God loves strong women. We in church should do it too. Our celebration for strong women in the body of Christ must be heard loud and clear. What also needs to be heard is a cheerful welcome to what the Bible celebrates as a strong woman. There is no biblical formula for a strong and devoted woman. But as the Spirit opens our eyes, we can constantly look into God’s revelation to have an ever clearer vision.
I’ve been going over Deborah’s story in Judges 4 to 5 lately. Does this strong woman stand out: one of the few prophets mentioned and the only female judge mentioned in Israel?Possibly the most dedicated.
- I love the portrait of Deborah.
- Lapidote’s wife.
- Sitting at work under this palm tree in the mountainous region of Ephraim: “And the children of Israel went to see her in court?”(Judges 4.
- 4-5).
- Here is a strong woman used by God to exercise strategic leadership among God’s people; It’s beautiful and precious to understand for us.
- The more we see how the Bible shows us Deborah’s strength.
- The better we see its beauty and breadth.
- To do this.
- We will make four observations about this story of a strong woman.
Deborah is part of a broader story
When we meet Deborah, we find part of Abraham’s posterity that God has promised to multiply and bless. The people of Israel have the word of God and are established on the earth they have promised, on the way to becoming a great kingdom by which God would bless the nations of this fallen world, but in the book of judges, they disobey him again and again, gradually going from bad to worse.
Every time they turn away from the Lord, he allows enemy nations to oppress them, but every time they scream for help, he saves them. Deborah participates in one of these rescues, she did not know, but all these rescues indicated the great ransom that God would achieve through this promised seed, her own Son.
Deborah was one of the people who were part of God’s redemptive plan for humanity, and faithfully played his part. I begin here celebrating this strong woman, because human strength, as the scriptures show, is only a derived force. There is no strength except that given by the Creator God in whom there is eternal life and strength. He’s the only source. From a fallen world with sinners, choose a people to save and use for their purposes of salvation. Deborah is mostly part of this chosen town, aren’t we going to start talking about strong women?or men beyond this great story of what God does.
Deborah’s story does not primarily concern Deborah. The lead and sovereign actor in this story is God. It is a great exercise: read Judges 4-5, noting all references to God. From the introduction (Judges 4: 1?2) to the climax (Judges 4:14?15) to the conclusion (Judges 4:23?24), this story speaks of what God does.
When we celebrate Deborah’s strength, we first celebrate the Almighty God of which Deborah’s story is part.
Deborah not only enters the stream of God’s word, but she speaks the word of God herself. Of course, this is what true prophets did: they pronounced the word of the Lord as He gave it to them. And that’s what we see. Deborah doing throughout this story. Calling Barac to fight Sisara, she appeals: “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you?(Judges 4. 6). In the commandments (Judges 4. 6, 14), trials (Judges 4. 9) and promises (Judges 4. 7, 14), Deborah’s mouth is filled with the word of God.
When we celebrate Deborah’s strength, we celebrate a woman in the language of whom the word of God was found. Of course, in Deborah’s day, the written word was not yet complete, and God spoke several times and in many ways for His prophets. While now, in these latter days, God has spoken to us through His Son (Hebrews 1. 1?2). The scriptures, which reveal this Son, are complete. In the language of today’s strong women or men, there is the word of God in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.
Deborah not only says the word of God; she obeys him. With your words, is it obvious a heart of submission to God’s revealed plan?specifically to God’s revealed leaders. Deborah he he himself transmitted this order.
She clearly respects and embraces the role of God-ordained Barac. Even when Barac is afraid to obey, Deborah does not denigrating or replace him; Instead, it helps you. You immediately agree to accompany him when prompted. Now she gives God’s judgment of Barac’s weakness: Sisara himself will not die at the hands of Barac, but at the hands of another strong woman, Jael. The two strong women support the narrative as pillars that support the house.
May it not seem right that in the room of faith?11 That the fearsome Barac may be named in the list of the faithful (Hebrews 11:32). I don’t think Deborah cares; Indeed, was this Deborah’s intention: to elevate the rulers of Israel?encourage them and help them act as leaders.
We know this about Deborah not only through his interaction with Barak, but also through his singing. Deborah professes the word of God; she obeys him; And finally, she sings it!As we move from chapter 4 to chapter 5 of poetry, Deborah first praises God for the leaders of Israel who have faithfully gone to battle:
“Since the chiefs took the lead in Israel and the people volunteered, I have blessed the Lord. “Judges 5. 2
Deborah not only praises God for the men she has led; In verses 16-17, she also names and disapproves of those who have not. Verse 9 reveals his heart to God’s ordained rulers:
? My heart is with the commanders of Israel, who have volunteered among the people; Bless the Lord. Judges 5. 9
Basically, this Spirit-inspired poetry shows a heart turned to the Lord God and his designs. Using figures reminiscent of the exodus, Deborah sings glory to God for the liberation of his people, including the destruction of his enemies. these goals through voluntary male leaders; by Jael, “the most blessed of women”; and on its own, one?mother in Israel? (Judges 5. 4-7, 24-31). Deborah reveals the blessings of men and women who volunteer for the Lord to do the various works he calls them to do.
When we celebrate Deborah’s strength, we celebrate a woman who speaks and obeys the word of God, and who sings it with all her heart!Through his song, Deborah bears witness to how God uses men and women to serve Him, and each type of service requires a lot of strength. Read Deborah’s verses of Jael: they speak of skill, not only with a laborer’s hammer and a stake, but with the power of a poet inspired by the elaboration of words that pierce the heart.
Judges 4-5 remind me to first look at my Almighty Creator and Redeemer, whose word dominates my days. I live in your story, as a woman in particular, I am urged to see how God prepares, calls, and uses men and women in a distinctive way. I pray to serve faithfully as a woman full of words. I pray that my heart will go to the people whom God calls spiritual. church leaders, according to the apostle Paul’s teachings. They’re imperfect and sometimes weak, and so am I. Sometimes I’m strong when they’re weak.
Can I bless God for their saving purposes by calling on his people to serve our perfect Liberator together?and that I am ready to wage spiritual battles with and in any way I can, helping selected entrepreneurs lead the body of Christ.
Like Deborah, may more and more strong and consecrated women speak, obey and sing with joy for the glory of Christ our Lord.