Deborah - A Great Leader of YHWH

In the book of Judges, Deborah is portrayed to be a woman of great courage and wisdom who ruled underneath the palms. She lived around 1150 BCE, about a century or so after the Hebrews entered Canaan.

Deborah was a judge, warrior, poet, and prophetess as well as singer and songwriter and was said to hear YHWH/God’s voice and share His Word with others. Her position as a prophetess meant she was involved in spiritual guidance, which included leading worship.

She settled disagreements but also under her military leadership, she was called to defend Israel against the forces of King Jabin of Canaan who ruled from Hazor. 

Fearless and obedient to YHWH, Deborah led the Israelites to victory and out of bondage. 

Victory Against All Odds:

Deborah’s confidence in YHWH’s plan encouraged Barak, Israel’s military commander, to lead the troops into battle.

Against all odds, and with YHWH’s intervention, the Israelite army, under Barak’s command and inspired by Deborah’s faith, achieved a miraculous victory over Sisera’s forces.

The Song of Deborah, a victory hymn found in Judges 5, celebrates this triumph and acknowledges YHWH’s hand in their victory.

Many biblical scholars believe that Deborah was a wife, as well.  However, in Hebrew, the same word is used for “woman” and “wife,” so it is unknown, with certainty, if Deborah was a “woman of Lappidoth” (a place) or the “wife of Lappidoth” (a person).

We can learn so much from Deborah’s achievements but there are three lessons we can all learn from:

1. Be Obedient 

If YHWH is telling you to do something or go somewhere, despite your fears, listen to His call.  He has plans that we cannot begin to understand, and hearts and lives may be changed by our obedience.

2. Be Courageous

The old saying "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called"  applies here.  Doing something out of your comfort zone to glorify Him can be terrifying, but faith was never promised to be easy.  Be bold. Be courageous - for His glory.

3. Stand True

Never waiver in your faith. We may not always know what the road ahead will look like, but we only need to remember that YHWH will faithfully guide us and lead the way.

Women, unlike many of the things we have been taught, had places of leadership in Biblical times. 

Deborah's story in the Bible serves as an example of a woman who played a key leadership role during a crucial period in Israel's history and is remembered for her wisdom, prophetic insight, and courage in times of crisis.

[Article excerpts]