Sermon - February 10, 2013 - A Few Good Men...And Women

Judges 4:4-9

4At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel. 5She 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. 6She 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. 7I 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.’” 8Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” 9And 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.

Deborah, a prophetess.  That’s right, read it over and over again.  God spoke from the words of a woman, and it is in the Old Testament.  It may have been a man’s world, or at least they wanted to think it.  Yet here God is using one of his creations as an instrument to speak God’s Word to the people.  God does not care whether you are male or female, Christ cares about your heart. Barak knew that Deborah was someone that the people trusted and would go to her for advice, she was in fact a judge.  Someone with whom the spirit of God rested upon so that the people may benefit and be guided by God’s Word.  When Deborah came to Barak with this task because she was not a military person, she knew nothing about the battlefield so she went to someone who did know war and what was needed. Barak did not want to face it alone.  He wanted to know that she would be with him, but more importantly that God was with him.  

Barak knew that he would be up against difficult odds and was nervous.  He wanted to have some assurance that God would be with them.  For Barak would be up against Sisera and his 900 iron chariots that have been cruelly oppressed the Israelites.  Barak gathers together the men of Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh.  Barak was able to gather 10,000 men to fight for God.  All of these men would be needed.  For the people of Israel were not professional warriors; they were farmers, working the land and only when necessary would they fight in battle.  However, they would be going up against well trained men in iron chariots.  That’s right, the people of Israel were equipped with Bronze weaponry and were up against iron.  That would be like WWI soldiers going up against modern armored light tanks.  The chariots were faster, were able to carry more weapons, and could strike a harder blow than anything the Israelites could produce.  Not only that, but if the swords were to hit, the bronze would have given way after a few hits against the iron.  It would be like you going into battle with a sword and I would be carrying a fun noodle, ok maybe not that bad but you get the idea.  The Israelites were greatly outmatched.  

On the day of the battle, Deborah gathered with the men and they prepared for battle.  When the chariots came, God caused the chariots into a panic.  Barak and all 10,000 warriors were able to come and defeat the enemy and left none to survive.  However, Sisera abandoned his chariot and ran away on foot.  But later, met his end by having a tent stake driven through his temple by the wife of his ally.

This part of history reminds each of us that we do not need the latest technology, we do not need the best, shiniest or strongest.  What we need is God to be with us.  I am also drawn to the character and person that is Deborah; a prophetess and the only woman judge in all the Old Testament.  Deborah was known to be very modest and was a great servant.  She did not speak much but when she did, people listened.  She was someone that people sought out for advice and insight on spirituality. Above all, she knew that the Lord was doing all the work that was needed to sustain the people of Israel.  

For many of us, we long to be like Deborah, but truly Deborah is more like Jesus Christ and we are more like Barak.  We want to have assurance.  We want to know for sure that everything is gonna be ok.  Deborah goes with us, assuring and standing right there with us, every battle and every day that we face within the world.  Reminding us that God is at work in the world providing all that we need.  We need to believe it.  This pattern of prophets and judges coming, helping the people to realize that God is indeed among them and working for them.  People finally accepting that only God could do the work that was needed and then forgetting that same thing became the pattern.  Finally God had enough.  Instead of sending messangers, God sent his only son, Jesus to actually deliver the goods.  

No longer would it be only the Word, but now the word would become flesh and do the work for us.  We would no longer have to worry if we were perfect, or if we were following the Word of God because at long last the Word came to earth to finish the work.  

Finally and completely, it would be finished.    At long last you would be reconciled to God.  You would have a right relationship because of his son. Through his body and blood, all of humanity would be brought into right relationship with God.  For those who are struggling with this, go through the process, the journey again.  Be reminded of the Ten Commandments, the words spoken for his people and then finally look at the work and the words that Christ spoke and did for you.  

Yet we are humans, within our very nature, our very essence, we want to do something.  But what can we do for God?  He created you and all that exists.  What could I possibly give to God?  Nothing, but the neighbor who is standing next to you, the neighbor down the road, the neighbor over the ocean, longing for food, longing for shelter, longing for love, needs your help.  That is what we are called to do, because of the love that God has given to us, we are able to help those around us.  Believe me, there is always gonna be someone in need, including you.  So when that day comes, allow the person to help you. But remember to say Thank You, to the person and to God for all that has been done for you. Amen.