Keep it short. He is the only source. The people of Israel had confidence in her judgements and trusted her very much. Further, she exercises her leadership in ways that echo gender roles. Due to her faith, God called her, a woman, to lead Twice, she reminded Barak that God would deliver the army into their hands. that the people offered themselves willingly, . We can have everlasting life because He is risen. God has commanded Barak to lead out Israels army as deliverer of Israel; Deborah herself has communicated that command. Arise, Barak, and lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam. She was a prophetess and had a deep relationship with God, which she used to guide and lead the people of Israel. Call Cappadocians There are other women who God called and used. Carefully Select and Use Self-Assessment Tools. Deborahs character in the Bible is amazing. Enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password. The name of Deborahs husband was Lapidoth. As a judge, she had open communication with God. Judges 4:1-24, Judges 5:30, Judges 5:6, Judges 5:8, Sermon Topics: Deborah teaches us to be unwavering in faith, to embrace our call even if it is uncommon, to lead with conviction and courage, and celebrate the wins that God has given us. You can keep your response relatively brief and focused on one or two strengths and/or weaknesses, depending on how the question was phrased. The primary and sovereign actor in this story is God. Her tenure as a judge and leader was also relatively short, and historical records of her rule are limited. Deborah took the peoples trust seriously and she, in turn, respected them. Deborah's story is recorded in Judges 4 and 5. In that day of focus on physical strength, women were looked on as weaker, but the fact that men were stronger did not dissuade Deborah from leading the army . This article will explore the strengths and weaknesses of Deborah, examining her leadership abilities, faith, and courage, as well as limitations in her influence and potential gender bias. . She is first mentioned in the Book of Judges, chapter 4, verse 4 (NKJV) as a prophetess, a wife of Lapidoth, [who] judged Israel at that time. As one of the only female judges in the Bible, Deborah played a significant role in the history of Israel. -- Deborah Series Contributed by Timothy Cooley, Sr. on Sep 13, 2011 (message contributor) based on 5 ratings (rate this sermon) | 21,089 views. Alternative Christianities The story of Deborah is a sparkling account of a dramatic moment of decision and endeavor in Israel, during the period of the Judges. She was respectful and kind. Team player. But for some reason his relationship with God didnt fuel his faith and courage enough for him to take action. You shouldn't admit to being late to your shift regularly or spending time gossiping instead of looking after patients. It is tempting to read its two chapters (Judges 4, 5) as a unit in isolation from the rest of the book, though there are good reasons to avoid this. My positive attitude is definitely one of my strengths. (Judges 5:2, ESV). Deborah is a prophetic picture of the church today largely occupied with men of little faith similar to Barak. The God of Israel fosters a society that promotes real human freedom and fulfillment, whether for women or men. Additionally, as a woman in a patriarchal society, she may have faced challenges in being accepted as a leader, and the patriarchal culture of that time may have limited her power and influence. 5) is equally aware of gender but takes it in a different direction, presenting the voice of the prophetess herself,4praising Jael far above anyone else mentioned, and closing with moving glimpse of another woman affected quite differently by the fortunes of this war. In that day of focus on physical strength, women were looked on as weaker, but the fact that men were stronger did not dissuade Deborah from leading the army into war. Barak would only agree to go if Deborah accompanied him in person. 3. #wordo, Thankful. She clothed herself with the garment of humility. Do you truly know God? And because she believed Gods words, she took action. Deborah was part of a people who were part of Gods redemptive plan for humanity, and she faithfully played her part. Her relationship with Barak combines parental nurture with parental challenge; she accomplishes her task by being a mother in Israel (5:7).6So also Jael does what she has to do through the effective use, that is, a creatively expanded use, of resources available to women: inviting Sisera perhaps seductively into her tent, responding as host but serving him milk instead of water, giving him a warm bed, and killing him with the peg and mallet, tools used in setting up the tent. An online staffing platform changing the way contract workers are discovered, sourced and paid. If you want your faith to work for you, take action. 4. chosen by God to serve as the Mother of Israel and lead His people to victory. Making a decision is the first step towards moving in any direction with certainty. The harsh oppression took two forms: forced slave labor timbering for the foreign king and forced military service because Judges 5:6 records, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways. With the special part women play and with the expression of Judges 5:30, every man a damsel or two, one must understand there was especially oppression of the women! #wor, Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what y, I've been reading through the book of James, which, It's so easy to praise God on the mountaintops, bu, There is truly no greater love. I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabins army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.. . The Parable of the Late-Coming Workers She encouraged Barak and acknowledged his role in leading the Israelites to victory. Emotional areas of strength include: 4. With Deborah we see a leader who is freely willing to rely on the talents and gifts of others in the confederation. It was during this time that God revealed to Deborah that it was time to fight for the freedom of Israel. In fact, the oppression had gone on for 20 years. The city of Hazor, which was the capital of Jabins kingdom, Joshua had burned to the ground 170 years earlier. Judges 5:5 (NIV), On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song. 4. Deborah was sure to point out the leaders of the tribes who stepped up to the plate. . What kind of woman is Deborah in the Bible? Had powerful messages of both judgment and hope. Deborah and Jael were women; mighty Samson was gullible and had a weakness for women; Jephthah was the bandit son of a prostitute; and Ehud was left-handed (things were different back then,. As I said earlier, she did not play small. Its important to note that Deborahs role as a leader was primarily in the northern tribes of Israel, and her influence was limited in the southern tribes. Judges 45 remind me to look first to my all-powerful Creator and Redeemer, whose word ordains my days. What lessons can you learn about God from His life? She spoke the word of God and no other. Here are 5 things we can learn from Deborahs story. In those moments before the battle, Deborah reminded them that the actual battle was only a formality. Instead he leaned on Deborahs spiritual strength to lead him into battle. Ill partnerwith you as you seek your true identity in Christ and unleash your potential in Him. Deborah's story is found in . Based on this explanation I have more information about the role of Deborah in the Bible and the implication for the women in the church to inform the students. Hiring. . But finally praise goes to those who stepped up to the plate promptly and wholeheartedly: When people offer themselves willingly, bless the Lord! (5:2, 9). (NIV). Deborah speaks Gods word; she obeys it; and, finally, she sings it! She and her husband, Niel, make their home partly in Wheaton, Illinois, and partly in Jakarta, Indonesia, where Niel helps lead a network of Christian schools and universities. verbal working memory, auditory processing, expressive vocabulary, Baraks hesitation to lead the army, for instance, foreshadows a timidity and desire for reassurance that mark later leaders (6:36-40; 11:20-33), and the lack of response from some tribes (5:16-17) signals the later drastic collapse of the confederation (e.g., 20:12-40).1This is one brief reversal of the spiral of decay that will finally require a monarchy to reverse. Here is yet another lesson from Deborah in the Bible: dont play small. This was not her preference, but she rose to meet the need. Its not ungodly to recognize and talk about your own strengths. But she had a particular understanding of the kind of leadership she needed to provide. 2. Philadephia: Westminster, 1981), pp. Deborahs prayer is the very last part of what is known as Deborahs song. Through her song Deborah bears witness to the ways God uses men and women to serve him and every kind of serving requires great strength. Further, it is not a unit. Deborah also paid attention to the fact that for those who did show up, they did so with their whole heart, willing to put everything into the fight. He worked through three weaklings! Each one wanted somebody else straightened out. Well, the weaknesses of animism are that there is no doctrinal claims, like the bible or koran, always afraid of spirits doing something bad to them, failure to address meaning of luife and that. But by now, it was disgusting how many Israelites had forsaken their heritage and their God. She praises him for accomplishing those purposes through willing male leaders; through Jael, most blessed of women; and through herself, a mother in Israel (Judges 5:47; 2431). Managing missed deadlines. God calls whomever he will. The one we know the least was the nurse of Rebekah, the wife of Isaac. Chapter 4 begins with a pattern familiar to readers of Judges: the Israelites do evil; the Lord sells them into the hand of the enemy; they cry unto the Lord for deliverance; and the Lord raises up a judge to lead them. Schism What they needed was to be encouraged and reassured that they had what it would take to work with God in winning the battle. The song of Deborah and Barak is much like the song that Miriam sang after the children of Israel were victorious over Egypt. Josiah's Reform Marry A Prostitute In Judges 4:14 (NKJV) it is said that Deborah said to Barak, Up! Gender operates as one of the contexts against which that ready self-offering needs to happen, but the message of the story of Deborah is that Gods people must respond, with or without excuse. Judges 4:8 (NIV), "Barak said to her, If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go.". Blessed. leading others through an in-depth study of Judges 4 and 5. Here is a strong woman used by God to exercise strategic leadership among Gods people; this is beautiful and important for us to see. . What is decisive in the tellings of the tale is not gender as such, or even its ironic reversal, but rather the creative response by individuals within their given circumstances to the challenge of the moment. Scripture does not reveal why God chose Deborah or how she became a judge. 4. Emotional intelligence - you understand your emotions which, for example, allows you to stay calm under stress. Deborah not only comes in the flow of God's word, but she herself speaks God's word. It is ever a paradox to the natural mind. Its my prayerthrough reflection and refinement, you will experience life in the fullness of Christ. As a prophetess, she was Gods mouthpiece to the people of Israel. Jeremiah and Hananiah Her standing in society is a secure and accepted as the one through whom God speaks. Ailish Ferguson Even, Judges, in Kroeger and Evans, eds.,The IVP Womens Bible Commentary(Downers Grove: IVP, 2002), p. 133. Conflict Avoidance 2 Cor. He knew if Deborah did not really believe what she had said, she would never go with him into battle. Deborah trusted in the word of God. Weakness or flaw is common to all flesh, man or woman, saved or unsaved, Christians or unbelievers, rich or poor, young or old, clergy or laity, etc. This can be seen in Judges 5:15-16 (NKJV) where it says, And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As was Issachar, so was Barak; Into the valley, they rushed at his feet. God knew they could work together to accomplish the task before them. She made it her business to pay attention to whether or not they showed up for their people. 80-81. The prophecy addresses various specific audiences: the leaders and the volunteers who stepped forward (5:2, 9); the Israelites who now benefit from peace (5:6-11); the tribes who did and who did not muster for battle (5:12-123); Jael, the most blessed of women (5:24-27); and finally, indirectly and quite poignantly, the mother of Sisera who watches for her sons return in vain (5:28-31). And we are benefitting from that today from studying her story. People skills. There is very little impact when a leader has no influence. She had her office under a palm tree, in the district more remote from the oppressors. Sometimes the people we lead just need us to be present. Theological Anthropology. Legalism and Antinomianism God chose to use what men considered a weak instrument in order to bring an incredible victory. Every decision she made regarding this battle was because she had such great faith in God. In Jewish tradition, celebrating is a big deal. Deborah served as a wise judge, obeying God's commands. May I bless God for his saving purposes in calling his people to serve our perfect Deliverer together and may I be prepared to wage spiritual battle along with and in every way possible, helping the overseers chosen to lead the body of Christ. These are some reasons why Deborah is important in the Bible. 4) develops the irony latent in the circumstances with dialogue and plot twists, especially in Baraks hesitation and Deborahs and Jaels successes. The writer of Judges teaches us that the military defeat came as a result of spiritual failure. When we celebrate the strength of Deborah, we celebrate a woman who speaks and obeys Gods word and who sings it with all her heart! She must have spoken with considerable authority. The language of the poem in particular suggests a sexual triumph (he lay still between her legs, 5:27), the opposite of the sexual violence that Siseras mother is wishing for her son (literally, a womb or two for every man, 5:30).7. Deborah is best known for being one of the few female prophetesses of the Bible and the only female judge in the book of Judges. Israel kept up the same cycle of backsliding, suffering, repenting, reviving, then backsliding again! I start here in celebrating this strong woman, because human strength as Scripture shows it is only a derived strength. The story of Deborah is a sparkling account of a dramatic moment of decision and endeavor in Israel, during the period of the Judges. And there is no amount of money that can buy peace. . . The Widow of Zarephath was called to feed Elisha. . Deborahs role as judge is presented without apology, as a normal development.5It is when she moves into military leadership that her role as arbiter is stretched and gender becomes an issue. Barak clearly had a relationship with God. Now translated into over 20 languages across the world! Deborah heard Gods voice the way she heard humans talk to her. . All the rest are fakes. Jesus the Questioner Conflict resolution. She is called a prophetess and the wife of Lappidoth. This helps you make decisions that better reflect your true self and make you happy. This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. There are a number of things which could be said of her. Deborah stands out as one the powerful women of faith in the Scriptures. Deborah, a wife, prophetess, and judge of Spiritual leaders can sometimes be lifted up by those they lead. If you are a Bible study teacher, you are free to allow this content to influence the lessons you teach or the sermons you present. As a woman specifically, I am encouraged to see how God distinctly prepares, calls, and uses men and women. Although your interviewer may ask you to share some of your weaknesses, she isn't asking you to ruin your chances of getting the job. 2 Brandi's Confessions, Call Has not the Lord gone out before you? So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.. as a matter of the supposed strengths or weaknesses of women and men in general. What needs to be heard as well is a joyful embracing of what the Bible celebrates as a strong woman. . Calling Barak to battle against Sisera, she calls, Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you? (Judges 4:6). 3. Versatility. The Great Persecution and the Coming of Imperial Christianity Gender plays a prominent part in how the story is told, though in different ways in each of the chapters. While it's beneficial to "show off" your strengths, it's just as important to show humility and acknowledge you still have room - and willingness - to learn and grow. There are two women with the name Deborah in the Old Testament. Deborah was not only concerned about her own leadership role in Israel. The most well-known is the prophetess. In this song, Deborah and Barak immortalized the events of the battle and highlighted those who participated. Kathleen Nielson is an author and speaker who has taught literature and directed womens Bible studies. 1 Corinthians 12:2. But I tend to agree. We know this about Deborah not only from her interaction with Barak, but also from her song. . Siseras army had the latest technology in army equipment and they had larger numbers of men to fight. Ability to perform under pressure. Ten thousand was not a large army. Deborah Gruenfeld and Lauren Zander. For this is the day in which the Lord has delivered Sisera into your hand. When Barak was vacillating about going into battle, Deborah did not. 2. Creation For example, it has the lowest proportion of people who skipped medicine due to cost (2.3% in 2016 compared to an average of 7.2% across the comparator countries). God delights in strong women. Sisera had 900 chariots of iron, plus a huge infantry! So are weaknesses. For this is the day in which the Lord has delivered Sisera into your hand. Esther SWOT Analysis is a proven management framework which enables a brand like Instagram to benchmark its business & performance as compared to the competitors, and make strategic improvements. What are some employee strengths? That women are only called to be wives, mothers, and hospitality managers at home. She is also known as one of the few female warriors in Scripture. Of course, that was what true prophets did: they spoke the word of the Lord as he gave it to them. The narrative (ch. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. She saw it as an emergency measure. But at the same time she prophesied that because of his weak faith, God would deliver the victory of battle through a woman. Specifically, SWOT is a basic, analytical framework that assesses what an entity . Honesty. Deborah stood with him in support. That the people offered themselves willingly, Two issues probably emerge most prominently as we ask what this story tells us about Christian leadership: what is the role of gender in relation to leadership, and what is the kind of leadership that is commended? Weaknesses: 1. When we meet Deborah, we meet part of the seed of Abraham that God promised to grow and bless. 1. . Wearily she listened to their cases. . (Pulpit Commentary, Judges, p. 42), Scriptures: Humility in Leadership What are some common strengths and weaknesses? God loves us. I speak as a cowardly man of faith myself as I attend a church predominately run by divorced women in top leadership roles. . Read the whole chapter for more insight on spiritual gifts. She immediately agrees to go with him, as he asks. Every person had his or her own complaint. Elijah and Elisha What leaders have in common is that each really knows her strengths, has developed her strengths, and can call on the right strength at the right time. Deborah provides expert guidance for individuals while supporting organisations through change and connecting people and purpose. The reason Deborah could move forward with such courage was because of her faith in God. She did not need to have her trust in God confirmed by the responses of others. However, her impact was limited in some aspects, such as her geographical influence, lack of long-term impact, and the patriarchal culture of that time may have limited her power and influence. Israels army was only 10,000 strong. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Deborah Ancona, Thomas W. Malone, Wanda J. Orlikowski, . Dozens and dozens of people lined up every day. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Deborah became a judge in Israel at a time when the nation faced oppression from the Caananites. She was willing to stand up against oppression and injustice and even participated in the battle against the Canaanites. Make sure you can give specific examples to demonstrate why you say that is your strength if probed further. Public speaking. Arius and Nicea If you want to share this resource with others, please share the link to the blog post. Not all the tribes participated in the war but those who did were highlighted by Deborah. Call Deborah on +61 403 779 746. www.ontalent.com.au 77 Like. But no! Step 4: Then, you can opt to describe how can you apply the said strengths or how they would be useful in the job role you are interviewing for. Its important to remember that Deborahs story is an important part of the Bible and the history of Israel, and it is worth studying and understanding her strengths and weaknesses in order to gain a better understanding of the history and culture of the time. Like Deborah, may more and more strong, godly women speak the word, obey it, and sing it with all our hearts, for the glory of Christ our Lord. Deborah as a leader in the Bible is an example for women who have been called to stand in front of others in a guiding role. Fellowship is an irreplaceable means of grace in the Christian life and offers us two priceless joys: receiving Gods grace through the helping words of others and giving his grace to others through our own. . Although Smart shares certain attributes with her character, Deborah Vance,prolificacy, staying power, an origin story that involves a popular sitcom Deborah is more of a Joan Rivers type. Deborah truly took God at His word. Deborah was able to rouse the people to enter a war in which they were outnumbered. Example Answers: 3 Strengths and 3 Weaknesses. I did not look at the story of Deborah this way at all. Her boldness came from relying on God, not herself. The bottom fell out of the Israeli economy. Deborah trusted in Gods guidance and direction, as seen in Judges 5:12 (NKJV), where she states, Awake, awake, Deborah! Judges 5:31 NIV. Lets not even begin to talk about strong women or men apart from this bigger story of what God is doing. The Judges 4 account depicts Deborah as the leader who sent for Barak and gave explicit instructions to be carried out immediately. For 20 years, the people cried out in anguish under foreign oppression. After the battle, there was a 40 year period of peace in Israel. She described where the battle would take place and promised the Lord would give him the victory. And, they had peace for forty years due to their belief and obedience. Get more insights from your Bible study with Logos Bible Software Get Special Deals On Christian Books With ChurchSource Search For Christian Books On This Topic On Amazon, $MMT = window.$MMT || {}; $MMT.cmd = $MMT.cmd || [];$MMT.cmd.push(function(){ $MMT.display.slots.push(["e942e075-6d5d-4669-a86e-f8a58b0ecf74"]); }), $MMT = window.$MMT || {}; $MMT.cmd = $MMT.cmd || [];$MMT.cmd.push(function(){ $MMT.display.slots.push(["f2a3037c-7121-4629-a0f1-b900d7073588"]); }), $MMT = window.$MMT || {}; $MMT.cmd = $MMT.cmd || [];$MMT.cmd.push(function(){ $MMT.display.slots.push(["05703afe-05d8-4bb9-ba12-b7d3222e2ade"]); }), Translated into over 15 world languages and growing, Believer is owned by Paradise Publishing Thats the only way he could have known for himself what God was asking him to do. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Step 5: Now, move to the weaknesses part. The straightforward narrative of chapter 4 contrasts both in style and in detail with the poetic and prophetic chapter 5. Deborahs legacy is an important one, as she stands as one of the few female judges in the Bible, and her leadership during a time of oppression is an inspiration for many. If you truly want to be wealthy, help people solve their problems. David was a man just like us; on more than . As in the Song of Deborah, Judges 5:31 (NIV), those who love and obey the Lord will be renewed in strength and shine bright like the majestic sun. She was the leading voice of the Lord in those days. This is important because there were so few women called to this level of leadership. So let's pull together everything we've looked at above in terms of job strengths and weaknesses and run through a couple of full example interview answers now.
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