And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
Deborah was a married prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, who judged Israel at that time from under a palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in Mount Ephraim where the people came to her. She was raised up after twenty years of grievous oppression for idolatry, when with humiliation and repentance Israel cried to the Lord for deliverance. Her judging means the people sought her for judgment, counsel, justice and instruction in sacred and civil matters, and God communicated His will and gave counsel through her as ruler, leading counselor and teacher. With Barak she led Israel by faith to overcome Sisera and his nine hundred iron chariots, with Barak descending from Mount Tabor and Sisera slain by Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite. She shows that God's Spirit rested on women in every age and that His prophetic gift is not limited by sex, tribe, family or social station, but is given to yielded hearts willing to follow divine leading. Her holding both prophetic and governing authority proves the command for women to keep silence in the churches does not forbid all public speaking and leadership in bearing testimony, helping in the work and proclaiming truth in womanly, Christian ways with modesty.
Name, Family and Office
The verse identifies Deborah as a prophetess, the married wife of Lapidoth, who judged Israel at that time. Her prophetic instructions helped bring about the overthrow of Israel's enemies, and her judging was a position of leadership among the people in connection with Israel's victory over Sisera and the example of leaders taking the lead while the people willingly offered themselves. She stands among true prophets who were friends of the Sabbath and kept it. Her Hebrew name means bee.
She and Barak with her were real historical persons, and their story is trustworthy ancient history, not a borrowing from pagan mythology about a bee totem and lightning as the sting-fly of heaven. The account is not a Hebrew legend stolen from pagan mythology about a bee and lightning, but belongs to the solid, trustworthy ancient history of the Bible that stands against conjecture.
She lived and sat under a palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in Mount Ephraim, where the Israelites came to her for judgment. She served as prophetess and judge, or ruler, of Israel, and her simple dwelling did not lessen her authority, for God recognized her as a ruler of His people and gave counsel through her. She was honored as a mother in Israel, a name that recognized her leadership and service, and her leadership is also described as her rising as a mother in Israel. She gave counsel as God directed her, and the people sought her for it. She was a woman dwelling in Israel illustrious for piety.
Historical Setting and Deliverance
The verse stands in the record of Israel's backsliding, the suffering and oppression that followed that backsliding, and the people's return to God with forgiveness and deliverance. The Lord chose Deborah to deliver His people after twenty years of grievous oppression brought on by idolatry, when they turned from idolatry and with humiliation and repentance cried to Him for deliverance. She was raised up in a time of oppression, religious decline, and national danger, in the absence of the usual magistrates. She was one of the judges who give the book its name, leaders God raised up from time to time in great national crisis when the nation had gone into captivity, called saviours and defenders, who adjudicated disputes and judged between fellow Israelites.
Her judging Israel means the people sought her and came to her for judgment, counsel, justice, and instruction. Through her Israel received knowledge of God's will in sacred and civil matters, for God recognized her as ruler and gave counsel through her. She served as leading counselor and teacher when Barak led Israel in crisis, guiding the people toward victory.
Under her leadership with Barak, Israel overcame Sisera's oppression and his nine hundred iron chariots through faith. Barak would not lead Israel's army unless she went with him. Barak descended from Mount Tabor to fight Sisera and his nine hundred iron chariots, and Sisera was slain by Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. That victory with Barak was Israel's first victory securing possession of the Plain of Jezreel, although the Canaanites continued to hold Megiddo, Ibleam, Taanach, and Dor until the time of the kings.
Prophetic Gift and Guidance
Deborah stands among the many prophets named in the Old Testament, not only the sixteen whose books run from Isaiah to Malachi. She was the one through whom God communicated instruction and made known His will to His people, whom they inquired of though she was a woman. Through her Israel received knowledge of His will in sacred and civil matters, and her prophetic instructions helped bring about the overthrow of their enemies. As leading counselor and teacher she guided the people toward victory in crisis when Barak led Israel.
She is an example of God choosing a woman as a prophetic agent under the old dispensation, receiving and exercising the gift of prophecy. Along with other women prophets she had visions, endowed with the spirit of prophecy just as Miriam and Huldah were. Her judging shows that God's Spirit rested on women in every age and that women, including Deborah as prophetess and judge, served publicly as prophets and judges. God used women in giving messages to the people and in His work, and in a time of oppression, religious decline, and national danger He called a woman to prophetic service and could choose her over men to lead His people.
Her prophetic calling shows that God's prophetic gift was not limited by sex, tribe, family, or social station, but is given to those willing to follow divine leading. God is willing to work through women as well as men when their hearts and lives are yielded to Him, using and blessing them as He used Deborah. Her endowment with the spirit of prophecy, like Miriam's and Huldah's, proves that the spirit of prophecy remains available to the church, fulfilled in the last days when His servants and handmaidens shall prophesy. That continuance stands against the error that the days of prophecy are past, and calls for discernment between false and true prophets. She stands among the true prophets who were friends of the Sabbath and kept it.
Women Speaking and Leading
Deborah was a married woman who held leadership among the people, serving as both prophetess and judge over Israel at that time. Israel came to her for judgment and received from her counsel and instruction in spiritual matters, showing that a woman could hold both prophetic and governing authority among God's people. Her standing is an example of women taking an important part in spiritual matters and speaking and serving in religious life.
The command for women to keep silence in the churches does not forbid all public speaking and leadership. Women may bear testimony for Christ, help in His work, and proclaim His truth in womanly, Christian ways. They may speak publicly and serve as prophetesses without usurping authority or acting arrogantly, provided they act with modesty and do not assume authority. God has used women in a public capacity in all ages to His glory, with Deborah judging Israel and helping Barak as one example. A woman may teach when no men are available or capable and the Lord has laid that work upon her.
The raising up of Deborah as a prophetess who judged Israel shows the honor God the Father bestowed on women. Women may therefore take part in the worship of God and in public service. The silence enjoined in 1 Corinthians 14:34, 35 and 1 Timothy 2:12 does not forbid such participation but refers to governmental matters in the church. Man and woman are equal but their spheres are different, with man holding the ruling position as the stronger, so women are not to assume to rule or control.
Through Deborah Israel received knowledge of God's will in sacred and civil matters, showing that God may choose a woman as an instrument of guidance and leadership. Rejecting that choice would reflect a poor, disobedient spirit, while humility and obedience mean listening to God. Her deed in leading the hosts of God in war stands among the good works of women recorded in the Bible. It shows how God has honored woman in every age and placed her as a beacon-light in every avenue of life. Woman was originally made not an inferior but a help fit for man, taken from his side to be his companion, and the Gospel restores her to that primal equality.
Prophecy, Scripture and Example
Her battle alongside Barak at Megiddo is an object lesson connected with the gathering of the nations under the sixth plague. She aroused the tribes of Israel to battle with her war songs, in contrast to Hannah, whose patience was shown through silent, agonizing prayer as she waited on God. As prophetess and wife of Lapidoth who judged Israel at that time, her chapter belongs with Israel's victory over Sisera, when leaders took the lead while the people willingly offered themselves.
Her firmness, decision, and determination to lead when necessary in warfare against the hosts of evil came from a sense of individual accountability to God. Such leadership is not called for today on the field of worldly strife but in the home, woman's natural and most favorable environment. There the greatest battle of the universe is waged against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places. Mothers must have her character to lead in that home warfare against evil, especially now when the closing struggle between good and evil is drawing on, molding their children's natures and characters for eternity by every word, look, thought, and action.
Deborah was a married prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, who judged Israel at that time from under a palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in Mount Ephraim where the people came to her. She was raised up after twenty years of grievous oppression for idolatry, when with humiliation and repentance Israel cried to the Lord for deliverance. Her judging means the people sought her for judgment, counsel, justice and instruction in sacred and civil matters, and God communicated His will and gave counsel through her as ruler, leading counselor and teacher. With Barak she led Israel by faith to overcome Sisera and his nine hundred iron chariots, with Barak descending from Mount Tabor and Sisera slain by Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite. She shows that God's Spirit rested on women in every age and that His prophetic gift is not limited by sex, tribe, family or social station, but is given to yielded hearts willing to follow divine leading. Her holding both prophetic and governing authority proves the command for women to keep silence in the churches does not forbid all public speaking and leadership in bearing testimony, helping in the work and proclaiming truth in womanly, Christian ways with modesty.
Name, Family and Office
The verse identifies Deborah as a prophetess, the married wife of Lapidoth, who judged Israel at that time. Her prophetic instructions helped bring about the overthrow of Israel's enemies, and her judging was a position of leadership among the people in connection with Israel's victory over Sisera and the example of leaders taking the lead while the people willingly offered themselves. She stands among true prophets who were friends of the Sabbath and kept it. Her Hebrew name means bee.
She and Barak with her were real historical persons, and their story is trustworthy ancient history, not a borrowing from pagan mythology about a bee totem and lightning as the sting-fly of heaven. The account is not a Hebrew legend stolen from pagan mythology about a bee and lightning, but belongs to the solid, trustworthy ancient history of the Bible that stands against conjecture.
She lived and sat under a palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in Mount Ephraim, where the Israelites came to her for judgment. She served as prophetess and judge, or ruler, of Israel, and her simple dwelling did not lessen her authority, for God recognized her as a ruler of His people and gave counsel through her. She was honored as a mother in Israel, a name that recognized her leadership and service, and her leadership is also described as her rising as a mother in Israel. She gave counsel as God directed her, and the people sought her for it. She was a woman dwelling in Israel illustrious for piety.
Historical Setting and Deliverance
The verse stands in the record of Israel's backsliding, the suffering and oppression that followed that backsliding, and the people's return to God with forgiveness and deliverance. The Lord chose Deborah to deliver His people after twenty years of grievous oppression brought on by idolatry, when they turned from idolatry and with humiliation and repentance cried to Him for deliverance. She was raised up in a time of oppression, religious decline, and national danger, in the absence of the usual magistrates. She was one of the judges who give the book its name, leaders God raised up from time to time in great national crisis when the nation had gone into captivity, called saviours and defenders, who adjudicated disputes and judged between fellow Israelites.
Her judging Israel means the people sought her and came to her for judgment, counsel, justice, and instruction. Through her Israel received knowledge of God's will in sacred and civil matters, for God recognized her as ruler and gave counsel through her. She served as leading counselor and teacher when Barak led Israel in crisis, guiding the people toward victory.
Under her leadership with Barak, Israel overcame Sisera's oppression and his nine hundred iron chariots through faith. Barak would not lead Israel's army unless she went with him. Barak descended from Mount Tabor to fight Sisera and his nine hundred iron chariots, and Sisera was slain by Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. That victory with Barak was Israel's first victory securing possession of the Plain of Jezreel, although the Canaanites continued to hold Megiddo, Ibleam, Taanach, and Dor until the time of the kings.
Prophetic Gift and Guidance
Deborah stands among the many prophets named in the Old Testament, not only the sixteen whose books run from Isaiah to Malachi. She was the one through whom God communicated instruction and made known His will to His people, whom they inquired of though she was a woman. Through her Israel received knowledge of His will in sacred and civil matters, and her prophetic instructions helped bring about the overthrow of their enemies. As leading counselor and teacher she guided the people toward victory in crisis when Barak led Israel.
She is an example of God choosing a woman as a prophetic agent under the old dispensation, receiving and exercising the gift of prophecy. Along with other women prophets she had visions, endowed with the spirit of prophecy just as Miriam and Huldah were. Her judging shows that God's Spirit rested on women in every age and that women, including Deborah as prophetess and judge, served publicly as prophets and judges. God used women in giving messages to the people and in His work, and in a time of oppression, religious decline, and national danger He called a woman to prophetic service and could choose her over men to lead His people.
Her prophetic calling shows that God's prophetic gift was not limited by sex, tribe, family, or social station, but is given to those willing to follow divine leading. God is willing to work through women as well as men when their hearts and lives are yielded to Him, using and blessing them as He used Deborah. Her endowment with the spirit of prophecy, like Miriam's and Huldah's, proves that the spirit of prophecy remains available to the church, fulfilled in the last days when His servants and handmaidens shall prophesy. That continuance stands against the error that the days of prophecy are past, and calls for discernment between false and true prophets. She stands among the true prophets who were friends of the Sabbath and kept it.
Women Speaking and Leading
Deborah was a married woman who held leadership among the people, serving as both prophetess and judge over Israel at that time. Israel came to her for judgment and received from her counsel and instruction in spiritual matters, showing that a woman could hold both prophetic and governing authority among God's people. Her standing is an example of women taking an important part in spiritual matters and speaking and serving in religious life.
The command for women to keep silence in the churches does not forbid all public speaking and leadership. Women may bear testimony for Christ, help in His work, and proclaim His truth in womanly, Christian ways. They may speak publicly and serve as prophetesses without usurping authority or acting arrogantly, provided they act with modesty and do not assume authority. God has used women in a public capacity in all ages to His glory, with Deborah judging Israel and helping Barak as one example. A woman may teach when no men are available or capable and the Lord has laid that work upon her.
The raising up of Deborah as a prophetess who judged Israel shows the honor God the Father bestowed on women. Women may therefore take part in the worship of God and in public service. The silence enjoined in 1 Corinthians 14:34, 35 and 1 Timothy 2:12 does not forbid such participation but refers to governmental matters in the church. Man and woman are equal but their spheres are different, with man holding the ruling position as the stronger, so women are not to assume to rule or control.
Through Deborah Israel received knowledge of God's will in sacred and civil matters, showing that God may choose a woman as an instrument of guidance and leadership. Rejecting that choice would reflect a poor, disobedient spirit, while humility and obedience mean listening to God. Her deed in leading the hosts of God in war stands among the good works of women recorded in the Bible. It shows how God has honored woman in every age and placed her as a beacon-light in every avenue of life. Woman was originally made not an inferior but a help fit for man, taken from his side to be his companion, and the Gospel restores her to that primal equality.
Prophecy, Scripture and Example
Her battle alongside Barak at Megiddo is an object lesson connected with the gathering of the nations under the sixth plague. She aroused the tribes of Israel to battle with her war songs, in contrast to Hannah, whose patience was shown through silent, agonizing prayer as she waited on God. As prophetess and wife of Lapidoth who judged Israel at that time, her chapter belongs with Israel's victory over Sisera, when leaders took the lead while the people willingly offered themselves.
Her firmness, decision, and determination to lead when necessary in warfare against the hosts of evil came from a sense of individual accountability to God. Such leadership is not called for today on the field of worldly strife but in the home, woman's natural and most favorable environment. There the greatest battle of the universe is waged against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places. Mothers must have her character to lead in that home warfare against evil, especially now when the closing struggle between good and evil is drawing on, molding their children's natures and characters for eternity by every word, look, thought, and action.