God was going to give him the victory…
      • So often we miss opportunities – because we doubt if God is behind us…
      • James 1:6 – “Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.”
      • When the time comes to step out for Jesus – do not hesitate – just go!
    • Barak set his army on the top of Mt. Tabor…
      • It is a steep mountain – that offers an excellent view on all sides…
        • At the base of the mountain is the Kishon River – small in the dry season…
        • But in the rainy season it swells making it almost impossible to cross…
        • It is thought Sisera tries to cross the river – losing many men and chariots…
        • Judges 5:21 – “The Kishon River swept them away — that ancient torrent…”
        • So Barak easily defeated Sisera – not one of the warriors was left alive!
      • With God on our side – we can be certain of the outcome…
        • If the Lord is stirring your heart do something – perhaps share Jesus with someone
        • Seek the Godly counsel of others – but when the time comes – step out…
        • Do not be afraid – the Lord will be with you – give you the words to say!
          
• 4^th – The consiqunece of rejecting God… vs. 17-24 Read: Judges 4:17-21
  • A man named Heber – a descendent of Hobab – the father-in-law of Moses…
    • Left his tribe – and pitched his tent near the city of Kedesh…
    • Sisera fled from the battle – and ran to the tent of Jael (the wife of Heber)…
    • He asked for some water – he was thirsty / tired from the battle…
  • Jael comforted Sisera – offered him a bottle of warm milk – covered him with a blanket…
    • Tired / discouraged from defeat / and full of warm milk – Sisera fell asleep…
    • He felt safe there because Heber was a good friend of King Jabin…
    • But Jael snuck into the tent – hammered a peg into his skull pinning him to the ground!
  • People think they can run from the judgment of God…
    • When people sin – they often try to hide by blending in with other sinners…
    • If everyone is doing the same thing – then somehow it does not seem wrong…
    • But in the end the only safe place – is with a broken and repentant heart…
    • That is why we share Jesus – because the alternative is the judgment of God!
  • When Barak arrived at the tend looking for Sisera -Jael showed him the body…
    • Sisera and his armies were defeated – Israel was delivered from King Jabin…
    • Again Israel had peace – this time for 40 years

The blessings of God are given to those who stand up for the Lord!

5^th – The song of Deborah… vs. 1-31 (3 parts)

1^st – The people were afraid to even go outside…vs. 1-7 Read: Judges 5:6-7

A nation that forgets about the Lord – is a nation where people live in fear…

Living in fear of the knock on the door by the Nazi Gestapo…

Afraid to say anything in public because the Russian KGB might be listening…

Careful to let no one know you have a Bible because the mutaween might find out…

Whether fascist / communist / of muslim – they all have one thing in common…

A life lived in terror and fear – because of a nation without Jesus!

It is only in a nation that serves and follows the Lord there is freedom…

2^nd – There were only a few who stood up to fight… vs. 8-18 Read: Judges 5:15-16

The volunteers came from Ephraim / Benjamin / Zebulun / Issachar…

But no one from Rueben / Dan / Asher / those on the east side of the Jordan…

They were ‘too busy’ watching their sheep / looking after their ‘business’…

They could not walk away and leave their store un-attended…

Or they had to go and harvest in the rice field – they were too busy…

Or they had to ‘watch the caribou’ – they did not have time for God…

Funny that excuses from 3000 years ago – have not changed a bit!

There is always going to be a ‘good reason’ not to stand up for Jesus…

There is always going to be a distraction that keeps us from the Bible / Church….

But there is nothing more important for us / our nation – than taking that stand!

3^rd – There will be no plunder for Sisera… vs. 19-31 Read: Judges 5:28-31

Sisera came to take from Israel – but did not even come out with his life…

The mother of Sisera waited for her son to return…

She wondered where he was – why she did not hear the sound of his chariot…

She assumed the reason – ‘he is dividing the plunder of his victory’…

She imagined all the beautiful robes he would bring to her as a gift…

But she would wait in vain – Sisera got his last ‘reward’ from Jael

Lord – let all your enemies die like Sisera – but those who love you rise like the sun!

The blessings of God are not reserved for those who seek after wealth…

Those who dedicate their lives to rebellion and sin – end up with nothing in the end!