Judges 4-5, Psalms 56-57

I didn't post a reflection on yesterday's scripture readings, so here goes...

The stories of women are few in the Bible. My guess is that most of the Bible's storytellers and writers are men and that they concern themselves primarily with men's issues. Women's stories are of secondary concern to them. During the centuries of history recorded in the Bible, women are "second class citizens," mostly the possessions of men, men's wives, servants, mistresses, and slaves. So it's out of the ordinary to find women as the subjects of a biblical tale and even more astonishing that they exercise wisdom and power over any men in the narrative.

Deborah is that kind of woman. She is the judge who leads Israel after the demise of Ehud (Judges 4:4). She holds court and makes legal decisions (Judges 4:5). She prophesies in the name of the LORD, for examples, see Judges 4:6, 9.

The LORD is responding to the cries of the people. The LORD is seen as battling and defeating Israel's enemy, Jabin, King of Canaan, and the commander of his army, Sisera. The tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun fight to victory, but they are chagrined by the prominent roles played both by Deborah and by another brave woman, Jael.

As viewed in Judges, chapters 4 and 5, men are being judged in a humiliating ways. The woman, Deborah--not a man--leads, judges, and prophesies in the nation of Israel. Some of the tribes are called out by Deborah: Gilead, Dan, and Asher, for examples. (See Judges 5:17.) They fail to do their part in defending the freedom of their kinfolk. For reasons not described in the Bible men are not fulfilling their responsibilities. So the LORD raises up willing and able women, who come to the rescue.

The defeat of Jabin is sealed when his commanding general, Sisera, is killed, but Sisera's execution is foretold by a woman, Deborah, and Sisera's executioner is another woman, Jael (Judges 4:21). This story praises and encourages respect for wise, brave, Spirit-filled women.