People Of the Old Testament
Deborah - Study One
In the time between Joshua leading the people of Israel into Canaan ("The Promised Land") and when the monarchy was established, God sent judges to his people to remind them how to live God's way.
Influenced by their neighbours, a pattern soon developed where the people of Israel forgot God and started to worship the gods of the surrounding Canaanites. God punished their sin by allowing the locals to oppress them. The people remembered God and cried out for His help. He sent them a judge to lead them and gave them victory over their enemies. Then there was a time of peace and prosperity.
Deborah was a descendent of Joseph and the only female Judge over Israel.
Read Judges 4
1. What was Deborah's role among the Israelites? What were her duties?
2. At the beginning of Judges Chapter 4, when Ehud the last major Judge had died, what is the nature of Israel's relationship with God?
3. Why did Deborah send for Barak in verse 6? How did he respond to her request?
4. What was Barak's attitude towards Deborah?
5. Who was Heber the Kenite? What was his relationship with the Israelites and the Canaanites? (v 11,12 and 17)
6. What is the result of the battle? Whose victory was it? (v15 and 22-24)
Read 1 Timothy 3:1-13
7. How was Deborah a good leader? What qualities do we look for in leaders?
Deborah - Study Two
After the defeat of the Canaanites a song was composed to celebrate the victory. The song was probably written by Deborah or a contemporary and is therefore one of the oldest poems in the Bible.
Read Judges 5
1. How is this chapter different to the previous one? To whom was it written, and what is being celebrated?
2. When the Israelites are called to war, what are the various responses? (v13-18)
3. How was Sisera's army defeated? (v19-23)
4. How was Jael, wife of Heber, involved? (v24-27)
5. Women play a vital role in this part of Israel's history. The usual role for women in war time was waiting anxiously at home. In this song, how does Sisera's mother compare with:
a) Deborah, "Mother of Israel"?
b) Jael, "most blessed of tent-dwelling women"?
6. Who are God's enemies and what fate is wished upon them by Deborah in her song?
7. What is Deborah's wish for those who love God?
Read John 15:10 and 1 John 5:1-5
8. What battles do we face today and how can we be victorious?