044. Deborah

044. Deborah

44

DEBORAH

Judges 4:4

INTRODUCTION Two in the Bible-Rebecca’s nurse(Genesis 35:8); the prophetess; name means "a bee," "a wasp. " This an age of "woman’s rights"-we hear of "new woman," "modern woman" ; the university woman, congress woman , medical woman, lawyer woman , etc. "Madam Secretary."

I. HISTORY OF DEBORAH 1. Lived in the romantic times of the Judges.

2. Those stormy times developed heroes and heroines.

3. A prophetess and judge of Israel.

4. First public woman mentioned in Bible.

5. No man fit to rule Israel.

II. VICTORY OF DEBORAH AND BARAK 1. Canaanites had oppressed Israel twenty years.

2. Deborah ordered Barak to muster army .

3. Must go against Jabin’s army-Sisera captain.

4. Barak would not go without Deborah.

5. Barak victorious.

III. DEBORAH CALLED A MAN TO HELP HER 1. She re spected God’s order for men to lead.

2. Called him, not in her own name, but Jehovah’s. ("Hath not Jehovah commanded.") 3. Her name not in Hebrews 11, but Barak is on the roll.

4. Man did not take honor from woman here.

5. It is the way Holy Spirit teach es us a lesson.

6. Deborah in her public work did not oppose men, but cooperated with man.

7. "Then sang Deborah and Barak" (Judges 5:1)--rejoiced together .

IV. HER FAITH IN GOD 1. Not weakened by public service.

2. It grew stronger by her victory 3. She a blessing to her people.

4. "The land had rest forty years." (Jud ges 5:31.) V. DEBORAH’ S PRIVATE LIFE 1. Her public success not built up on ruins of home-Iife.

2. No hint that she neglected husband and children .

3. "I arose a mother in Israel," she said. (Judges 5:7.) 4. She honored motherhood.

CONCLUSION Let all women who aspire to public service faithfully study Deborah; let man be on his guard, lest he be sold " into the hands of a woman."