Deborah the Chief Prophetess of Israel
Deborah was many things: a wife, a prophet, a judge, a commander, and also sang praises to the LORD. The “Song of Deborah,” is a beautiful account of thanksgiving, praise and song of victory. Have all been chosen by the LORD for some purpose. We need to have a personal relationship with the LORD to understand that purpose. Deborah inspires us to be courageous, obedient and confident in the works we do for the LORD.
Judges 4-5
The children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD after the death of Ehud. It was because of this that the LORD sold them into the hands of Jabin who was the king of Canaan. Rabin ruled in Hazor. Rabin had a captain, Sisera, he dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron and had oppressed the children of Israel for twenty years, the children of Israel cried unto the LORD. (Judges 4:1-3).
Deborah was a prophetess, and was the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. The children of Israel came up to her for judgment. She lived under the palm tree Deborah between Ramah and Beth-el in mount Ephraim. Deborah was a prophetess and a judge and she did have a personal relationship with the LORD. Before the LORD allowed Deborah judged Israel. (Judges 4:4-5).
Deborah sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali, and asked Barak if the LORD God of Israel had commanded, Barak to go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with him ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun. The LORD God would deliver into the hand of Barak Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude at the river Kishon. Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude (Judges 4:6-7).
Barak told Deborah he would go only if Deborah would go with him. If Deborah would not go then Barak would not go. Deborah said she would go with Barak. Deborah reminded Barak that if she went the honor that would be received because the LORD would sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him. (Judges 4:8-10).
Heber, the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobah the father in Law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and itched his tent on the plain of Zaanaim by Kedesh. He showed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. Deborah said unto Barak that this was the day which the LORD would deliver Sisera into his hand. Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. The Lord cause Sisera to panic, and all his chariots, and all his host, and they all the host of Sisera fell on the edge of the sword before Barak and there was not a man left. Sisera fled away on his feet. Barak pursued after the chariots, and after Sisera, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles. Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. (Judges 4:11-17).
Sisera was killed by Jael, the wife of Heber. Barak pursued Sisera until he discovered he was dead by the hand of Jael. The LORD God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel. And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan. (Judges 4:18-24).
Deborah proved she had a great relationship with the LORD and she gained confidence because of this close personal relationship. Deborah gave praise to the LORD God for saving and the avenging of Israel from Jabin king of Canaan. Deborah arose as a mother in Israel. It was not a usual job for a woman. Deborah recognized and accepted that she had been chosen by the LORD to guide His people. She guided Barak and the people according to the will of the LORD even though the people had turned from the LORD and they chose new gods. (Judges 5:1-12).
It was under the leadership of Deborah that inspires us as women of Christ. Deborah and Barak led the Israelites who had been defeated by Canaanites into a triumph victory. The LORD had choice of Barak as military commander who was either to afraid or too timid to answer the call. Deborah led the battle against the Canaanites. Then Sisera, the foreign king’s army commander was slain by Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite. The LORD gave two women were credited with obeying the calling of the LORD and saving His people Israel. (Judges 5:12-24).
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MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “Deborah the Chief Prophetess of Israel:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Apr 2015.<https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2528,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015, April) “Deborah the Chief Prophetess of Israel:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2528,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) “Deborah the Chief Prophetess of Israel: .” Becker Bible Studies Library (April), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2528, (accessed).
Joanne B. Holstein is a Becker Bible Studies teacher and author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She has received her Master of Science degree in Psychology/Christian Counseling with honors from Liberty University. She is well-known as a counselor to Christian faithful who are struggling with tremendous burden in these difficult times. She is a leading authority on the history of development of the Christian churches and the practices and beliefs of world religions and cults.
