Deborah the Judge

Judges 4:4-10

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the Israelites came up to her for judgment. She sent and summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you, ‘Go, take position at Mount Tabor, bringing ten thousand from the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun. I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the Wadi Kishon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into your hand.’” Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” And she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh. Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and ten thousand warriors went up behind him; and Deborah went up with him.

The story of Deborah really contains the story of the feats of two women for the price of one.  It flies in the face of everything we generally think we know about what God thinks about the place of a woman.

Now that the Israelites are in the promised land, rather than give them kings, the Lord has set up judges over them.  And Deborah is the first one mentioned of any real note.

She's something of a military strategist.  And a prophetess.  And a leader.  She sends Barak to "draw out" the general of of the Canaanites.  Draw out.  Not defeat.  And Barak doesn't feel confident without her coming with him.

Sisera is the enemy and his fate will not fall to Barak or to Deborah, but to another woman, Jael.  Two women ultimately will be the end of Canaanite army.  Deborah with her prophesy and strategy, and Jael with her tent peg.

Later Deborah and Barak will sing a song of triumph and praise to God and Deborah's story ends with this:  "and the land had rest forty years."

Clearly this woman knew her business.

It's a story of violence and strategy and surprise.  We don't know why Jael kills Sisera so violently, and our surprise at Deborah being the judge of the Israelites is perhaps because there is no prelude to it.  Suddenly we simply read that this woman is a judge.  We have our notions of how women are treated in the Hebrew scriptures and it seems to come from nowhere.

But if we know anything at this point, God is a god of surprise.  God sees the gifts and strengths of everyone, women, men, all.  And just when you think something is out of your reach - that for whatever reason, you don't have what it takes to do a certain job, share a certain gift, lead a group of people, follow your heart in a job that isn't normally thought of for your gender, God shows up and says "Surprise! Do it!"

God of all, help us to never discount anyone for any stereotype we might have for them.  With you there is no longer Jew or gentile, servant or free person, male or female.  We are all one people.  Your people.  Help us to see each other always and only in that way.  Amen.