“And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Beth-el in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, [saying], Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? Judges 4:4-6. Deborah and Jael, two phenomenal women in the bible reminds us that God uses whomever He desires to fulfil his will. Deborah, a prophetess was a gifted woman of wisdom and influence who did the tasks of a judge, except for military leadership. God can use women mightily for military, civil, religious or other tasks, if He chooses. Deborah and Barak led an Israelite coalition to victory over the militarily superior Canaanite forces of Sisera in the Plain of Esdraelon. This was a strategic battle in the struggle for control of central and northern Palestine, after 20 years’ oppression by Jabin, king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. Deborah and Barak’s army consisted of only 10,000, while Sisera had a multitude of fighters and nine hundred iron chariots. But God! fought for Israel and they routed the enemy. Deborah performed legal and military duties in addition to being a prophetess. She was one of only four Old Testament women identified as a prophetess, and was the only female judge. After Barak refused to go into battle without Deborah, she gave a prophecy that another woman, Jael, would fulfil God's purpose and plan. If you notice, Deborah was a prophetess, without her husband being a prophet. This dispels the idea that a prophetess is just a wife of a prophet. A prophet or a prophetess, is called of God. This does not mean that her husband, Lapidoth, was a weak person. The meaning of his name indicates the magnitude of his strength. “Lapidoth” means lightning strikes or torches. It is doubly unusual for her to be a judge as well. The office of judge and prophet are both calls of God.
“And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. “And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honor; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.” Judges 4:8-9 In Verse 9, you'll find, Deborah, after she had delivered the words of the Lord unto him. “If thou wilt go with me, then I will go”: which shows faith in the word of the Lord, for this Barak is commended, in the "Hall of Faith," read the book of ,Hebrews 11th Chapter. Deborah was a prophetess; one instructed in Divine knowledge by the inspiration of the Spirit of God. She judged Israel as God’s mouth to them; correcting abuses, and redressing grievances. By God’s direction, she ordered Barak to raise an army, and engage Jabin’s forces. Barak insisted much upon her presence. Deborah promised to go with him. She would not send him where she would not go herself. Those who in God’s name call others to their duty, should be ready to assist them in it. Today, Bishops, Preaches, Pastor and Teacher, should not send God's people into areas they're not willing to go themselves. Deborah does not deceive Barak, to get him to go. She tells him immediately that the honor for winning this battle will not go to him, but a woman. In the New Testament, Paul gives him credit for winning this battle however. Deborah believed the message God had given her and she goes to the front line with Barak.
“And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.” Judges 4:18 Jael, seeing Sisera coming, and knowing him full well, she stepped forward towards him, to invite him into her tent. Some think she was looking out, that if she saw an Israelite in distress to take him in, but she had another plan. “And said unto him, turn in, my lord”: That is, into her tent. And she addresses him with the title of “lord”, for the sake of honor, having been general of a large army. And not because her husband was a servant, and in subjection to him. “Turn in to me, fear not”: She repeats the invitation, to show she was hearty and sincere, and that he had nothing to fear from her, nor in her house. And it may be at first she had no thought of doing what she afterwards did to him. “And when he had turned in unto her in the tent”: And laid himself down upon the ground, being weary, “She covered him with a mantle”: “Then Jael Heber’s wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.” “A nail of the tent … an hammer”: Jael’s bold stroke in a tent rather than on a battle field draws Deborah’s and Barak’s praise (5:24-27). Her strength and skill had no doubt been toughened by a common Bedouin duty of hammering down pegs to secure tents, or striking them loose to take down tents. We see the reason she got so near to him, without waking him. He was exhausted and had fallen into a deep sleep. The nail for the tent was more like a spike. It was so long it went through his skull and fastened him to the ground. Notice also, that temples is plural. She must have run the spike through both temples. He probably died instantly. Her love for God and His people caused her to do this. God is looking for women today to be, bold in the Lord and The Power of His Might! Putting on the Armor of God, ready to stand in The Evil Day! and Having done all to Stand, STAND!!! Ep. 6:13-16
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