Deborah carries the distinction of being one who broke out of tradition and became the only female judge in a time when the hearts of the children of Israel see-sawed between serving the One True God and the Baal and the Asherahs of the land. She carries further distinction in that she is one of only two judges identified also as a prophet. And she carried such authority that people came up to see her, up into the mountains of Ephraim where she sat to judge, to settle their disputes. Coming up the mountain to see Deborah likely wasn’t an easy task, but the people were willing.
And Deborah sat under a palm tree. The prophetic symbolism here is that she sat and ruled from a place of joyful victory. And the palm tree was known as “the palm tree of Deborah” further signifying the level of authority she carried in the land.
By the time Deborah’s story begins, the LORD, in His displeasure with their behavior, had sold the children of Israel into the hand of King Jabin, a king who harshly oppressed them for twenty years, with nine hundred chariots of iron under the command of Sisera. It' is in this harsh climate that Deborah rises up as a prophet to judge a nation - until the Day everything changed, as all things must eventually change.
And on this Day, Deborah, as the woman of influence she is, calls and sends for Barak and when he ascends the mountain to meet with her she poses the question, “Has not the Lord God of Israel commanded? Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor and take with you ten thousand men…” In effect Deborah is saying, “the Lord says it’s time to go and fight Sisera and his army, and here’s the strategy.” Because Deborah has specific instructions from the Lord for as to where Barak should gather the men and where he should deploy the men. It’s a specific blueprint from the Lord that will grant Israel the victory and give God the glory. And Deborah is the one who’s been given the blueprint for Israel’s victory, and she is wise in the way she communicates with Barak (more in the manual).
Because Israel has no chariots of iron, just under-equipped and outnumbered men who are willing to fight. And what they have is the Lord’s promise to deliver Sisera into their hand. It’s a battle that will require require Faith to fight – faith in God and God’s promise to them.
Barak is a man who’s perhaps been misunderstood. We’ve simply believed what tradition has handed down to us, without receiving fresh revelation and insight from the Holy Spirit. So let’s cast aside all we’ve been taught and take a look at this with fresh eyes. Because the first thing Barak says is “I will go” although there’s a condition on it – “if you will go.” But could it be he recognized the anointing on Deborah’s life? Could this be his acknowledgment that God’s hand was on Deborah’s life? Could this have been wisdom on his part, not cowardice as we’ve been taught? Could it be Barak recognized the value of partnering with this woman of God? Barak then moves on to his second statement – “but if you will not go with me, I will not go” and here’s what he seems to be most remembered for – the man who would not go into battle unless a woman went with him, rather than the man who partnered with a woman to go into battle.
Deborah doesn’t appear to be insulted by Barak’s terms; neither is there evidence of her being surprised, for straightaway, she responds, “I will surely go with you.” Deborah then concludes her agreement to go into battle with Barak by saying, “nevertheless, there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.” Could it be that this is merely a prophetic statement on Deborah’s part, not a condemnation? There is no direct rebuke here - either form Deborah or from the Lord, just a statement of what will be. In other words, “it is what it is.” Could it be that a strong man is not intimidated by a strong woman? And could it be that Barak was secure enough in himself that he didn’t care whether or not he got the glory? Or that he had no concern if a woman were to get the glory? Perhaps as a warrior victory was his primary concern. And perhaps Barak understood Israel’s victory would ultimately be for God’s glory. And as Deborah operated outside of the status quo of her day, Barak was free as well to make his own choices. We only know Barak’s words; we don’t know his motives. It’s wise not to make strong conclusions with inconclusive evidence.
And my encouragement is to read the two chapters and study this story for yourself to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for both Deborah and Barak, instead of relying wholly on what’s tradition has handed down to us or someone’s else’s interpretation, including my own. My studies have led me to shift my perspective from outside of the box of what I’d previously been taught. A fresh perspective has enabled me to see Deborah and Barak working together as a portrayal of the value of men and women working together in the body of Christ, without envy or competition, without one half of the equation being “lesser.” My encouragement is that you read Deborah’s story without any preconceived “learns” or “knowings” and let the Holy Spirit breath a fresh layer of understanding.
But let’s look at what’s recorded in the Jerusalem Bible. It certainly brings another layer of distinction and clarity, and it’s not a coincidence that I happened to pick up this Bible after writing the words above I just happened to write. (Some would call it “happenstance” but I would call it “providence.” Let’s read:
“If you come with me, I will go; if you will not come, I will not go, for I do not know how to choose the day when the angel of Yahweh will grant me success.” “I will go with you then,” she said, “but, the way you are going about it, the glory will not be yours; for Yahweh will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” Then Deborah stood up and went with Barak to Kedesh, and there Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali. Then thousand men marched behind him, and Deborah marched with him. Judges 4:8-10 Jerusalem Bible Readers Edition
Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh, where he mustered ten thousand men under his command. This is what happens when a “Barak” answers the call of God on his life and rises up – ten thousand men rise up with him. But it was Deborah who discerned the day and the hour:
“Up! For this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the LORD gone out before you?” (Judges 4:4).
And it was Deborah who declared the word of the Lord concerning the victory He would grant them – and it happened just as she prophesied:
“And against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots (900) and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hands (Judges 4:7).
And as Deborah and Barak went forth, together, under the Lord’s directive, the victory was overwhelming. More details are given in the next chapter, often referred to as “The Song of Deborah” but the Jerusalem Bible has the distinction of recording Judges 5 as “The Song of Deborah and Barak.” And perhaps it shouldn’t be so surprising that the Lord delivered Sisera into the hand of a female, Jael, in a time when the nation was judged by a female. A few details details of the victory makes it clear the Lord worked on behalf of the nation, with Deborah and Barak taking the lead, in faith of the Lord’s assured victory – not knowing how He would do it, but knowing that He would.
Lord, when You went out from Seir, when You marched from the field of Edom, the earth trembled and the heaven’s poured, the clouds also poured water; the mountains gushed before the Lord (Judges 5:4).
Not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel. v8
The kings came and fought, then the kings of Canaan fought in Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; they took no spoils of silver. They fought from the heavens; the stars from their courses fought against Sisera. The torrent of Kishon swept them away, that ancient torrent, the torrent of Kishon. v19-21
In effect, this song make it clear - the victory was obtained by the direction of the Lord and the hand of the Lord. God was faithful to do what only He can do. Deborah and Barak and the fighting men of Israel as well as Jael, simply had to show up and do their part. And after Jabins’s army was defeated, the land had rest for forty years. This is what a decisive victory looks like. And this happened under the rulership of Deborah. The song ends with this declaration:
Thus let all your enemies perish, O Lord! But let those who love Him be like the sun when it comes out in full strength. Judges 5:31
May you, like Deborah:
*rise up as a Mother in the territory God has given you
*be like the sun as it shines in full strength (Judges 5:31)
*march on in strength (Judges 5:21)
*Communicate with full confidence and clarity
*Operate fully seated in your identity
Meditative Scriptures:
But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. Proverbs 4:21
Oh my soul, march on in strength! Judges 5:21