Judges: Deborah - Judges 4: 1-9

At the start of this sermon series I noted that there is only one passage of scripture from Judges that finds itself in the lectionary  - and this is it, friends. Deborah. Yet, how many of us know Deborah’s story. How many of us have heard Judges 4 read in our churches? Not many. See the Revised Common Lectionary gives preachers four passages to select from each Sunday, and it becomes really easy to avoid Deborah’s story.

It is only chapter 4 of Judges and we already find ourselves back in the cycle that we discussed last week. The Judge, or leader, Ehud, has died. The people strayed from the Lord, so God relieved them into the hands of the Canaanites. Times were not good. Finally, the people realized that they lacked hearing from God, that they were once again in need of saving, and they cried out to God. And God raised up for them Deborah. 

Deborah was known as many things - the wife of Lappidoth, a prophetess, and yes, a judge. She would make herself available to the people of Israelites as she sat under a particular tree, day after day, and the people would come to her. But she also didn’t just wait for folks to come to her, she also summoned them when she had something to say. 

One day she called for a man named Barak and told him that God had chosen him to be the one who would defeat the Canaanite armies. And he bulked. We’ve been there right? God lays out this amazing vision for what God is capable of doing and we back up a little. Are you sure you mean me, Lord? Is this really the right time? Have you seen how fallible I am? I think you meant someone else. 

But instead of wearing his insecurities on his sleeve, Barak tried to be cunning. He said that he would go, but only if Deborah would go with him. He expected her to say no. A woman’s place wasn’t in the battlefield. Or if she said yes, hopefully her husband would reign her in, and he would say no. Only that isn’t what happens. Deborah gave a great declaration that “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 was disgraced and his plan had backfired. 

The story of Deborah and Barak is a powerful one. Yet, how often do we remember Deborah’s name and how often do we remember Barak’s? Here is this woman leader in Israel who the author doesn’t even know what to do with. Think about it - often when a male Judge is spoken of, or even another leader like Barak, all that is said is who they are related to. Whose family tree they are deeply tied into. But Deborah? The author or Judges have no idea what to do with Deborah, so instead she is described in this multifaceted way, which was just unusual. Who is she? Well first and foremost, she is a prophetess. A female prophet who was highly regarded at bringing the word of the Lord, when people least wanted to hear it, but needed it the most. She is also a wife. She has a husband who we just don’t know much about. But she is also a judge. Someone who served as a leader in a time of crisis and upheaval. 

Friends, we too, are multifaceted people. We may not be Deborah, but we are (say your name). You and you for such a time as this. The real question is where we are drawing our identity from. In a culture that told Deborah she should be one thing, she defied that in order to be who God called her to be. To the point where it confounded the poor author of Judges. Who are you called to be? And are you living into it today?

It is only because Deborah knew who she was and what her purpose from God was that she was able to both summon Barak with the prophecy and respond to him with authority when he tries to shrink away from the call that God had upon his life. Deborah’s words were not gentle, but they were true. In an honor-shame society, Deborah’s words from God would have landed a true blow of shame to Barak. He was about to be bested by a woman.

Fast forward past the part of scripture that we read today further into chapter 4. Folks who don’t know this story often assume that it is Deborah who killed Sisera. But that isn’t the case. Barak may not have known it at the time, but that wasn’t Deborah’s place in the story at all. Instead, that came through Jael - another person we don’t talk about enough in scripture. At a time when Sisera should have been with his army, he snuck off, and was killed with a tent peg to the temple of his head by Jael, thus doing what Barak was afraid to do and seizing the moment. 

Now am I saying that we should go out and kill our enemies in this manner? Certainly not. It was a different time in which the setting of Judges take place. But I am still fascinated by Barak and Deborah. One who knew what God called her to do and lived into it, and one who tried to avoid it at all costs. I keep wondering who we identify with in this story? And maybe, friends, it changes day by day. 

Are we the Deborah’s of this world. If you go on to read chapter 5 of Judges, it retells this story but in the form of a song or a poem. There Deborah was described as “most blessed of women”. Who are some other people who are described that way? Mary. When she carried the Christ child no matter what other people may say about her or what she was risking in terms of her own reputation and safety. And Hannah. Who argued with a priest who thought she was drunk, when really she was seeking the favor and face of the Lord. She won that argument and went on to carry Samuel, who would anoint King David. 

Being the most blessed in Biblical times did not mean that you were the most popular. Or that other people agreed with you or understood it. But it did mean that you fiercely followed the Lord, no matter what, and did extradonary things for the Lord. 

On the other hand you have Barak who received a pretty straight-froward word from the Lord, as communicated by Deborah, who by that point in time already had a reputation of being known as a prophet with wise counsel and leadership. If we are honest, her message to Barak was so clear that Barak shouldn’t have really been able to say anything but “okay, I’ll follow the Lord.” But instead, he tried to use Deborah as an excuse and a shield. For his lackluster obedience, he was brought to shame. 

Some days we are like that as well, friends. Telling the God who called us that we aren’t really willing to go. Or God needs to meet our conditions in order to illicit our obedience. And is that not a shame for us as well if we consider ourselves to be followers of Jesus Christ? 

Every single day we have a choice - are we going to be faithful to the call of God today or not? I have said more times than I can possible count that at the end of the day I am accountable to God. And if God has called then I have to follow. Friends, what is your answer going to be when God calls you? Will you like like Deborah or like Barak? Amen.