What can today’s Christian church learn from Deborah the Judge and Prophetess?
This week I talk with Sandra Richter about Deborah the Judge and Prophetess in the Old Testament and how her story relates to us today.
Sandy (see her bio below) got interested in Deborah because of the classes she teaches on Biblical history, which always include the subject of how the Promised Land was settled and claimed by the children of Israel during the time of the Judges.
Sandy also talked about her role of being on the translation committee for the New International Version of the Bible. She explained that it is a “living translation” because they constantly revise the language to keep it current.
Deborah the Judge and Prophetess
In this episode we’re focusing specifically on Sandy’s new book/study guide: The Epic of Eden: Deborah – Unlikely Heroes and the Book of Judges.
You can read the full transcript or listen on the player below.
Here are some of the highlights of our conversation:
When the people of Israel obeyed God’s covenant things went well, but then they wouldn’t obey God’s covenant and worshiped other gods. Things would get really bad and they would be oppressed by a foreign power. Then they would pray and God would send them a Judge, who would bring them back to obeying God’s commandments. This cycle repeats 12 times.
Deborah was able to maintain order and lead the people with strong moral and spiritual integrity and leadership for 40 years.
Why don’t more people know about Deborah the Judge and Prophetess?
I asked Sandy why more people don’t know about Deborah. She explained the book of Judges is a dark period in Israel’s history. So people don’t spend much time in the book of Judges.
The other reason people don’t know about Deborah is because of her stark contradiction to cultural norms of women not in leadership roles.
Deborah was judge for 40 years but we only have one story about her, the battle of the Jezreel Valley.
This valley is also called the Valley of Armageddon. It’s the most important agricultural territory in all the Promised Land and the most important east-west pass in the entire Afro-Asian continent. Whoever has this land has power and resources.
Deborah’s story as a metaphor for today
This is a story about the people of God who have disobeyed the covenant of God, and how they become enslaved by occupying powers.
Sandy talks about this story as a metaphor for us today to think about territory that belongs to the kingdom of God and how we are winning it, settling it, or not occupying it. She asks these three questions that we all need to answer today:
- What territory can you see, from where you’re standing, that you know belongs to the kingdom of God but is not yet won?
- Is that territory worth fighting for?
- What are you going to do about it?
What can we do for the kingdom today?
We need to ask what we can do for the kingdom of heaven right now
Sandy ways we all need to ask the grand questions:
- Where is your one allegiance
- What are you trying to do with your life?
- Are you trying to build your kingdom of are you trying to build God’s kingdom.
The story of Deborah, Barak, and Jael is a story of those who put God first, regardless of the cost, regardless of the danger, regardless of the push back.
I asked Sandy what the bigger picture is of how this story fits into the overall story of the Bible. She explains the overarching story of the Bible is God’s redemption for all His children and to be in His presence.
Claiming territory for God
The story of Deborah is a metaphor for obeying God and helping us claim territory for God’s kingdom. She explains in her book how to translate the military language of the Old Testament into the language of the New Covenant. Now we conquer territory for the kingdom through spiritual activity.
We must be sanctified ourselves so we look like citizens of another kingdom, then taking that into the way we minister to the marginalized.
It is the task of the faithful to put this into practice in their churches, communities, and wherever they are, to reach out to those in need and bring them the light of God’s kingdom.
We need to do what God is calling us to do to glorify Him and to build the kingdom.
Deborah the Judge and Prophetess valued Barak the Military Man
Sandy points out that Barak valued Deborah so much. He wanted her to come with him because of her leadership and she heard God’s voice and could tell him exactly what to do and when.
Deborah makes it clear to Barak that he will not get the glory of the victory. Jael is the ultimate hero of the story because she kills the commanding officer of the opposing army.
Some might say that Barak is a coward and wants Deborah to go with him, but actually he values her spiritual wisdom and leadership and ability to hear God’s directions as a prophet of the Almighty..
This is highly unusual at the time because women do not belong in war camps. They don’t participate in military campaigns. But that doesn’t mean anything to Barak. He wants his men to see her there because her authority is well known and accepted by everyone.
Deborah’s leadership rebukes patriarchy
What does the story of Deborah say to today’s world of patriarchy?
This story tells us that the Holy Spirit is Lord of the Church. He distributes the gifts/ Whether to Jew or Gentile, free or slave, male or female, we accept who the Holy Spirit has given gifts to and then allow them to use them.
This story is a rebuke to us today as well as the ancient culture. The Holy Spirit is shouting loud and clear: I choose
Deborah’s identity as judge and prophet is highly unusual. This is highly unusual Only Samuel was both. That’s more important than her being female.
The geography and topography play a big role in the story.
Sandy’s book is a study guide, but it also has a link to watch videos of her lectures. It can be studied in a group setting as well as just by yourself.
I always ask my guest three final questions:
- If you could talk to any Bible character other than Jesus, who would it be and what would you ask them?
David. She would like to be one of his “mighty men”, his private guard and watch his rise to power and his transformation into the King.
- Is there any Bible character you especially identify with?
Joseph because all the bad things that happened to him were meant for evil but God meant it for good. That has been her experience.
- This podcast is about getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus, how to think, pray, and love like he did. How would you describe Jesus’s original message of how he wanted us to live our lives and how you endeavor to follow him?
Whose kingdom are you building? Jesus’s life was clear. He was building the kingdom of God with every word he spoke and everything he did. We need to follow his example. We need to clarify in our lives where our primary allegiance is, the church would be changing the world.
Invitation: Sandy and I invite and encourage you to make God’s kingdom your first allegiance and be a light to the world.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Books* by Sandra Richter:
The Epic of Eden: A Christian Entry into the Old Testament
The Epic of Eden: Psalms
The Stewards of Eden: What Scripture Says About the Environment and Why It Matters
The Epic of Eden: Deborah – Unlikely Heroes and the Book of Judges
Much more
* Amazon affiliate link
Sandra Richter contact info:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandralynrichter/
Instagram: @sandralynrichter
You can also find a lot of Sandy at Seedbed.com
Sandra Richter is the Robert H. Gundry Chair of Biblical Studies at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA. Richter earned her PhD in Hebrew Bible from Harvard University and her MA in Theological Studies from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She has taught at Asbury Theological Seminary, Wesley Biblical Seminary, and Wheaton College. Sandy is a member of the New International Version (NIV) Translation Committee.
She has carved out a important space in the Academic world with all her accomplishments. But the thing I love about Sandy is her passion for bringing the real people and real places of the biblical narrative to life and show how their lives and their situations relate to ours.
_____________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Contact him here.
Make a donation to support the show
_____________
Bible References
Matthew 4;17 KJV
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Luke 17:21 KJV
21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
John 18:37 KJV
37 To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
2 Corinthians 10:4, 5 KJV
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Ephesians 6:12 KJV
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:14-17 KJV
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
1 Corinthians 12:4 KJV
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
