Here Come the Judges Part 4: Deborah – An Exceptional Judge Judges 4:1-10

Judges 4:1 And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord after Ehud died.

Same story… with a few unexpected events And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord after Ehud died. And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim. And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord after Ehud died. And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim.

Same story… with a few unexpected events Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, for he had 900 chariots of iron and he oppressed the people of Israel cruelly for twenty years. (Judges 4:1-3)

Same story… with a few unexpected events Same story…Same story… The Israelites do evil.The Israelites do evil.

Same story… with a few unexpected events Same story…Same story… The Israelites do evil.The Israelites do evil. The Lord hands the Israelites over to oppressing nations.The Lord hands the Israelites over to oppressing nations.

Same story… with a few unexpected events Same story…Same story… The Israelites do evil.The Israelites do evil. The Lord hands the Israelites over to oppressing nations.The Lord hands the Israelites over to oppressing nations. The Israelites cry out to the Lord.The Israelites cry out to the Lord.

Same story… with a few unexpected events Same story…Same story… The Israelites do evil.The Israelites do evil. The Lord hands the Israelites over to oppressing nations.The Lord hands the Israelites over to oppressing nations. The Israelites cry out to the Lord.The Israelites cry out to the Lord. The Lord rescues them through a judge who delivers them for a period of time.The Lord rescues them through a judge who delivers them for a period of time.

Same story… with a few unexpected events Unexpected events…Unexpected events… This context of the story is after Ehud died.This context of the story is after Ehud died.

Same story… with a few unexpected events Unexpected events…Unexpected events… This context of the story is after Ehud died.This context of the story is after Ehud died.

Same story… with a few unexpected events The oppressor has the same name of a king who was killed by Joshua.The oppressor has the same name of a king who was killed by Joshua.

Same story… with a few unexpected events Unexpected events…Unexpected events… God placed his own people under the oppression of King Jabin.God placed his own people under the oppression of King Jabin.

Same story… with a few unexpected events Unexpected events…Unexpected events… This context of the story is after Ehud died.This context of the story is after Ehud died. The oppressor has the same name of a king who was killed by Joshua.The oppressor has the same name of a king who was killed by Joshua. God placed his own people under the oppression of King Jabin.God placed his own people under the oppression of King Jabin.

Deborah – the exceptional judge Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel came up to her for judgment. Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel came up to her for judgment.

Deborah – the exceptional judge She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali and said to him, “Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you, ‘Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of Zebulun. She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali and said to him, “Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you, ‘Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of Zebulun.

Deborah – the exceptional judge And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hand’?” (Judges 4:4-7) And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hand’?” (Judges 4:4-7)

Deborah – the exceptional judge Deborah had a husband (4:4)Deborah had a husband (4:4) “isshah lappidot”,“isshah lappidot”, “wife of Lappidoth”“wife of Lappidoth” “woman of torches“woman of torches

Deborah – the exceptional judge Deborah had a husband (4:4)Deborah had a husband (4:4) Why is she the judge and not her husband? Because God called her and not him.Why is she the judge and not her husband? Because God called her and not him.

Deborah – the exceptional judge Deborah had a ministry (4:4)Deborah had a ministry (4:4) She was a prophetess- which means she was endowed with the ability to discern the mind and purposes of God and declare it to others.

Deborah – the exceptional judge Deborah had spiritual authority (4:4)Deborah had spiritual authority (4:4) The word “judge” lets us know that she settled disputes among the people of Israel.The word “judge” lets us know that she settled disputes among the people of Israel.

Deborah – the exceptional judge Deborah hadDeborah had spiritual authority (4:4)

Deborah – the exceptional judge Deborah had limits (4:6)Deborah had limits (4:6) She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali and said to him, “Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you, ‘Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of Zebulun. She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali and said to him, “Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you, ‘Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of Zebulun.

Deborah – the exceptional judge Deborah had divine plans (4:7)Deborah had divine plans (4:7) ‘Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of Zebulun. And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hand’?”

Deborah – the exceptional judge Deborah had motivational skills (4:6-9)Deborah had motivational skills (4:6-9) She confronts Barak with God’s command (6) and strengthened him with God’s promise (7) and encouraged Barak with her presence (9).

Barak – an unaccepted challenge Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” And she said, “I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.”

Barak – an unaccepted challenge Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. And Barak called out Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh. And 10,000 men went up at his heels, and Deborah went up with him. (Judges 4:8-10)

Barak – an unaccepted challenge Barak puts a condition on his obedience (4:8)Barak puts a condition on his obedience (4:8)

Barak – an unaccepted challenge Barak puts a condition on his obedience (4:8)Barak puts a condition on his obedience (4:8) Barak forfeited the honor of a champion (4:9)Barak forfeited the honor of a champion (4:9)

Barak – an unaccepted challenge Barak puts a condition on his obedience (4:8)Barak puts a condition on his obedience (4:8) Barak forfeited the honor of a champion (4:9)Barak forfeited the honor of a champion (4:9) Barak was not dismissed from God’s who’s who of heroes.Barak was not dismissed from God’s who’s who of heroes.

Barak – an unaccepted challenge And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice,

Barak – an unaccepted challenge obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness,became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. (Hebrews 11:32-34 )

Bottom Line: A creative God is not bound by conventional methods!A creative God is not bound by conventional methods!

For those not yet living Jesus-centered Sin will offer a high price to own you as a slave – but it’s resources are bankrupted by God’s grace!Sin will offer a high price to own you as a slave – but it’s resources are bankrupted by God’s grace!

For those not yet living Jesus-centered If you are caught in a cycle of sin – quitting your sins will not break the cycle – being set free from sin is what breaks the cycle.If you are caught in a cycle of sin – quitting your sins will not break the cycle – being set free from sin is what breaks the cycle.

For those living Jesus-centered Listening for God’s voice means I refuse to predict how God will speakListening for God’s voice means I refuse to predict how God will speak

For those living Jesus-centered You become powerful over your enemies when you depend on the power in you not around you.You become powerful over your enemies when you depend on the power in you not around you.

For those living Jesus-centered God delights to honor those who assume He is worthy of our faith and demonstrate it by faithful behavior.God delights to honor those who assume He is worthy of our faith and demonstrate it by faithful behavior.