#58.3: Deborah – Judging and Peacemaking

In this lesson we’re going to meet a female prophetess, Deborah. Deborah was a judge whose “office” was under a palm tree between Ramah and Bet El. It was dubbed “Deborah’s Tree.” She prophesied that a general named Barak would be able to defeat Sisera, the commander of the occupying Canaanite army. Barak agreed to attack, but only if Deborah came with. She agreed, but told him that since this was not God’s original plan he will receive no glory from the battle. Instead Sisera will be defeated by a woman.

His attack was successful but Sisera got away. Sisera ran to the tent of the Israelite woman, Yael, who lured him in with food and drink. Yael was married to a man name Haber who was a Kenite and was at peace with King Jabin (the guys Sisera worked for). Feeling safe, Sisera fell asleep. Yael defeated Sisera while he slept and there was peace in the land for the next 40 years.

#1 Watch and Learn: Deborah’s Army: The Book of Judges

  1. Who is oppressing the Israelites in this story?
  2. What is Barak’s role?
  3. What is the prophecy of Deborah? How does the episode let us know that Barak misunderstood what Deborah’s prophecy was about?

#2 Read and Reflect: Deborah’s Prophecy is told twice?

In the book of Judges, Deborah’s prophecy and the story of the defeat of Sisera is told twice. Once in the story you watched above (Judges 4:4-24) and again later (Judges 5:1-31) in the form of a song. Read the song below and discuss why this story might have been included twice in the same book.

Narrative form of the story – (Judges 4:4-24)

Song form of the story – (Judges 5:1-31)

#3 Active Learning: Deborah’s Playlist

In your sharing groups, each person should take a piece of paper and write your answers to the following question:
– What do we know about the characters in this story? Specifically Deborah and Yael? How would you describe them with adjectives?
–
In your sharing groups, compare your lists of adjectives. Are the lists completely different, mostly the same, or a little bit of both? As a group, come up with a combined list of at least five adjectives.
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Now as a group, think of songs (oldies or current songs) that have the same themes as the adjectives on your list and create a musical playlist for Deborah and Yael!
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Go around the room and sing the start of each of your songs. Have the other group(s) try to guess what songs they are and why you chose them for Deborah and Yael’s playlist.

#4:Review and Response

  1. Who is the judge in this story? Why do you suppose this story is named for that person instead of one of the other characters?
  2. In this story is seems as though the only way to create change is to go to war and defeat Sisera. Have you ever been in a situation where you wanted to change something that was happening but you didn’t want to fight about it? How did you go about making change in a peaceful way?

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