Deborah The Good

• In our last lesson about Judges, we learned that the Israelites were stuck in a vicious cycle.

• They repeatedly rejected God, experienced tragedy, cried out, and then God rescued them.

• Just like the Hallmark Channel recycling the same plot for their movies year after year, we see a pattern re-emerge in Judges 4.

• The author opens up

• This is their vicious cycle

• Take a close look at that first word. "Again..."

• God's people are experiencing the same problem due to the same mistakes.

• They continuously reject the life God wants for them, leading them to hardship and suffering time and time again.

• Israel messed up; God protected them; they praised God; and then they fell back into their own ways.

• "Wait, hasn't this already happened a few times?" you ask.

• Yes, this is one instance of dozens in this book alone.

• Their patterns are as predictable as the tides.

• It's less of a pattern and more of a downward spiral. Israel has found itself in a vicious cycle.

• I am sure you have seen sin's vicious cycle at work. Have you ever made the same error and found yourself begging for mercy…again?

• Maybe you lied, then you had to lie to cover up that lie, and then you had to tell a few more lies to cover up those lies. Now you find yourself saying, "here we are again."

• Maybe you promised yourself you'd never do something again just to find yourself on the same path the very next week.

• Maybe you returned to harmful relationships again while ignoring the pain it caused last time.

• We have all felt the agony of "again."

• Again, the Israelites made self-destructive decisions.

• Again, the Israelites had turned away from God.

• Again, the Israelites were in a serious predicament.

• Once again, they found themselves facing a battle that they had no chance of winning on their own.

• Their foe was a force to be reckoned with. • Get this. A foreign enemy, the Canaanites, boasted "nine hundred chariots fitted with iron" (Judges 4:3).

• God's people of Israel were like deer blinded in the headlights of nearly a thousand chariots.

• That's why God appointed the best judge of them all to lead them through the Canaanite invasion.

• Her name was Deborah.

• As far as judges go, Deborah was a superstar.

• All twelve judges were flawed, but Deborah is largely considered the best of the bunch.

• Three traits make Deborah stand out from the rest.

• First, she was not only a soldier; she was a prophet. This meant that she was able to hear from God directly. Consequently, she spent most of her days in prayer and worship.

• Second, she was the only female judge mentioned in the Bible, which is pretty special, being that she is the most successful. The ancient world was tragically dismissive of women, but she overcame that adversity.

• Most importantly, she was a humble leader. Deborah's humility sets her apart and helps her set Israel free from their foe.

• How does Deborah break the vicious cycle during her time in leadership?

• Deborah was able to break Israel's vicious cycle by embodying a life of humility.

• Humble people own their mistakes and strive to overcome them instead of ignoring them.

• Sisera, the evil commander of the Canaanites, was ready to attack the Israelites.

• Deborah knew that it was time for action, so she called on her commander, Barak, to rally the troops and fight.

• Barak was Israel's general who said that he would only advance if she went with him.

• Without any hesitation, she said “yes.”

• This gives us three practical lessons about the power of humility.

Humble Leaders Lead by Example

•Judges 5:7 explains that "Israel would not fight until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel."

•Her people needed her. Keep in mind that God's people felt defeated and discouraged from 20 years of the same vicious cycle.

•They didn't just need Deborah's expertise. They needed her encouragement. 

•Good leaders aren't above serving, and Deborah embodied that.•She wasn't scared of getting her sandals dirty or even suffering in battle.

•She proudly served alongside her soldiers.

•There's a practical principle here. Actions speak louder than words.

•People will follow a leader who leads by example.

• Her people needed her. Keep in mind that God's people felt defeated and discouraged from 20 years of the same vicious cycle.

• They didn't just need Deborah's expertise. They needed her encouragement. 

• Good leaders aren't above serving, and Deborah embodied that.

• She wasn't scared of getting her sandals dirty or even suffering in battle.

• She proudly served alongside her soldiers.

• There's a practical principle here. Actions speak louder than words.

• People will follow a leader who leads by example.

• Now, let's dig into the conflict. An evil vigilante named Sisera was on the warpath.

• He had personally called for the extermination of God's people.

• He tortured, enslaved, and murdered thousands of Hebrews. • If Israel wanted to win, they needed him out of the picture. 

• While Barak's army fought, Sisera grew exhausted.

• Thus, he slipped into the tent of an Israelite named Jael.

• Deborah, not wanting to make a big deal of herself, sent a message to Jael.

• "You have the power to win this war," she explained.

• Jael wasn't a soldier. She wasn't a warrior.

• She was a stay-at-home mother who spent most of her time in her tent.

• How would she attack one of the world's most powerful fighters? 

• Due to her in-tents life (lame joke), Jael had learned a thing or two about tent maintenance, so she pounced into action with an unorthodox weapon.

• It wasn't a dagger, sword, or spear. She yanked the spike that supported her tent out of the clay.

• Then, in a scene from a gory action flick, she hammered the tent peg into Sisera's head — ending the war and saving Israel. 

• Deborah could have easily sent out a press release about how she put the mission into motion.

• She could have celebrated herself as a skilled visionary, but she didn't do any of that.

• When Israel won, Deborah gave all the glory to God.

• When Sisera was defeated, she celebrated God and gave credit to her friend.

• This is a valuable lesson for us. When you experience victory, give credit to others.

• When you edify others, you are edified by God.

• This brings us to our final application. Take a look at the next passage in Judges.

Humble Leaders Glorify God for Victories

• Deborah's mindset is clear when you dig into chapter five.

• Victory is a reason to worship.

• Chapter five is one big "psalm of praise." Deborah sang, "The Lord went out from Seir, when you marched from the region of Edom" (Judges 5:4).

• She personified God as a soldier fighting on Israel's behalf.

• It's clear in this song that God was the source of their success.

• It wasn't due to our chariots, our confidence, or even our leadership.

• It was all God. Deborah's faith leads her to give all the credit to her creator.

• "Everything you do not turn to praise can turn into pride." I once heard Pastor Mark Batterson use this statement to sum up the book of judges.

• I thought it was a powerful observation to carry throughout this study.

• Pride was the downfall of the other judges. Deborah distinguished herself with humility.

• When she won, she worshipped.

• When she saw success, she sang.

• We should strive to do the same.

• Whenever you see success in life, give credit to God. Whenever you accomplish something big, worship God for helping you get there.

• If you, like Deborah, want to be remembered as a good leader, then praise God for everything good in your life.

• Pride leads to destruction.

• Praise leads to promotion.

• When you transform accomplishments into praise, you are less likely to turn them into pride.

• Thus, you are less likely to fall into the vicious cycle we see in Judges.

• Humility builds bridges between people. When you embrace a humble life, you break toxic cycles.

• When those around you see the real you, they trust you.

• Deborah's lifestyle proves a powerful point.

• You're not above people; you're with them.

• You aren't better than others; you're flawed too.

• Simply own up to that and watch your life instantly improve.

• Praise acts like pride repellent. It reminds you that every good thing is a gift from God.

• Lead like Deborah, worship when you win, and praise God for your prosperity.

TALK IT OUT

Go through these questions with your circle. Be honest. Be open. Talk through the tough stuff.

Ice Breaker: Go around your circle and share this week’s highs and lows. What was the best part of your week and what was the lowest part of your week?

Q1: What did you notice that was distinct about Deborah?

Q2: Think of someone that you consider humble. What character traits stick out to you?

Q3: When Deborah’s army won, she humbly gave credit to her friend and God. What can we learn from this?

Q4: Go ahead and celebrate your circle! Share something about one person who has helped you learn or accomplish something in your life.

Q5: “Everything you do not turn to praise can turn into pride.” What does this mean to you?

Application:

Thank God for every good thing you have in your life. Also, look for ways to celebrate the successes of those around you.

READ THESE PASSAGES IN ORDER EVERY DAY

Ezekiel 36:20-23

Ezekiel 26:24-27

Hebrews 7:26-28

Isaiah 6:1-3

Isaiah 57:14-15

Leviticus 11:44-45

Psalm 33:20-22

Do the following with each passage: 

ASK– God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down and inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you today.

READ– the selected section of Scripture slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary.

REFLECT– on what grabs you. How does this passage personally relate to your own life and experiences?

RESPOND– to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what’s on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you’ve uncovered.