Bible Study - Women of Faith (2) - Deborah: encouraging Faith - Judges 4:4-9; 5:1-5 - June 9. 2019

Bible Study – Women of Faith (2) – Deborah: Encouraging Faith – June 9, 2019


This is lesson two (2) in our series entitled “Living by Faith: Women Who Trusted GOD.”


Our focus scripture is Judges 4:1-9; 5:1-5.


Use your influence for GOD’S kingdom and for HIS honor.


All people can have an influence on others POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE; parent (s) on a child or children, fellow worker(s), fellow church member(s), family member(s), invisible world (There are those who watch us and see us in action with family, friend(s), fellow worker(s), social involvement(s), church, market place and the list goes on.)


We can be an inspiration by supporting others as GOD give us opportunity. How does this fit into our lesson? Let’s explore!


We Influence Others When We Live Out Our Calling.

Let’s read Judges 4:1-5:

Deborah and Barak

1 The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord after Ehud had died.

[A side note, Ehud was a lefthanded Judge from the tribe of Benjamin. Ehud led Israel during 18 years of oppression under Eglon, king of Moab (Judges 3:14-30) Being left-handed gave Ehud an advantage. 16 Now Ehud had made a double-edged sword about a cubit long, which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing. 17 He presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was a very fat man. Ehud was the judge prior to Deborah.]

The Israelites doing “evil in the sight of the LORD” was a pattern in the history of the Israelites. They would sin and GOD would punish them. They would repent and GOD would restore their relationship with HIM. We see this in this Old Testament scripture. GOD had told the Israelites to destroy all the people and their false gods when they entered the Promised Land or they would be snared by them. They didn’t and that is exactly what happened.

This is true for many of us today. Drugs, pornography, gambling, alcohol, stealing, etc. ensnare many along with other sins that Satan dangles before us in order to trap us and prevent us from serving GOD. They did evil and GOD ---

2 So the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his forces was Sisera who lived in Harosheth of the Nations.

GOD lifted HIS hand of protection because of their sin. As a result, the Israelites were placed under the authority of a hostile king, Jabin. The Israelites realize their error and ----

3 Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord, because Jabin had 900 iron chariots, and he harshly oppressed them 20 years.

King Jabin had 900 chariots clad with iron. The Israelites only had swords and spears which were no match with warriors armed with weapons of war riding in chariots clad with iron.

Often, GOD lets us think about what we have done to allow the plight we are in to do its work. GOD knows our hearts and raises up a leader of leaders to lead us to the next phase of our lives under HIS (GOD’S) leadership. Thus, the heart of scripture ---

4 Deborah, a woman who was a prophet and the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.

5 It was her custom to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her for judgment.

[Let’s read verses from the NIV translation - 4 Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time.

5 She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah

and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided.]

Deborah was the only female judge Israel had. She was not only a judge but a prophetess. For her to be a prophetess, she had to have received a call from GOD. As such, she had to be a reliable spokesperson for GOD to the people. In essence, a successor to Moses as spokesperson to the nation.  She was the wife of Lappidoth, which means “fiery” or “torches.” This may have characterized her nature. Deborah means “honeybee” or some refer to her as a “busy bee” because she was “busy.” As a judge she positioned herself under a palm tree.

Why did the Israelites go up to Deborah? We know that she judged but what did she judge? In ancient Israel, a judge was more than a legal authority. Judges exercised leadership in a number of areas e.g. religious questions, political matters, legal disputes and military matters. She settled disputes among families, neighbors, businessmen and friends to name a few.

Being a prophetess, she communicated with GOD and GOD communicated with her. We know that wisdom comes from GOD. This is an example that shows that GOD included women in HIS plans then and now to carry the message of salvation to all the world. Deborah is also an example of encouraging faith.


We Can Encourage Others to Live Out Their GOD Given Tasks.

Let’s read Judges 4:6-9:

6 She summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, "Hasn't the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded [you]: 'Go, deploy [the troops] on Mount Tabor, and take with you 10,000 men from the Naphtalites and Zebulunites?

Often, weak men need to be prodded by strong women of faith for the men to become strong in their faith and achieve their GOD given potential. Deborah knew that GOD had given a specific message to Barak. GOD’S message was very prescriptive. GOD is still in the business of giving HIS children specific directions but those chosen are the ones to implement HIS instructions. HE may have to send someone into our lives to prod us into action to obediently serve and that may be a woman. Don’t misread this. It is supporting and encouraging the Godly man to obediently serve GOD.

That is where Pastors, teachers, fellow Christians, our spouse, friends often come into our lives to remind us of following what GOD has revealed to us. Barak had a part in GOD’S plan, so did GOD and Deborah ----

7 Then I (GOD) will lure Sisera commander of Jabin's forces, his chariots, and his army at the Wadi Kishon [to fight] against you, and I (GOD) will hand him over to you.' "

There are times in our lives when we need to have someone to stand with us when we face the enemy, even when GOD tells us that HE will be with us.

Deborah had reminded Barak of GOD’S message to him but he needed to have Deborah go along with him. This reveals the confidence Barak had in Deborah and her relationship with GOD.

A former pastor encouraged our young people to partner with each other to stand when they faced various social issues in life. Two taking a stand gives each strength. When two strands of twine are twisted together it is stronger than one. When two strands are twisted with a third strand being GOD it is the most powerful relationship.

8 Barak said to her, "If you will go with me, I will go. But if you will not go with me, I will not go."

9 "I will go with you," she said, "but you will receive no honor on the road you are about to take, because the Lord will sell Sisera into a woman's hand." So, Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh. 

In verse 9, we read that Deborah reveals to Barak that Sisera, commander of King Jabin’s forces will be defeated by a woman. Barak will not get the credit. Who do you think Barak thought the woman would be, Deborah or someone else?

10 Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; 10,000 men followed him, and Deborah also went with him.

With Deborah agreeing to go along with him, Barak swung into action and prepared as GOD had instructed him. Who else may have been motivated by the presence of Deborah? Let’s read on ---

Let’s read what happened as recorded in Judges 4:12-22:

¹² When they told Sisera that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, ¹³ Sisera summoned from Harosheth Haggoyim to the Kishon River all his men and his nine hundred chariots fitted with iron.

¹⁴ Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?” So, Barak went down Mount Tabor, with ten thousand men following him. ¹⁵ At Barak’s advance, the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword, and Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot.

¹⁶ Barak pursued the chariots and army as far as Harosheth Haggoyim, and all Sisera’s troops fell by the sword; not a man was left. ¹⁷ Sisera, meanwhile, fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was an alliance between Jabin king of Hazor and the family of Heber the Kenite.

¹⁸ Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Come, my lord, come right in. Don’t be afraid.” So, he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.

¹⁹ “I’m thirsty,” he said. “Please give me some water.” She opened a skin of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him up.

What does milk often do after we drink it? It helps us to go to sleep.

²⁰ “Stand in the doorway of the tent,” he told her. “If someone comes by and asks you, ‘Is anyone in there?’ say ‘No.’”

²¹ But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.

²² Just then Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. “Come,” she said, “I will show you the man you’re looking for.” So, he went in with her, and there lay Sisera with the tent peg through his temple—dead.

²³ On that day God subdued Jabin king of Canaan before the Israelites. ²⁴ And the hand of the Israelites pressed harder and harder against Jabin king of Canaan until they destroyed him.

Victory! Sisera was dead. He was killed by a woman named Jael. Had the presence of Deborah empowered Jael? We do not know. But she nailed him to the ground, so-to-speak. Deborah did tell Barak that credit would go to a woman for the victory. The key is that Israel was set free from King Jabin.

After their victory came a celebration entitle “Deborah’s Song.”


GOD is Honored When We Live Out What HE Leads Us to Do.

Let’s read Judges 5:1-5:

Deborah's Song

1 On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang:

2 When the leaders lead in Israel, when the people volunteer, praise the Lord.

3 Listen, kings! Pay attention, princes! I will sing to the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.

4 Lord, when You came from Seri, when You marched from the fields of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens poured [rain], the clouds poured water.

5 The mountains melted before the Lord, even Sinai before the Lord, the God of Israel.

God demonstrated HIS power from Egypt to the current time. The Canaanites worshipped Baal, a storm god.  But GOD controlled the elements. Iron clad chariots are heavy and do not fair well in mud.

Deborah’s song covered the covenant relationship of GOD with HIS chosen people, the Israelites, from Sinai through Seir, into Edom. 

Yes, it was clear that GOD gave the Israelites victory but would they, the Israelites, learn their lesson? When GOD delivers us from the snares of life, do we learn our lesson?

Are we an encourager when we encounter those who need encouraging or a hand up in life? As a friend, husband, wife, co-worker, neighbor, in a leadership position, etc. are we willing to go the extra mile to encourage or support others?


Blessings!!!