Topic:
STEP OUT AND TAKE CHARGE LIKE – DEBORAH!
Text:
JUDGES 4 AND 5
read judges4:1-9, 14-21, 5:1,3b,5,7-9,12
Chapter
5 is the triumphal
song
Introduction
Maybe
it was these that led, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to say,
"In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything
done, ask a woman."
Stepping
out in this our walk of faith can often be intimidating and cause us to have
moments of fear as we are more often than not called to step out into the
unknown. Here was a courageous, bold woman who is a respected prophetess and
outstanding and passionate leader of her time. She was a woman of strength plus
conviction and brought order out of chaos. Deborah was a wise yet patient woman
that I like to best describe as an eagle!! An extraordinarily humble woman. She
was one who is willing to disadvantage herself in order to advantage the
nation. And so her focus is clear. Even if our "army" is a small
group of volunteers or a team at work or at home, we can learn from Deborah's
leadership style by putting aside any personal agenda, listening for God's
clear direction, and letting others know who really is running the show. and I
just want us to explore on what makes Deborah this unique personality.
BACKGROUND
Judges was most likely written during
the time of the kings of Israel. The Israelites, now in
the Promised Land went through a constant cycle of falling into sin, being
punished by God via an attack by enemy invaders, crying out to the Lord in
repentance and a Judge being raised up to lead the nation back towards God and
deliver them from their troubles.
The stories in the book of judges may
have been a way of looking back at their past and trying to glorify their
present. Each of the stories in Judges is cyclical with the people being oppressed,
crying out for deliverance, being delivered and then making God mad and ending
up being oppressed again. This cycle could only come to an end with the advent
of a king.
We may not know for sure how Deborah
became a leader because other than her husband’s name, no personal information
is provided for her. However, there are clues in the Song. A time of chaos is
described preceding her appearance on the scene when “travelers took to the
winding paths and all village life in Israel ceased.” In other words, times
were bad, folks kept away from the main roads, left their villages and fled to
the “protection of walled cities” while gangs roamed the land. People lived in
fear.
Then something wonderful happened. A
leader rose up in the Israelites time of need. And lo and behold, it was a
woman. “I Deborah arose, arose a mother in Israel.” The people were being
reminded that God had not forgotten them. The people put their lives back
together and began to feel a stirring of hope. This led them to want to throw
off the oppression they were living under.
The focal figure of a woman as
leader and commander is out of step with the way things were usually done in a
patriarchal world. A woman in charge is not an image that readily comes to mind
when we think of the Old Testament world. And while it is true that there are
many other examples in the Old Testament of women who helped to rule their
tribes, Deborah is the one who “judged” - alone among a host of male leaders.
Perhaps we can call her A rose among thorns.
Identification
Deborah
is a woman who is defined by her role as leader. Despite her husband’s name,
she stands alone. Strong independent women who lead, like Martha, Phoebe, Priscilla
and others, are a feature of the New Testament where they are numerous and do
not seem unusual. Perhaps they looked to Deborah as an example of how a strong
woman should behave.
You
see albert Einstein wished to do something Great and Wonderful, but he
acknowledged that he must start by doing the little things like they were Great
and Wonderful” . This is the exact lesson we learn from Deborah. Note that
her story doesn’t just begin with the wonderful victory in battle but by the
fact that she resolved diputes within and amongst the people. She began
somewhere. As a matter of fact she began under the palm tree. Indeed to be great you don’t have to start
great but start wherever you are and do everything greatly. Do not despise
humble beginnings.
In
verse 9 Deborah actually accompanies Barak and we can see Barak’s confidence
and trust in God is tested as Deborah tells him the Lord’s command. But here is
courageous and bold Deborah who stands by Him and affirms Him over and over
despite the great army they are to face – sisera –900 iron chariots. The role of both prophets and women
in battle at that time was crucial. Prophets “played many roles in battle they
muster and they inspire.” Deborah goes with him to where the troops are
assembling and then watches the battle. She does not fight. Yet she has a
weapon just the same. Her words are her weapons. Her role is to “inspire, predict and
celebrate in song.” Indeed very timely is verse 14 she charges
barak at the appointed time. ‘get ready’ she says. Here is wisdom in action
“Wisdom is knowing what to do next. Virtue is doing it.” The famous David
Starr Jordan said.
What
would you do if you knew you could not fail? You see many times we venture into
something but our minds are filled with endless doubts! Questions of, ‘what if’
and ‘what if’? But here goes a woman who knew Victory was granted and soooo
assured!! She knew what has been assured to her people and had no intention of
looking back. As she says in the Song of Deborah: “March on my soul with courage!
Conclusion
For the prophets of the Old Testament, failure in the area of either
social injustice or general wickedness was always linked with the failure to
‘know’ God. Indeed it is clear that righteousness and
justice are the foundation of God’s throne” (Psalms 89:14). God governs the
world by his righteous laws. However, I believe that at the heart of this story
is the message that for us to step out we need to have faith no matter what the
odds.
Deborah
confirms that, we must Plan, act and above all you must believe “To accomplish
great things, we must not only dream, but also act; not only plan, but also
believe.” In addition, Martin Luther junior said that, “The ultimate measure of
a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where
he stands at times of challenge and defining controversy.”
Deborah’s
faith never wavered. She showed the way to a people starving to be redeemed. She
pushed to show where her heart lay, she went where she felt God was leading.
Faith was her guide and her watchword. Too often we are fearful about letting
faith be our guide. Perhaps what we learn from Deborah is that having a strong
faith means we have to follow where God is leading us knowing that if the
valley gets dark God walks with us: even in painful situations. We have all
been in painful situations that required faith above what we thought we could
give.
Prof.
Habtu’s story that he would have a child after nine years of waiting.
I
know what I’m talking about and I could example of others but let me tell you, I
own faith that was tested about a year ago when it was so clear to me that I
ought to go back to school and train theologically. As I struggled to
understand my situation, my doubts surfaced and stared me in the face. It was
not an easy time in my life. However, God surrounded me with family and friends
who encouraged and prayed with me. Through their presence and through prayer, I
knew deep in my heart, despite my fear and questioning that indeed God was with
me. It was something I never understood as completely as I do now in my 2nd
year 2nd term. But it is something I now carry with me always.
What has/is the Lord impressing on your heart or on
your mind? What is that that He is/has already called you to step out and take
charge of? What is it you hear Him saying to you?
For
all of us God has a specified direction. Let me challenge you to arise and take
charge by stepping out!! God is with me. God was with Deborah. God is with us.
Amen.
