A Certain Trumpet
Biblical character series
By Ken May
Special to The Alabama Baptist
Couples have named their daughters after her. She is recounted as the only female judge of Israel, but what do we really know about the woman Deborah? What do we know about her background? Her lineage? While we know more about judges like Samson and Gideon, what we know of Deborah is derived from one chapter of narrative (Judg. 4), and one chapter of Deborah’s song (Judg. 5:2–21).
Who are the judges?
After the conquest of the Promised Land, the “nation” of Israel lived as a loose confederation of tribes with no central authority, no central government, no capital city and no central administrative structure. The elders of each tribe adjudicated matters according to their traditions. Only in times of danger did Yahweh raise up a judge, someone upon whom “the Spirit of Yahweh rushed” who would call out the tribes to repel the foe, since there was no standing army. And while there was no mechanism to compel the tribes to participate, they usually did so and were roundly cursed if they did not.
Old Testament scholar John Bright reminds us in “A History of Israel” that though “the judge enjoyed great prestige, he was in no sense a king,” and the authority was “neither absolute nor permanent.” We also recognize that the authority and the position was not hereditary and no human basis determined the selection of the judge by Yahweh, but it “rested solely in the personal qualities” that gave evidence of the presence of the Spirit of Yahweh.
Who is Deborah?
Here is what we are told in the Scriptures. Deborah begins her era of judging Israel after the death of Ehud. “The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord … the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin, the king of Canaan” and his commander, Sisera. This period of oppression lasted for 20 years (Judg. 4:1–2)
The people cried out to the Lord for help. Without introduction Deborah is presented as the one who was “judging Israel at that time.” That simple statement is what we are given. She is described as the wife of Lappidoth. No more information is given, not even the name of her parents (Judg. 4:4).
Deborah’s place of judging was under a palm between Ramah and Bethel, two towns in a north-south line in the southern part of hill country of Ephraim due north of Jerusalem, not yet a prominent place in the country’s history. We remember Bethel as the place of Jacob’s initial vision of Yahweh, recorded in Genesis 28.
Deborah summons Barak
So we come to the story of Deborah. Yahweh has raised her up to judge and to provide relief from Jabin and the Canaanites. Upon inspiration and guidance from God, she summons Barak to raise up an army of 10,000 from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun to win the victory over Sisera and Jabin’s army. She outlines God’s plan but Barak refuses to obey unless Deborah accompanies him.
Because of his lack of trust, Barak will receive no glory from God’s victory and the enemy’s leader will be handled by another woman, Jael.
What can we say about Deborah?
Deborah was a prophetess and judge selected by God. We do not have information from Scripture as to how this God-given authority was recognized or validated; we simply know the judge served. It was evident in each of the judges that God was guiding their words and actions.
Deborah spoke the truth of God, declaring that God had promised deliverance from Jabin, Sisera and the Canaanites. Such declaration in the day would not, nor could it have come from anything other than Yahweh. The situation was desperate and called for divine intervention. Similarly, in our land today it will take the extraordinary movement of God in the lives of His children to bring about the revival we need. Man cannot contrive it or construct it. It must be the movement of God.
Deborah recognized Barak’s lack of faith and pronounced judgment upon it. You and I do not know what caused Barak’s lack of faith or trust in the words Deborah spoke. While Barak was able to lead the army to victory, God did not allow Barak to complete the task, just as Moses did not get to lead the people into the Promised Land because of his disobedience and David did not get to build the temple because of the murder of Uriah. God is clear that you and I must trust Him completely and be obedient.
Deborah and Jael, rather than Barak, are seen in Deborah’s song in Chapter 5 as the real leaders who brought the victory God had promised. While Barak’s role is recognized and the participating tribes are commended, Deborah and Jael receive praise. “The peasantry ceased in Israel, they ceased until you arose, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel” (Judg. 5:7). Of Jael it is said, “Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, of tent-dwelling women most blessed” (Judg. 5:24). Yet who is the real hero in Deborah’s song? It is Yahweh. “The mountains quaked before the Lord” (Nah. 1:5). “So perish all thine enemies, O Lord” (Judg. 5:31).
When you and I speak God’s truth into our world, we must recognize that it will not always be received warmly. God’s truth is not comprised of “feel-good” sayings, but words of conviction and challenge. Pronouncing judgment on sin is not a heartwarming experience. It is challenging and runs the risk of rejection of the person pronouncing it. It takes conviction and obedience.
What is it about a great leader that makes us take notice? Is it not their willingness to rise up and lead out when no one else steps forward? Is it not their humility in leading that allows God to have the glory? Is it not their forthrightness in declaring God’s truth even if it may not be popular? Oh, that we would be those who speak God’s truth clearly in love.
Editor’s Note — Ken May is director of missions-emeritus for Montgomery Baptist Association and chairman of the Baptist Student Union Alumni National Network. He and his wife, Helen, have two children and three grandchildren.
Share with others: