Judges 4:1-10
1 Then the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, after Ehud died.
2 So the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; and the commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim.
3 The sons of Israel cried out to the Lord; for he had nine hundred iron chariots, and he oppressed the sons of Israel severely for twenty years.
4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.
5 She used to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel went up to her for judgment.
6 Now she sent word and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali, and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, has indeed commanded, ‘Go and march to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men from the sons of Naphtali and from the sons of Zebulun.
7 I will draw out to you Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his many troops to the river Kishon, and I will hand him over to you.’ ”
8 Then 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 She said, “I will certainly go with you; however, the fame shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh.
10 Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh, and ten thousand men went up with him; Deborah also went up with him.
Prophetess Deborah (1)
Debora the fourth judge
After 80 years of peace, Israel once again sinned against the Lord. This time, Jabin the king of Hazor was raised up as an instrument of judgment. The northern fortress city of Hazor had been destroyed during the time of Joshua, but it seems that the Canaanites rebuilt it since the Israelites did not settle there. The name Jabin is a royal title within the dynasty. (1) Deborah is the only woman among the twelve judges. She is referred to as a prophetess. Besides her, Miriam (Ex.15:20) and Huldah (2 Kings 22:14) are also called prophetesses in the Old Testament. (2) Deborah prophesied and mediated the people between Ramah and Bethel in the southern hill country of Ephraim. People from the region of Galilee also came to her. During that time, the people had lost trust in the priests and sought to hear the voice of God through the prophetess Deborah. (3) Deborah appointed Barak as a military leader, but Barak remained Deborah’s assistant.
Assistant Barak
(1) Deborah gave two commands to Barak. The first was to march to Mount Tabor, and the second was to gather ten thousand men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun. Hazor was located in the territory of Naphtali, and Barak himself belonged to the tribe of Naphtali. The main battlefield against Jabin the king of Hazor was the Valley of Jezreel, which belonged to the territory of Zebulun. (2) In response to Deborah’s call, Barak answered, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” Barak is not a cowardly person. His response is based on recognizing Deborah as a prophetess and believing that her presence guarantees the presence of the Lord. Barak understood that the presence of the Lord was the key to victory in battle. (3) Deborah accepts Barak’s offer, but she prophesies that the victory will be delivered into the hands of a woman, and it happens just as she said. What will you learn from the battle of Deborah and Barak? There can be various strategies in the Lord’s battle. The Lord is capable of using anyone He chooses.
Today's prayer
O God the Lord of hosts, I earnestly pray that Your presence accompanies me wherever I go today. If You will go with me, then I will go. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.