THE MINISTRY OF DEBORAH

THE MINISTRY OF DEBORAH

The book of Judges has a prophetess named Deborah. She was the first and only female judge that judged Israel at that time. Deborah was a nurse, a mother, deliverer, protector, and an encourager in her ministry.

A.   Introduction: The era of the judges was a turbulent one as God’s people lived a cyclical pattern: disobedience to God, foreign invasion, crying out to God in distress, and finally God raising up a leader to bring deliverance. One of those leaders was a woman called Deborah.

Deborah was a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth—a prophetess and Israel’s leader/judge (Judges 4:4). As judge, Deborah was a highly respected figure in the community, and people sought her out to settle their disputes. Her leadership gift also served to unify the nation and lead them to war against the Canaanites, and gave Barak, the army leader, the military strategy to win the battle.  Let us read Judges 4:1-7.

Judges 4:1-7 – “And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, when Ehud was dead.

2 And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.

3 And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.

5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?

7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.”

1. Deborah Was a Prophetess

Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.  Judges. 4:4-5

She dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah (Rebekah nurse who died) - Gen. 35:8) between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim; and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

Note this Deborah (Rebekah nurse) was buried in Bethel under an oak tree which was called Allon-bachuthor “the oak of weeping” So Deborah carried out her duty as a judge sitting under the palm tree of Deborah. This is where Rebecca’s nurse was buried years earlier. Prophetess Deborah must have got her name from Deborah the nurse of Rebekah. Genesis 35:8

2. Deborah As A Nurse For Israel

The bible is very meaningful book. Every word in the scriptures has a purpose. When you study the life of Deborah the judge, you will find that like her earlier namesake, she assumed the duty of a nurse.

As a nurse. Deborah was like a mother to Israel Her name literally means “bee” in the Hebrew and this has led her to be called “the Queen of the bee-hive of Israel”.

The ministry of Deborah fitted the role of a nurse as she was responsible for nursing a spiritually sick and backslidden Israel back to a healthy relationship with God. Deborah was also a mother to Israel.

3. Deborah A Mother of Israel

Judges 5:7

“the inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until THAT I DEBORAH AROSE, THAT I AROSE A MOTHER IN ISRAEL.”

How ‘sick’ was Israel at that time?  The scripture till us that the nation again did evil in the sight of the Lord after the death of Ehud – previous judge of Israel.  The Lord then allowed the Canaanites to oppress the children of Israel.

Jabin was the king of the Canaanites, and the commander of his army was named Sisera (judges 4:2). The Canaanites oppressed the children of Israel and killed the people and many of the inhabitants died because of them. The inhabitants became smaller and smaller in size.

4. Deborah As A Deliverer

Deborah was a deliverer.

She delivered the people from the oppression of the Canaanites. She was a woman which meant that she was weak and vulnerable. She called for Barak and sent him out to fight the Canaanites. 

 Judges 4:6-9

“She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. 7 I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’”

8 Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”

9 “Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.”

5. Deborah As A Protector

Deborah was a protector God had raised up for the children of Israel. She was judging the children of Israel. - Judges 4:5

Deborah arose and protect the people of Israel as Ehud died, she was at the mercy of her attacker who had an army of nine hundred chariots of iron – Judges 4:3 . The children of Israel were therefore harshly oppressed by the Canaanites for 20 years.

6. Deborah An Encourager

Deborah was an encourager for she encouraged the demoralized Barak and gave him confidence to lead the army of Israel against the Canaanites. - Judges 4:6

Judges 4:6 She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor.”

7. Deborah As A Restorer

Deborah was a restorer and a nurse to the nation. She nursed the spiritually sick and weak Israel and restored her back to health.

      Judges 5:11 – “They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the Lord go down to the gates.”

Like every judge Deborah was a deliverer. She delivered the people and restored from the oppression of the Canaanites. She restored the places of drawing water (wells) and there will be no archers or enemies there to take the women away from the drinking wells. Many of the womenfolk who gathered at the wells were probably taken away by the enemies and no one dared to go near the wells anymore until Deborah restored them. 

B. The Ministry of Deborah is a Type of the Life and Ministry of Lord Jesus

a)   Firstly, Jesus is our Deliverer - New American Standard

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

King James Version

“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”

b)   Secondly, Jesus was made vulnerable for our sake.

Deborah, as a woman, was vulnerable. Jesus was made vulnerable when He left His heavenly glory to take the form of a man.

(Philippians 2:5-8)

The Word became vulnerable when He became flesh.

c)    Thirdly, Jesus is our Protector.

Psalms 91:1-4 - He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

d)   Fourthly, Jesus is a Restorer and Nurse.

Jesus restores our soul. Psalms 23:3 – “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.”

A nurse looks after those that are sick and wounded. Likewise a shepherd carries the weak sheep until it is strong enough to stand by itself. That is why David said, “The Lord is my Shepherd.”

Deborah, as a shepherd, is a type of Jesus our Good Shepherd.

e)   Fifthly, Jesus is our Encourager.

When Barak was so demoralized that he had no confidence to lead the army of Israel alone, Deborah encouraged him by assuring him of her presence with him.  -  Judges 4:8,9

Jesus was an encourager in His three and half years of His ministry. He taught the disciples the word and showed them how to do the work of God. When He finished His earthly ministry he said to them “Look, I am with you, always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

Jesus gives us the word of encouragement by assuring us of His presence with us.

C.  Churches Need Spiritual Mothers

Churches today Need Spiritual Mothers

There are so many inner bruises in God’s people and the churches are losing them because of these hurts. The people do not want to go back to church. They are angry at a brother; angry at a sister; angry at a home leader, etc.

God needs mothers in His Church. He needs shepherds who will bring back those that are driven away. He needs shepherds who will strengthen those that are sick.  (Ezekiel 34:16). 

1, Application:  The onslaught of the enemy is indeed very real land the Body of Christ needs spiritual mothers to protect, nurse, cover and to restore the people of God.  Souls are precious, let us not lose them to the Canaanites – the enemies.

2. The Challenge For You

What about you today? Do you need restoration? Do you need to be delivered and saved? Are the enemies in the land of your heart?

Jesus Christ is your Saviour and Deliverer. He can set you free from the curse and destruction from the enemies in your life. So let Jesus come into your life, and believe in Him.  Amen!

Prayer:

 I thank you, Lord, that you love to do extraordinary things through ordinary people like me. Release me from any limitations I, others, or the enemy have put on my life that have kept me from the great plans you have for me, so that I might wake up and arise to shine the glory of the Lord! Amen

Benediction: May the Lord give you increase more and more, you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

(Psalms 115:14-15)