Deborah

Day 1

Deborah "Honey Bee"

Deborah was just the leader Israel needed--a prophetess who heard God and believed him, whose courage aroused the people, enabling them to throw off foreign oppression.

Key Scripture: Judges 4-5
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%204-5&version=31

Judges 5:1-7
1 On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:
2 "When the princes in Israel take the lead,
when the people willingly offer themselves—
praise the LORD!
3 "Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers!
I will sing to the LORD, I will sing;
I will make music to the LORD, the God of Israel.
4 "O LORD, when you went out from Seir,
when you marched from the land of Edom,
the earth shook, the heavens poured,
the clouds poured down water.
5 The mountains quaked before the LORD, the One of Sinai,
before the LORD, the God of Israel.
6 "In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,
in the days of Jael, the roads were abandoned;
travelers took to winding paths.
7 Village life in Israel ceased, ceased until I, Deborah, arose,
arose a mother in Israel.

Day 2

Scripture describes Deborah as "a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth." Deborah describes herself as "a mother in Israel."

Though they (the children of Israel) had forgotten not only who they were but also whom they served, their mother Deborah reminded them and led them in a victory procession to peace.

Heavenly Father, Thank you for using me, a mother. We ask for your guidance, show us how we are to lead those we love. Use us to show people what you created them to be.

Day 3

Judges 4:4-8
4 Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading [a] Israel at that time. 5 She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided. 6 She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, "The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you: 'Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead the way to Mount Tabor. 7 I will lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.' " 8 Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go."

Which of Deborah's characteristics would you most like to have? What would you do if you had that characteristic? What can you do to develop that characteristic?

Day 4

Village life in Israel ceased, ceased until I, Deborah, arose, arose a mother in Israel.
~Judges 5-7

Whatever Deborah had is available to you today. Her wisdom is discovered in the Scriptures. Her confidence in God is found in a relationship with him. Her bravery is achievable when you put your trust in God and his promises. Her inner strength and calm leadership are characteristic of confidence not in herself but in her God. All Deborah offered to Israel she offers to you as an example of a women willing to be used by God.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
~Psalm 20:7

...Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. ~Isaiah 50:10

Day 5

"Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I will sing to the LORD, I will sing; I will make music to the LORD, the God of Israel. " ~Judges 5:3

Deborah's peace and confidence as a leader stemmed in part from her ability to hear God clearly. This week ask the Holy Spirit to help you distinguish God's voice from all the background noise. Ask for grace to discipline your thoughts in order to hear God better.

Lord, I want to hear your voice. Help me to recognize and resist all the phony voices that masquerade as yours. Help me to distinguish yours from all the others. Make me a women who both listens and speaks your word.