Awake, Awake Deborahs

Awake, Awake, Deborahs

Text: Judges 4:4-9, 13-16, Psalms 68:11
PT – “God Almighty declares the word of the gospel with power, and the warring women of Zion deliver its message.”
NASB – “The Lord gives the command: The women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host.”

The words “those who proclaimed” - is feminine in the original.
Adam Clarke's Commentary: Literal translation= "Of the female preachers there was a great host."
Traditionally, the women ran from tent to tent and roused the men to battle.
This verse is referring to the ancient custom of women celebrating victories with song and dance, because the announcing of good news or joyful events belonged to the women.

For instance: after the parting of the rea sea, Ex.15:20, “Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.”

Judges 4:4-9, 13-16
We don’t know much about Deborah - she was a prophetess, a wife and a mother in Israel, (5:7) who God used as a judge in Israel.

Not just a wife, not just a mother, but a prophetess and a judge as well.
The people would come to her and she would sit and listen to their issues and give them God’s word.

Ver.6 she called for Barak. “Behold the Lord, the God of Israel, has commanded…” NASB

She is telling Barak what God has said.
Her words from God broke through confusion and brought clarity.

I have heard many people read into this story things that are not there, with Debora speaking down to this coward of a man, goading him into action.
I don’t see it that way - I see a woman of God, giving Barak a message from God that stirred him into action.

Ver.8 “If you go with me, I’ll go.” Debora doesn’t put him down, but continues to point to God’s word for them as a focus.

Ver.10 Barak went up with ten thousand men and Debora went with him.
What was there about Debora that Barak needed this woman to go to war?
I think she represented the word and presence of God for him and he need that encouragement to stand against the odds that they were facing.

When I am standing with the odds stacked against me, having someone go with me that continues to remind me of God’s word is so powerful.

I think the reason Barak is mentioned in the hall of fame in Heb 11:32, because Debora gave him a word from God, then went with him to encourage him and remind him what God had said.

She connected him with the story of God that changed history.

They both had a major role to play in God’s story. Debora wasn’t trying to do Barak’s job, and Barak wasn’t trying to dominate and do Debora’s.

Debora didn’t use her position as a judge and prophetess to criticize but remind Barak of what God said.

When women use their voice to encourage instead of criticize, people around them grow.

Our society loves to see women criticize men. Look at sitcoms on TV, where you have a strong woman in position that never misses an opportunity to put men in their place.

It doesn’t help matters that we men give women reason to criticize.
I don’t’ see this happening in this text, just the opposite, Debora was used by God to bless those around her.

This wasn’t a competition between genders to see who was really leading.
I see both Debora and Barak saying “as we work together everyone wins.”
Not competing, but connecting to the word of God.

Judges 5:12 “Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, sing a song!”
“God Almighty declares the word of the gospel with power, and the warring women of Zion deliver its message.” Ps.68:11 PT