December 1: Deborah
Judges 4-5
For many who read the story of Deborah in Judges 4 & 5, what sticks with them is the rather gruesome murder of the Canaanite King Jabin, by Jael, the wife of one of the tribal leaders allied against him. While he sleeps, thinking he has found shelter in her tent, Jael drives a tent peg through his eye with a hammer. This is not exactly the easiest material to be discussing in an Advent devotional.
But a deeper dive into the story of Deborah brings us rich inspiration during this season of preparation and anticipation for the gift of the Christ child.
The Advent stories provide us the examples of courage and faithfulness of women like Elizabeth and Mary who responded to God’s calling in their lives.
Deborah is a unique example in the Old Testament of a woman who rises to the moment when God asks her to deliver her people. Deborah was a Judge, the leader of Israel during a time of great oppression, and she was also identified as a prophet. It is remarkable to find a woman in that position of both spiritual and political authority in all of scripture.
We are told she held court, settling the disputes of the people under a palm tree named after her in “the hill country of Ephraim.” When I read this, I can’t help but picture my Moravian colleague, Rev. Dawn Volpe, sitting under a big maple on Hole 17 at Peninsula Golf Course passing along her wisdom.
Deborah sat under her tree, and she listened. She listened to the needs of her people and as a Prophet she listened to God. When God spoke and called for action to break off the yoke of oppression, she was the catalyst. It was Deborah who made the strategy and Deborah who sang the hymn of victory when all had been accomplished.
Advent is a time for us to listen. We need to listen to the needs of the world and then, like Deborah, stand and sing out our hymn of victory. We sing of liberation from oppression and injustice of this world that keeps us from God. We listen and sing of the hope we have in the Word of God made flesh. We listen and sing, “Joy to the World, the Lord has come! Let earth receive her King!
Pastor Matt Knapp
Sturgeon Bay Moravian
For many who read the story of Deborah in Judges 4 & 5, what sticks with them is the rather gruesome murder of the Canaanite King Jabin, by Jael, the wife of one of the tribal leaders allied against him. While he sleeps, thinking he has found shelter in her tent, Jael drives a tent peg through his eye with a hammer. This is not exactly the easiest material to be discussing in an Advent devotional.
But a deeper dive into the story of Deborah brings us rich inspiration during this season of preparation and anticipation for the gift of the Christ child.
The Advent stories provide us the examples of courage and faithfulness of women like Elizabeth and Mary who responded to God’s calling in their lives.
Deborah is a unique example in the Old Testament of a woman who rises to the moment when God asks her to deliver her people. Deborah was a Judge, the leader of Israel during a time of great oppression, and she was also identified as a prophet. It is remarkable to find a woman in that position of both spiritual and political authority in all of scripture.
We are told she held court, settling the disputes of the people under a palm tree named after her in “the hill country of Ephraim.” When I read this, I can’t help but picture my Moravian colleague, Rev. Dawn Volpe, sitting under a big maple on Hole 17 at Peninsula Golf Course passing along her wisdom.
Deborah sat under her tree, and she listened. She listened to the needs of her people and as a Prophet she listened to God. When God spoke and called for action to break off the yoke of oppression, she was the catalyst. It was Deborah who made the strategy and Deborah who sang the hymn of victory when all had been accomplished.
Advent is a time for us to listen. We need to listen to the needs of the world and then, like Deborah, stand and sing out our hymn of victory. We sing of liberation from oppression and injustice of this world that keeps us from God. We listen and sing of the hope we have in the Word of God made flesh. We listen and sing, “Joy to the World, the Lord has come! Let earth receive her King!
Pastor Matt Knapp
Sturgeon Bay Moravian
Thank you Pastor Matt for contributing this Advent devotion. I agree that we, like Deborah, need to listen to the needs of people, listen to God, and, also, sing or tell of the deliverance available thru a relationship with God. This gives me pause. How would I verbalize my personal story of deliverance and how does “the Word of God made flesh” bring incredible hope to me? Am I ready to do that? Is there anyone with whom I should share those realities of my life?
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