So.... Deborah. As much as I didn't want to JUST focus on her, it was virtually impossible not to, given the nature of popular response to her story and what it's been used for. I will not be looking at the New Testament passage at all, though of course, we could talk about those verses for just as long! MacArthur has an awesome sermon on the first five verses of Luke 13 that tackles the popular question: Why do bad things happen to good people? Definitely worth your while to read/listen to.
Do you know how hard it is to find any teaching on Judges 4 and 5 that does NOT fall in line with Evangelical feminism??! It's out there, but it is definitely not the popular view. Of the few I found, the best, in my opinion, are by Bob Deffinbaugh (Judges 4 [audio/script], Judges 5 [audio only], Judges 4-5 [script only]) over at Bible.org. I checked last year's post on this passage and realized Tammy had linked to my favourite of the three. If you only have time for one, I recommend that one. And again, as always, I encourage you to listen and not just read ~ Deffinbaugh's actually got a good sense of humor and is quite enjoyable to listen to.
Anyway, I want to point out a few things I've found interesting about this whole Deborah thing:
1. Apparently, the phrase translated in many Bibles (including the NIV) as "Deborah was leading Israel..." is actually more accurately translated "Deborah was judging in Israel," and uses the same terminology found in Exodus 18, where Moses sets up the system of judges upon the advice of his father-in-law. Clearly, Deborah was a fair and just settler of disputes and this is possibly how she became known as a prophetess. She knew the Mosaic Law, had a close relationship with God, and people came to her from far and wide because they knew she was a woman with godly wisdom. I think in her song where she calls herself "a mother in Israel," she is not calling herself a national leader, but expressing a bit of incredulity at God using her in such an amazing way ~ imagine, God using little ol' ME, a stay-at-home mom from Ramah! The fact that she was known as a godly settler of disputes also speaks volumes to the state of the priesthood at this time. Deborah was known for having a closer relationship with God than the priests did. This is why people were going out of their way to seek her advice under her tree between Bethel and Ramah rather than seeing a priest in Bethel, which is where the tabernacle was located at this time. I see a whole lot of men in this story NOT doing the jobs God had delegated to them.
2. Barak was the leader of Israel's military at this time, and though not necessarily a cowardly man in the physical sense, he also didn't have a whole lot of faith or much of a relationship with God. He wanted the assurance of God's presence in battle, which is why he wanted Deborah there, not because he needed one more fighter. I believe, with Deborah's encouragement, he went on to become a great leader ~ militarily and spiritually ~ which is why he's given honourable mention in the Hebrews "Hall of Faith" chapter. Deborah is a beautiful example of a "wind beneath my wings" kind of leader. She is the strong one initially, but rather than simply taking the lead because no one else seems willing or capable, she reminds Barak of what God has instructed him (in many translations, 4:6 reads: "Has not the LORD, the God of Israel, commanded you, 'Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor..." possibly indicating a previous command that had been disregarded), and encourages and inspires the rightful leader to fulfil his calling. I wish we women would recognize the strength and beauty of this kind of role and desire to love and nurture strong male leadership in our homes and churches.
3. It's interesting how Judges, for the most part, gets avoided, but chapters 4 and 5 are held up as the standard for women's leadership in the church. But let's not forget that Judges is written to record Israel's "dark ages" ~ their constant failure to live the way God wanted them to live and His constant, loving mercy that first brings them to repentance and then restoration, over and over and over again. If we accept that Deborah's story instructs on women's rightful leadership in the church, should we not then also be advocating political assasinations à la Ehud?? I don't think so. Judges is a cautionary tale, not a recommended pattern for Christian living!
Unrelated to the leadership/roles discussion, but still part of this story is the curious absence of the names Judah and Simeon among the tribes listed in Deborah's song. We see her blessing the tribes that joined the war effort and cursing those who didn't, but these two tribes are not mentioned at all. I've often wondered about this, but Deffinbaugh points out the significance of the phrase "in the days of Shamgar." (5:6) He reminds us that though we know almost nothing of Shamgar, his enemies and the timing are crucial to note. Barak's war with the Canaanites was in the north, but occurring around the same time Shamgar was 'entertaining' the Philistines, who were located south of Israel. So it is entirely possible that Judah and Simeon, being the two southernmost tribes, were engaged in battle elsewhere and that that is why they are neither blessed or cursed for their level of participation here.
Then, in chapter 6 we're introduced to Gideon, and his amazing story begins. What I've never been able to figure out is that God isn't angry with Gideon for needing proof of God's presence the way He was with Barak. When Barak asks for Deborah's presence as reassurance, God says, effectively, "Fine, but then the glory of this victory will go to a Kenite woman with a very special tent peg." And yet here, Gideon receives a couple of very obvious signs of God's calling and divine presence initially, yet STILL requires more proof. And has the nerve to ask for it!! But instead of being reprimanded for his lack of faith, he's rewarded. I just don't get it. How can we know when it's okay to ask God for more proof of His presence and direction, and when is it just time to step out in faith and take action?
Anyone care to venture an answer?!
Tomorrow's passages: Judges 7-8; Luke 13:23-35.
7 comments:
My guess is the reason is something behind the scenes - a heart issue.
Perhaps Gideon didn't lack faith in God so much as he lacked faith in himself? Perhaps Barak was more insolent in his disbelief?
I don't know - but I've wondered the same thing!!
Great point about Judges being a cautionary tale.
That was sort of my guess, too.
I've heard one sermon on this before. They suggested he wanted to make sure it was really God speaking to him and not just voices in his head. Like you said, probably lack of faith in himself.
The pastor said confirmation from God is a very good thing nowadays when you are doing listening prayer. If you are about to make a huge life decision, such as changing jobs, or choosing who to marry, perhaps it is okay to test God to see if it is really him speaking to you or just your own thoughts and desires.
This is a very interesting story!
Great post, Tammi. I'd venture to say Gideon had very little faith in himself, taking into account what he says when the angel first comes to him..."My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." There were already things Gideon had done by faith... he brought an offering, built an altar, torn down the altar to Baal, cut down the Asherah pole, and erected a new altar and performed a sacrifice on it, and also received the Spirit of the Lord! Perhaps that is why God allowed the tests. He knew that Gideon had faith and would follow His instructions... he just needed some extra confidence. Just speculating...
Maybe it is exactly this difference that supports the theory that Barak had already been commanded once earlier to lead his army against the Canaanites, but had disobeyed due to his lack of faith. So when Deborah reminds him and he still questions the command, he's rebuked. Gideon questioned, or wanted confirmation, the FIRST time God commanded.
If we're not sure an impulse or a message is from God, it's okay to question and ask for confirmation, but when we KNOW what God's Word says but keep asking ~ maybe hoping for a different (easier) answer or solution ~ that's when we'll run into trouble.
Or that we've had a history of stepping out in faith (like the things Miriam mentioned Gideon had already done), and simply need encouragement to continue on.
Good question. I think it may have been a heart issue as well. We only know half of the story but God knows it all. I also think that questioning something we already know -hoping for a new answer-is a problem but confirming something that you are unsure of may not be. However, you could argue that by testing God with the fleece and then having the audacity to do it again, may have been Gideon's way of hoping it would be a different answer. (??)
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