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Deborah’s Song

Psalm 159 from Beyond Psalm 150

After Moses dies, his successor, Joshua, leads the people to conquer and settle in the promised land. Then a series of judges (leaders) work to free the people from recurring cycles of oppression.

The book of Judges lists one female judge among many male counterparts. Deborah, a judge and a prophet, takes the mantle of leadership when Barak lacks the courage to do so by himself. Through her direction, God provides the nation of Israel with victory. In doing so, another woman, Jael, plays a decisive part.

Deborah (along with Barak) then offers this psalm of praise to God for delivering them from their enemies.

“Because the leaders took the lead in Israel,
    because the people offered themselves willingly,
be blessed, Yahweh!
“Hear, you kings!
    Give ear, you princes!
I, even I, will sing to Yahweh.
    I will sing praise to Yahweh, the God of Israel.
“Yahweh, when you went out of Seir,
    when you marched out of the field of Edom,
the earth trembled, the sky also dropped.
    Yes, the clouds dropped water.
The mountains quaked at Yahweh’s presence,
    even Sinai at the presence of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
“In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath,
    in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied.
    The travelers walked through byways.
The rulers ceased in Israel.
    They ceased until I, Deborah, arose;
    Until I arose a mother in Israel.They chose new gods.
    Then war was in the gates.
    Was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?
My heart is toward the governors of Israel,
    who offered themselves willingly among the people.
    Bless Yahweh!
“Speak, you who ride on white donkeys,
    you who sit on rich carpets,
    and you who walk by the way.
Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water,
    there they will rehearse Yahweh’s righteous acts,
    the righteous acts of his rule in Israel.
“Then Yahweh’s people went down to the gates.
‘Awake, awake, Deborah!
    Awake, awake, utter a song!
    Arise, Barak, and lead away your captives, you son of Abinoam.’
“Then a remnant of the nobles and the people came down.
    Yahweh came down for me against the mighty.
Those whose root is in Amalek came out of Ephraim,
    after you, Benjamin, among your peoples.
Governors come down out of Machir.
    Those who handle the marshal’s staff came out of Zebulun.
The princes of Issachar were with Deborah.
    As was Issachar, so was Barak.
    They rushed into the valley at his feet.
By the watercourses of Reuben,
    there were great resolves of heart.
Why did you sit among the sheepfolds?
    To hear the whistling for the flocks?
At the watercourses of Reuben,
    there were great searchings of heart.
Gilead lived beyond the Jordan.
    Why did Dan remain in ships?
    Asher sat still at the haven of the sea,
    and lived by his creeks.
Zebulun was a people that jeopardized their lives to the death;
    Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.
“The kings came and fought,
    then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo.
    They took no plunder of silver.
From the sky the stars fought.
    From their courses, they fought against Sisera.
The river Kishon swept them away,
    that ancient river, the river Kishon.
    My soul, march on with strength.
Then the horse hoofs stamped because of the prancing,
    the prancing of their strong ones.
‘Curse Meroz,’ said Yahweh’s angel.
    ‘Curse bitterly its inhabitants,
    because they didn’t come to help Yahweh,
    to help Yahweh against the mighty.’
“Jael shall be blessed above women,
    the wife of Heber the Kenite;
    blessed shall she be above women in the tent.
He asked for water.
    She gave him milk.
    She brought him butter in a lordly dish.
She put her hand to the tent peg,
    and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer.
With the hammer she struck Sisera.
    She struck through his head.
    Yes, she pierced and struck through his temples.
At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay.
    At her feet he bowed, he fell.
    Where he bowed, there he fell down dead.
“Through the window she looked out, and cried:
   Sisera’s mother looked through the lattice.
‘Why is his chariot so long in coming?
    Why do the wheels of his chariots wait?’
Her wise ladies answered her,
    Yes, she returned answer to herself,
‘Have they not found, have they not divided the plunder?
    A lady, two ladies to every man;
to Sisera a plunder of dyed garments,
    a plunder of dyed garments embroidered,
    of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the plunder?’
“So let all your enemies perish, Yahweh,
    but let those who love him be as the sun when it rises in its strength.”

Judges 5:2–31 (WEB)

Reflections on Deborah’s Song

Like Deborah, we may find ourselves in positions we didn’t want. And like Barak, we may cower from what God wants us to do.

When faced with what we don’t want, do we pull back in human fear or move forward in godly power? Are we able to praise Yahweh for the results? May we have the courage to do what’s right and what God calls us to do.

Explore the other psalms—sacred songs of praise, petition, and lament—scattered throughout the Bible in Peter’s book Beyond Psalm 150.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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Bible Insights

Deborah, the Judge and Hero

Judge Deborah

Judge Deborah was a reluctant hero.

Deborah, also a prophetess, received instructions from God to relay to Barak. His mission was to lead a battle against their oppressors.

When she shared this with Barak, he balked (as did Moses, Jonah, Gideon, and many others when God called them to a task).

Barak didn’t want to go alone and insisted Deborah go with him. She agreed, but predicted that if she did, a woman would receive credit for the victory and not Barak.

Apparently emboldened by her presence, Barak then did as instructed and led the army to victory.

There’s no mention of her actually doing anything to ensure victory, except that she merely going with Barak. Yet, she receives more accolades than Barak

I’m not sure if Barak lacked confidence in himself or in God, but either way, he wavered and didn’t obey God without question. Despite Barak’s reluctance, God still accomplished his purpose, albeit through Deborah.

It is always easier to serve God with a friend, but sometimes what God asks for is a solo effort.

[Read through the Bible with us this year. Today’s reading is Judges 4-6, and today’s post is on Judges 4:8-9.]

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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Women in the Bible: Jael

When Barak and the Israelite army routes Sisera’s army, Sisera escapes and takes refuge with Jael. He seeks her because her clan has a favorable history with his country.

Pretending to protect him, Jael takes him in, attends to his needs, and then slays him by bashing in his scull while he sleeps. Though a violent and gruesome attack, it’s likely the only means she has to kill him.

She is strong enough to do this and brave enough to take decisive action.

This fulfills the prophecy of Judge Deborah who, after Barak’s reluctance to obey God, foretells that the credit for the death of Sisera will go to a woman instead of Barak.

As a tribute to Jael’s valor, Deborah immortalizes Jael’s actions in song.

[Jael’s story is in Judges 4:17-22, and the ode to her boldness is in Judges 5:24-27.]

Learn about other biblical women in Women of the Bible, available in e-book, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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The Honor for the Victory Goes to a Woman

Barak Chickens Out and Insists Judge Deborah Goes with Him

The book of Judges is a colorful read about some strange characters. Except for Judge Deborah, all the other judges in this book are male. That makes Deborah unique.

Perhaps that’s why I like her so much, even more so than the better-known Gideon and Samson.

Passing on God’s instructions, Deborah tells Barak to raise an army and go fight their enemy, led by Sisera. Barak cowers. He says the only way he’ll do that is if Deborah goes with him. What a chicken. What a poor example of leadership.

Judge Deborah agrees to go with him, but she gives him a warning.

She prophesies that since he won’t do as God instructed, the credit for the victory will go to a woman (Judges 4:8-9). I once thought she’s referring to herself. But she isn’t. She’s talking about another woman.

As the battle wages on—that Barak leads with Deborah’s support—the enemy Sisera flees for his life. He ends up at the home of Jael. She welcomes him and pretends to befriend him. She feeds him and lulls him to sleep.

Then she drives a tent peg into his temple and kills him (Judges 4:21). Though it’s graphic, much like the rest of the book of Judges, a tent peg is likely the only means she has available to kill him.

Jael is the woman Deborah prophesied about. Jael is the one who receives credit for the victory. And we get confirmation of this in the next chapter when we read what I call the Psalm of Deborah.

There she blesses Jael and recounts the details of her exploits (Judges 5:24-27).

We hail Judge Deborah as a courageous woman and worthy judge. We remember Barak for his lack of courage and cowardice. And we celebrate Jael for her brave actions. The honor of this victory goes to her.

[Read through the Bible this year. Today’s reading is Judges 4-6, and today’s post is on Judges 5:24.]

Learn about other biblical women in Women of the Bible, available in e-book, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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Bible Insights

Women in the Bible: Deborah

Deborah’s story is in the book of Judges. Though they call her a judge, she is primarily a prophetess, a person who hears from God. Judge Deborah is notable as the only female judge listed in the book of Judges.

Judge Deborah receives a message from God for Barak. Through her, God commands Barak to raise an army and attack their enemy.

God even promises Barak he will prevail, but Barak balks, saying he will do it only if Deborah goes with him.

She consents, although confirming that because of his reluctance, the honor of killing the enemy’s leader, Sisera, will go to a woman.

While we may infer this woman is Deborah, it is actually another woman, Jael. Even so, Deborah receives more credit than Barak for the overall victory.

Although Deborah lives in a male-dominated society, when a man doesn’t do what he is supposed to, she steps in to ensure action is taken.

We commend her for her faith and her bravery. She is a strong example to all, both men and women.

[The story of Judge Deborah is in Judges 4 and 5.]

Learn about other biblical women in Women of the Bible, available in e-book, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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Judge Deborah

Deborah is another familiar judge, with two chapters in the book of Judges devoted to her. There are some noteworthy facts about her:

First, she is the only female judge in the entire book. This was very counter-cultural for the day—and very cool!

Second, she was the only judge who actually “held court”—which would be consistent with our modern understanding of what a judge does.

Third, she was also a prophetess. Although there are many prophets listed in the Bible, there are only seven prophetesses (a female prophet). They are:

  • Miriam (Moses and Aaron’s sister), Exodus 15:20
  • Deborah, Judges 4:4
  • Huldah, 2 Kings 22:14 and 2 Chronicles 34:22
  • Noadiah (a bad prophetess), Nehemiah 6:14
  • Isaiah’s wife, whose name is not given, Isaiah 8:3
  • Anna, the prophetess in the temple who was waiting for Jesus, Luke 2:36
  • Jezebel, the evil prophetess mentioned in the Revelation 2:20.

Deborah was also a reluctant hero. She didn’t want notoriety, but that is exactly what she received.

Learn about other biblical women in Women of the Bible, available in e-book, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.