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 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 her 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.
Yes Lord Jesus help us to flee from temptation God bless David Maine and his family keep him strong to bring Glory to You in Jesus name Amen
Amen!
Thank you so much for this daily blog. I sat under the ministry of your brother-in-law, Ralph Rutledge. He too told many stories of his youth, growing up in a Christian home and I loved to hear them. It seems like the days of depending on the Holy Spirit for help, guidance, deliverance and repentance are all but unheard of now. I miss that. Your blog brings to remembrance time spent just waiting on the Lord. Again, thank you so much. You are in my prayers.
So in love with today’s bible readings, prayer and majesty of the photos that coincide with its history; read everything over twice. How truly blessed we are. Thank you David, Norma-Jean, Reynold and Ron! Thank You Lord, for guiding me to a change that has been taking place these past few months. I am seeing things much more clearly. Wishing all saints a blessed day in the Lord!
The grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 1 Tim 1:14 NKJV
I Exalt Thee by Alleliua Singers w/ Lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIZN0am96sE
How Awesome is our God…how He confirms His love to us!!
1Tim. 1:14 is what I was blessed with this morning.
Bless you Beverlee!!
Blessings to you Beverlee and brother David.
I also repeat your prayer brother:
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!
I’m reading a great book by Dr. Larry Crabb called “A Different Kind of Happiness” Moira interviewed him on 100 Huntley Street a few weeks ago… If you are going through any kind of trials and/or hardship then this is a book you will also find comfort in…
Looks like another snow day out here in the Fraser Valley on the west coast… It is very unusual for us to have this kind of weather… It reminds me of some of the extreme weather conditions when I worked outdoors “salvage logging”…
Have a Blessed day blog friends in Christ…
Your wonderful pictures stir my heart as they remind me of my trip to Israel ’92… with our Pastor and wife and about 30 of us…..Pastor John Tweedy read the scriptures that related to the places along the way and our Jewish guide brought in his part of the interesting information about the land marks….to walk where Jesus walked changed my walk….as my bible reading became alive to me!!
Mt.Tabor was quite an anxious ride as l don’t like hights….so getting into that car to get up there was by faith and Claire’s encouragement:) ….thank you David and your great crew for your wonderful ministry that I have so enjoyed into our 5th year….
Thank you for all your posting today Pastor David, Norma-Jean, Reynold, Ron, Beverlee and David L. My trip up Mount Tabor during my first trip to Israel was scary also with a regular tour driver. Deborah was a strong woman. Looking forward to listening to the sermon at King of Kings. Blessings!
At sixteen Reynold was probably having a blast! That ride set him up for great things!Its another sunny day in Florida,feeling for you David.
Al we could use soon of that sunshine here. However, if we have THE SON in our hearts, we needn’t worry about the weather or anything.
Dear Pastor David I also prayed your prayer this morning . I am truly in agreement with it for everyday of my life.
Ps. I think I would have felt like Norma Jean. If one off my boys had been driving up the mountain at age 16. You make me smile dear Pastor, it is so uplifting to hear your personal stories.
Blessings to all. Eleanor M.
Dear Jesus, thank you for this blog, a ministry that you inspired Pastor David to bring to us daily. Thank for the wisdom that you have given him, and for blessing him through these many years. And blessing Norma-Jean for her faithfulness as his helpmate and for their family as they join together in bringing this daily bread to us. Thank you Dear Lord Jesus. Amen and Amen!!
This morning as I joined in prayer with you Pastor David, this song came to mind, I’m not great at posting links, but here are the lyrics:
“In Your presence, in Your presence, there is peace,
in Your presence, there is joy, I will linger, I will stay,
in Your presence day by day, ’till Your likeness may be
seen in me.”
To yield all is not the easiest thing to do: From “The Utmost to His Highest” today:
Titled “Are you ready to be offered?”
2 Timothy 4:6 “I am already being poured out as a drink offering”
“I am ready to be offered. It is a transaction of will, not of sentiment. Tell God you are ready to be offered; then let the consequences be what they may, there is no strand of complaint now, no matter what God chooses. God puts you through the crisis in private, no one person can help another. Externally the life may be the same; the difference is in will. Go through the crisis in will, then when it comes externally there will be no thought of the cost. If you do not transact in will with God along this line, you will end in awakening sympathy for yourself. “Bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.” The altar means fire–burning and purification and insulation for one purpose only, the destruction of every affinity that God has not started and of every attachment that is not an attachment in God. You do not destroy it, God does; you bind the sacrifice to the horns of the altar; and see that you do not give way to self-pity when the fire begins. After this way of fire, there is nothing that oppresses or depresses. When the crisis arises, you realize that things cannot touch your as they used to do. What is your way of fire? Tell God you are ready to be offered, and God will prove Himself to be all you ever dreamed He would be.”
Blessings on this day to all in Jesus Name, Amen!
Beautiful, Irene!! This is the only link I could find for the song you posted and it is very poor quality. However, I will also post a similar link to a meditation to this song without the words; a piano meditation that is simply beautiful. Amen!
An almost forgotten song (iN yOUr pReSenCE with Lyrics)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFMMTGQzViY
In Your Presence There Is Peace–beautiful!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22CTlDHJUL0
Bless you Beverlee…when I went into this link…I also clicked on a couple of Paul Wilbur’s songs …and joined in worship!!
Thank you Beverlee…you are amazing…to be able to find and post this…it truly is an almost forgotten song…but brings great peace of heart when song worshipfully!!
please pray the Lord will find the missing parents (4 months no connection) son would like to know if they are dead or alive, also pray that travel trailer is found in tact, contains pictures, etc. pray that the son will go forward, get education and good work to help him have a family someday. very sad situation, thank you for praying
We did not receive Davids 100 Words blog for about one week and a half,
we love to receive it again! Is there anything you are be able to do?
Thank You!
This keeps happening to me…again and again. I haven’t received the daily blog since Feb. 2. …. I can access it eventually. I registered again. Not sure why this is happening.