Deborah - A Useful Leader For God
Sermon
LET'S GET COMMITTED
First Lesson Sermons For Sundays After Pentecost
The great emancipator Moses and his general Joshua, who became Commander-in-Chief of Israel, both had died. Quality leadership had nearly vanished. These were unsettled, disturbed, and reckless times. Kings and kingdoms jockey for political position ... dominating one race over another. Fierce, aggressive men struggle for possession of land caring nothing for the people they rule with an iron hand. Desperate times call for heroes who can bring calm and peace in trouble.
Bursting upon the scene after the death of Joshua and the kingship of Saul are the Judges of Israel beginning in about 1250 B.C. and lasting about 160 years.1
Deborah stands out uniquely as the only woman to be a judge in Israel. We wonder why in a male-dominated society she was qualified to be given this position. How did she juggle her family obligations as a wife (Judges 4:4) and mother? (Judges 5:7).
June Gunden observed, "The fact that we aren't told these things may be significant. It may be because to her and the writer of Judges, Deborah herself wasn't the emphasis. Her usefulness to God and to the nation of Israel was what mattered. The fact that she could keep that perspective, rather than thinking about her position, is probably a reason she was uniquely used."2
Today God still calls capable people as gifted leaders to use for His purposes.
Deborah Understood God's Goals
God's goals for useful leadership include ownership. Deborah could have been quietly at home performing family duties with serenity and peace instead of leading men to battle! It would have been safe and satisfying at home, going to the marketplace, keeping the tent clean, watering the livestock, and playing with the children. This moment was different. God's goal was national peace, safe homes for Israelite children, satisfying lives for his people, and bringing God back into Israel. That calling propelled her from the safe confines of her home and into the battle of life.
Today's leaders understand God's goal of ownership! Henri Nouwen wrote: "A Christian leader is not a leader because he announces a new idea and tries to convince others of its worth; he is a leader because he faces the world with eyes full of expectation to take away the veil that covers its hidden potential." It is at this point Christian leadership can be called ministry in order, "to express that in the service of others new life can be brought about."3 He or she realizes that service comes through divine rulership and ownership of the servant.
Today's leaders understand God's goal of freedom! The Israelites' pattern of falling into evil is repeated again after Judge Ehud's death. Canaanite King Jabin cruelly oppresses the rebellious Israelis. God's people are imprisoned in their own territory. Jehovah uses Deborah to lead the people to freedom. God does that -- he uses great leaders to lead people to freedom. Spiritual leaders will direct people to spiritual freedom.
Today's leaders understand God's goal of holiness! God absolutely hates sin! Deborah led her forces against the Canaanite General Sisera and pushes him and his army out of the land. Sisera represents sin.
Richard Lee wrote, "All that God is, he is because he is holy. He loves us because he is holy and can only desire good. He keeps his promises because he is holy and cannot lie. He judges sin because he is holy and cannot abide its presence. His holiness is not merely the absence of sin. It is absolute, blinding perfection."4
Leaders know the holiness of God and that God expects his people to be holy as well. God desires clean, usable vessels.
Deborah Understood Her Responsibility To God
Deborah shouldered the responsibility of judging the legal cases of Israel plus the added responsibility of leading the military forces. She realized that her responsibility was to the people, but even more to God. A great leader understands the responsibility to God.
A responsible leader knows the people. Fred Smith commented on how many preachers are authorities on a particular subject, but not on their audience. He said, "They feel they have communicated whether the listeners got anything or not." He continues, "As communicators, if people don't get what we say, it's our fault, not theirs. Our job is to influence the thinking and actions of the people who hear us. I am not relieved of my responsibility just by enunciating syllables to show my knowledge of the Word. I have succeeded only whey they understand and apply scriptural principles." He quotes a common misconception espoused by Ralph Waldo Emerson who said, "If a man can write a better book, preach a better sermon, or make a better mousetrap than his neighbor, though he builds his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door." Smith dismisses Emerson's philosophy as basically Eastern religion thought -- the guru out on a mountaintop and people making their way to the church building to listen.
"A lot of empty churches have proven Emerson was wrong. Jesus didn't sit at the temple in Jerusalem and have the people come to listen. He went out amongst them and said to his followers, now, you go into every part of the world and preach the gospel." Smith writes, "One of our problems, I think, is that we have built a fishpond (the baptistry) and then invited the fish to come in and swim. It has not been the nature of fish to do that. We will have a lot more success if we go out to the lake, their natural habitat."5 The statistics for church attendance bear this fact out, for today only about one out of four Americans attends church on any given Sunday.
Deborah got out among the people and so must preachers. However, those who count themselves as disciples must also be with people. Leadership among laity is desperately needed so that the world may hear and know of Jesus.
Responsible leadership also incorporates carrying a burden for people, sharing that burden with others, and giving that burden to Jesus.
In the Philippines a man driving a wagon to the open marketplace overtook an old man carrying a heavy load. Pulling up next to the man as he walked on the road, the driver invited the elderly gentlemen to ride in the wagon. Happily the old man accepted the offer.
After a while, the driver turned around to see how the old man was doing. Surprisingly, he discovered the old man was still burdened down, because he had not removed the heavy weight!
Christ offers to share the leaders' burdens as we show our trust in him.
Deborah Understood Her Response To God
Great leaders respond with wisdom. Deborah knew that her people needed someone to lead them wisely to victory. It is evident that Jabin held them in bondage by using brute force and he needed to be defeated. Deborah chose Barak to be her Joshua and together they wisely led Israel to liberation.
Today's society needs people who will lead wisely instead of foolishly. "The wise man must remember that while he is a descendant of the past, he is a parent of the future."6
Great leaders respond with influence. Bubba Smith has been a big name in the football world over the years. Bubba never drank beer, but you might remember him making those "cute" television commercials for a lite beer company. Not any longer. Bubba has kicked the habit. He realized what an influence he was making on people's lives. He said he went back to Michigan State for their homecoming parade. He was the Grand Marshall, sitting in the back seat of the car. The people on both sides of the parade line were yelling. As he listened, it wasn't, "Go, State, Go," but rather one side would yell, "Tastes great!" and the other side responding, "Less filling!"
He said that they arrived at the stadium and the same thing happened when the students saw him. One side would yell, "Tastes great!" with the other side responding, "Less filling!" Bubba said, "Everyone in the stands was drunk. It was like I was contributing to alcohol, and I don't drink. It made me realize I was doing something I didn't want to do ... I didn't like the effect it was having on a lot of little people. I'm talking about people in school. Kids would come up to me on the street and recite lines from my commercials, verbatim ... Kids start to listen to things you say, you want to tell 'em something that is true."
He sadly continues his comments, "Doing those commercials, it's like me telling everyone in school, 'Hey, it's cool to have a lite beer.' I'd go to places like Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale on spring break (as a spokesman for the brewery), and it was scary to see how drunk those kids were."
His final thought should hit all of us, "As the years wear on, you stop compromising your principles."7
Each of us influences someone either for good or bad. What kind of influence do you wield today? And to whom do you influence -- is it for Jesus or against him?
Great leaders respond with courage! My friend, Randal Denny, told this story. Several years ago a young Christian Russian man was drafted into the army, but he refused service. He was hauled before the judge who demanded an explanation of his action. The young fellow countered with scripture passages.
The judge responded by saying, "But that is the kingdom of heaven, and it has not come yet." The youth's reply was, "Your Honor, it may not have come for you, but it has for me."
Leaders understand they must respond to the call of God, people, and circumstances of life.
Deborah Understood The Qualifications Of God
Leaders will be sensitive to the needs of others. Donald Luce wrote, "Honor those you serve. Serve them with all of your heart. Without them your existence could never have the fulfillment and meaning it does."8
Leaders will be respected by others. Leaders will be authoritative to others. People will naturally listen when they speak. Leaders will be fair to others. Leaders will be God-dependent.
A member of a religious order of Catholic priests was feeling frustrated because he believed his order was putting too much pressure on organizational tasks rather than personal needs. He asked for an interview with Mother Teresa of Calcutta. As he entered the room where she was waiting for him, he began pouring his heart out to her. He complained, "I just can't do it. I'm committed to lepers, not organizational tasks. My vocation is to serve the leper community, not the monastery." He carried on for some time. Finally he stopped long enough for Mother Teresa to respond.
She looked at him with piercing eyes and a faint smile. She said, "Young man, your vocation is not to serve lepers, your vocation is to belong to and to love Jesus."9
That is our qualification and vocation. Whatever God has called us and given us gifts to minister is what we are to do and to do well.
Conclusion
Today God needs leaders in a world that is divided politically, economically, socially, ethnically, and spiritually -- who can bring peace and direction. God needs people who are unafraid to take a stand for him in the midst of chaos and trouble in our world and declare the great Bible principles upon which our spiritual foundation rests. Will you take up the vocation of leadership by belonging to and surrendering to Jesus?
____________
1. The Pulpit Commentary (Grand Rapids: William Eerdmans Publishing, 1950), p. IV Judges.
2. Women's Devotional Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1990), p. 247.
3. Reuben P. Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide To Prayer (Nashville: Upper Room, 1983), p. 53.
4. Richard Lee, Windows Of Hope (Sisters, Oregon: Multnomah, 1992), p. 53.
5
6
7. James Hewett, editor, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House, 1988), p. 309.
8. Donald Luce, Time-Out Management (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996), p. 357.
9. Dale Galloway, Leading With Vision (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1999), p. 160.
Bursting upon the scene after the death of Joshua and the kingship of Saul are the Judges of Israel beginning in about 1250 B.C. and lasting about 160 years.1
Deborah stands out uniquely as the only woman to be a judge in Israel. We wonder why in a male-dominated society she was qualified to be given this position. How did she juggle her family obligations as a wife (Judges 4:4) and mother? (Judges 5:7).
June Gunden observed, "The fact that we aren't told these things may be significant. It may be because to her and the writer of Judges, Deborah herself wasn't the emphasis. Her usefulness to God and to the nation of Israel was what mattered. The fact that she could keep that perspective, rather than thinking about her position, is probably a reason she was uniquely used."2
Today God still calls capable people as gifted leaders to use for His purposes.
Deborah Understood God's Goals
God's goals for useful leadership include ownership. Deborah could have been quietly at home performing family duties with serenity and peace instead of leading men to battle! It would have been safe and satisfying at home, going to the marketplace, keeping the tent clean, watering the livestock, and playing with the children. This moment was different. God's goal was national peace, safe homes for Israelite children, satisfying lives for his people, and bringing God back into Israel. That calling propelled her from the safe confines of her home and into the battle of life.
Today's leaders understand God's goal of ownership! Henri Nouwen wrote: "A Christian leader is not a leader because he announces a new idea and tries to convince others of its worth; he is a leader because he faces the world with eyes full of expectation to take away the veil that covers its hidden potential." It is at this point Christian leadership can be called ministry in order, "to express that in the service of others new life can be brought about."3 He or she realizes that service comes through divine rulership and ownership of the servant.
Today's leaders understand God's goal of freedom! The Israelites' pattern of falling into evil is repeated again after Judge Ehud's death. Canaanite King Jabin cruelly oppresses the rebellious Israelis. God's people are imprisoned in their own territory. Jehovah uses Deborah to lead the people to freedom. God does that -- he uses great leaders to lead people to freedom. Spiritual leaders will direct people to spiritual freedom.
Today's leaders understand God's goal of holiness! God absolutely hates sin! Deborah led her forces against the Canaanite General Sisera and pushes him and his army out of the land. Sisera represents sin.
Richard Lee wrote, "All that God is, he is because he is holy. He loves us because he is holy and can only desire good. He keeps his promises because he is holy and cannot lie. He judges sin because he is holy and cannot abide its presence. His holiness is not merely the absence of sin. It is absolute, blinding perfection."4
Leaders know the holiness of God and that God expects his people to be holy as well. God desires clean, usable vessels.
Deborah Understood Her Responsibility To God
Deborah shouldered the responsibility of judging the legal cases of Israel plus the added responsibility of leading the military forces. She realized that her responsibility was to the people, but even more to God. A great leader understands the responsibility to God.
A responsible leader knows the people. Fred Smith commented on how many preachers are authorities on a particular subject, but not on their audience. He said, "They feel they have communicated whether the listeners got anything or not." He continues, "As communicators, if people don't get what we say, it's our fault, not theirs. Our job is to influence the thinking and actions of the people who hear us. I am not relieved of my responsibility just by enunciating syllables to show my knowledge of the Word. I have succeeded only whey they understand and apply scriptural principles." He quotes a common misconception espoused by Ralph Waldo Emerson who said, "If a man can write a better book, preach a better sermon, or make a better mousetrap than his neighbor, though he builds his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door." Smith dismisses Emerson's philosophy as basically Eastern religion thought -- the guru out on a mountaintop and people making their way to the church building to listen.
"A lot of empty churches have proven Emerson was wrong. Jesus didn't sit at the temple in Jerusalem and have the people come to listen. He went out amongst them and said to his followers, now, you go into every part of the world and preach the gospel." Smith writes, "One of our problems, I think, is that we have built a fishpond (the baptistry) and then invited the fish to come in and swim. It has not been the nature of fish to do that. We will have a lot more success if we go out to the lake, their natural habitat."5 The statistics for church attendance bear this fact out, for today only about one out of four Americans attends church on any given Sunday.
Deborah got out among the people and so must preachers. However, those who count themselves as disciples must also be with people. Leadership among laity is desperately needed so that the world may hear and know of Jesus.
Responsible leadership also incorporates carrying a burden for people, sharing that burden with others, and giving that burden to Jesus.
In the Philippines a man driving a wagon to the open marketplace overtook an old man carrying a heavy load. Pulling up next to the man as he walked on the road, the driver invited the elderly gentlemen to ride in the wagon. Happily the old man accepted the offer.
After a while, the driver turned around to see how the old man was doing. Surprisingly, he discovered the old man was still burdened down, because he had not removed the heavy weight!
Christ offers to share the leaders' burdens as we show our trust in him.
Deborah Understood Her Response To God
Great leaders respond with wisdom. Deborah knew that her people needed someone to lead them wisely to victory. It is evident that Jabin held them in bondage by using brute force and he needed to be defeated. Deborah chose Barak to be her Joshua and together they wisely led Israel to liberation.
Today's society needs people who will lead wisely instead of foolishly. "The wise man must remember that while he is a descendant of the past, he is a parent of the future."6
Great leaders respond with influence. Bubba Smith has been a big name in the football world over the years. Bubba never drank beer, but you might remember him making those "cute" television commercials for a lite beer company. Not any longer. Bubba has kicked the habit. He realized what an influence he was making on people's lives. He said he went back to Michigan State for their homecoming parade. He was the Grand Marshall, sitting in the back seat of the car. The people on both sides of the parade line were yelling. As he listened, it wasn't, "Go, State, Go," but rather one side would yell, "Tastes great!" and the other side responding, "Less filling!"
He said that they arrived at the stadium and the same thing happened when the students saw him. One side would yell, "Tastes great!" with the other side responding, "Less filling!" Bubba said, "Everyone in the stands was drunk. It was like I was contributing to alcohol, and I don't drink. It made me realize I was doing something I didn't want to do ... I didn't like the effect it was having on a lot of little people. I'm talking about people in school. Kids would come up to me on the street and recite lines from my commercials, verbatim ... Kids start to listen to things you say, you want to tell 'em something that is true."
He sadly continues his comments, "Doing those commercials, it's like me telling everyone in school, 'Hey, it's cool to have a lite beer.' I'd go to places like Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale on spring break (as a spokesman for the brewery), and it was scary to see how drunk those kids were."
His final thought should hit all of us, "As the years wear on, you stop compromising your principles."7
Each of us influences someone either for good or bad. What kind of influence do you wield today? And to whom do you influence -- is it for Jesus or against him?
Great leaders respond with courage! My friend, Randal Denny, told this story. Several years ago a young Christian Russian man was drafted into the army, but he refused service. He was hauled before the judge who demanded an explanation of his action. The young fellow countered with scripture passages.
The judge responded by saying, "But that is the kingdom of heaven, and it has not come yet." The youth's reply was, "Your Honor, it may not have come for you, but it has for me."
Leaders understand they must respond to the call of God, people, and circumstances of life.
Deborah Understood The Qualifications Of God
Leaders will be sensitive to the needs of others. Donald Luce wrote, "Honor those you serve. Serve them with all of your heart. Without them your existence could never have the fulfillment and meaning it does."8
Leaders will be respected by others. Leaders will be authoritative to others. People will naturally listen when they speak. Leaders will be fair to others. Leaders will be God-dependent.
A member of a religious order of Catholic priests was feeling frustrated because he believed his order was putting too much pressure on organizational tasks rather than personal needs. He asked for an interview with Mother Teresa of Calcutta. As he entered the room where she was waiting for him, he began pouring his heart out to her. He complained, "I just can't do it. I'm committed to lepers, not organizational tasks. My vocation is to serve the leper community, not the monastery." He carried on for some time. Finally he stopped long enough for Mother Teresa to respond.
She looked at him with piercing eyes and a faint smile. She said, "Young man, your vocation is not to serve lepers, your vocation is to belong to and to love Jesus."9
That is our qualification and vocation. Whatever God has called us and given us gifts to minister is what we are to do and to do well.
Conclusion
Today God needs leaders in a world that is divided politically, economically, socially, ethnically, and spiritually -- who can bring peace and direction. God needs people who are unafraid to take a stand for him in the midst of chaos and trouble in our world and declare the great Bible principles upon which our spiritual foundation rests. Will you take up the vocation of leadership by belonging to and surrendering to Jesus?
____________
1. The Pulpit Commentary (Grand Rapids: William Eerdmans Publishing, 1950), p. IV Judges.
2. Women's Devotional Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1990), p. 247.
3. Reuben P. Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide To Prayer (Nashville: Upper Room, 1983), p. 53.
4. Richard Lee, Windows Of Hope (Sisters, Oregon: Multnomah, 1992), p. 53.
5
6
7. James Hewett, editor, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House, 1988), p. 309.
8. Donald Luce, Time-Out Management (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996), p. 357.
9. Dale Galloway, Leading With Vision (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1999), p. 160.
