“Deborah”

Lesson Three

Scripture Reference: Judges 4:1-24; 5:1-31

Deborah means “a bee” -A honey bee to friends but a stinging be to enemies.

THE HOLY PROPHETESS (Judges 5:7) The inhabitants (means- people) of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother of Israel. – Deborah, wife of Lapidpoth, was a prophetess and judge of Israel. She had great leadership qualities and a great faith. Deborah was a divinely appointed deliverer and leader of Israel. She dwelt under a palm tree where the people of Israel came to ask for advice. Deborah was honored to be known as a “mother of Israel.” For twenty years, the Israelites were greatly oppressed by the Canaanites. The captain of the army of the enemy had 900 chariots of iron, and the Israelites felt they could not win against such strength. The Lord assured Deborah that He (the Lord) would win the victory for Israel. Deborah helped bring the nation from its despair and encouraged them to help themselves, because the Lord was on their side. She called Barak, the captain of the army to make plans for the battle. God had instructed them to go to battle with ten thousand men (Judges 4:6-7). 6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee then thousand men of the children of Naphatali and of the children of Zebulun? 7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his cahriots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand. Barak knew the value of Deborah’s counsel and asked her to go to war with the army of Israel. Deborah predicted that Sisera, captain of the Canaanite army, would be killed by a woman (Judges 4:8-9). Deborah was a wise and brave woman whose courage came from God.

THE HELP PROVIDED (Judges 4:14-16) 14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera in to thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. 15 And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down of his chariot, and fled away on his feet. 16 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left. – Because of Deborah’s prophesy, the army of Israel went to battle against the wicked Sisera. The Lord fought the battle for the Israelites as Deborah Prophesied. The Lord sent a bad storm (Judges 5:20-21). 20 They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera. 21The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength. The flood waters turned the plain into a place of mud (Judges 4-5). 4 LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water. 5 The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel. Barak and the army of Israel pursued (chase) after the chariots of the Canaanites. Because of the mud, the chariots were stuck so Barak and his men caught the Canaanite soldiers and killed them all except for Sisera (Judges 4:17-22. 17 Howbeit (means: But) 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. 18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turnedin unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle (means: rug). 19 And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him. 20 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and inquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No. 21. Then Jael Heber’s wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and died. 22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples. Sisera ran from Barak and sought safety from a friend, Heber. Heber’s wife, Jael, gave Sisera milk to drink and a place to rest. Sisera thought he was safe but while he slept, Jael took a large nail of the tent, and with a hammer drove the nail (tent pin) into Sisera’s temples (his head). The nail was too long that it went through the head andd fastened into the ground. Sisera died. Barak, who was chasing Sisera, came to Jael’s tent. She showed him what she had done to Sisera, and Barak spared their lives. God defeated the army of Canaan as Deborah prophesied (Judges 23-24). We learn that God can fight our battles.

THE HAPPY PRAISE (Judges 5:2) “Praise ye the Lord for the avenging (victory) of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.” Not only was Deborah a prophetess, she was also a poetess. After the battle, Deborah and Barak sang praises to God. They rehearsed how God had won the victory for Israel for His glory and honor. They blessed Jael who had killed Sisera. It was a shame for a brave strong soldiers to be killed by a woman, but this was God’s plan to defeat the enemy. Israel now had rest from the enemy for 40 years.

A Thought to Remember: Use your talents for the Lord! When we obey the Lord, He will give the victory for His glory and honor! “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Lesson to Learn – Discuss how Deborah used Godly wisdom. Deborah was not a prophetess who preached, but prophesied the future for God. God used her to bring victory to His people. Discuss how women can be used in the ministry. One Godly woman can make a difference in the home and ministry. Who you are is more important that what you are! No one can replace you!