JUDGE DEBORAH

Today’s Reading: Judges 4

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).

The Church of Transfiguration is beautifully presented at the pinnacle of Mt. Tabor. Mt. Tabor is located in Lower Galilee, Israel, at the eastern end of the Jezreel Valley, 18 km west of the Sea of Galilee. It was the site of the Mt. Tabor battle between Barak, under the leadership of the Israelite judge Deborah, and the army of Jabin, commanded by Sisera, in the mid 14th century BC. It is believed by many Christians to be the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus. Therefore, it is also known as the Mount of Transfiguration. Remember how Peter wanted to build three tabernacles up here? Some well-meaning people have built one for Peter (Matthew 17:1-8).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Judges 4:4, 5b

Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time…And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

God is an equal opportunity Employer. His candidates for leadership included women, like Deborah, as well as men. God chooses the person best suited for the task. Perhaps, because Israel’s judge was a woman, King Jabin, who was oppressing Israel, allowed Deborah to continue in her role. She used her position of strength to recruit Barak, who in turn called up an army of 10,000 troops. Tomorrow’s reading tells us about the torrent of Kishon, the stream that runs across the valley between Mt. Tabor and the Carmel range of hills. Flood conditions bogged down the chariots of Sisera in the mud and Israel prevailed.

God had waited patiently until Israel called out to Him for deliverance before He would get involved. God does not necessarily bring trouble into our lives when we turn away from Him; it’s simply that if we abandon His presence and protection, and then try, in our own strength, to overcome our problems, we fail in our attempts at finding freedom. We, ourselves, have opened the door for the oppressor to triumph over us.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father God, I cry out to You daily for Your presence. You are most welcome to intervene in any way You choose in my life, my family, and in my community. You’ve created me in Your image, and that includes a free will. I yield my will to You so that I may do Your will. I pray this in the Name of the One who always did Your will, Your Son and my Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’ve often stopped along the highway at the base of Mt. Tabor where the village named after Judge Deborah is located (see the first picture below looking east down Mt. Tabor to the village of Deborah at Tabor’s base). The present road up Mt. Tabor is quite steep with many hairpin switchbacks. In 1978 there was an old very steep road up the side of the mountain. My son, David Reynold, who does the photography for the blog, had just turned 16. He had his beginners driver’s license but little experience. I let him drive the vintage, stick shift, under-powered Volkswagen van up to the top. My wife, Norma-Jean, will tell you that she prayed most fervently all the way up! I admit that it was scary. I know that she believes that the God of Deborah helped us greatly! Experience is a great teacher. I’m learning lots from the examples provided in the first books of the Bible. Read with me, if you have time, from 1 Corinthians 10:11-13. Just as Israel was tested, or tempted, by those who lived around them, so are we tested. But “God is faithful;” He will not allow me to be tempted beyond what I am able to handle, but will, with the temptation (testing), make a way of escape. I’ve had to learn, sometimes the hard way, that I must run from temptation. God provides the way of escape, but I must choose to escape into safety in Christ.

Yours for learning from the examples given here in Judges,

David

View from next to the Church of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor towards the East. Below you can see the town of Deborah, named after the judge in today’s Bible reading.

The view from Mt. Tabor to the South, showing the east end of the Jezreel Valley.