Today's readings are Judges 4.1-24 and Acts 14.1-18.
In Judges chapter 4 the people of Israel are in bondage yet again. I want to observe just a few things about Deborah's activity. Notice that she is recorded as doing nothing except reminding people what commands the Lord had previously given them? She does not lead people into battle. She does not seem to reveal new commands to people. She merely repeats what the Lord had already given people.
The leadership of Deborah is quite different from our 21st century idea of feminist leadership. Deborah seems to serve out of necessity, not desire. She reminds people of what their prior obligations are but she doesn't bind any new obligations on the people. She does not set aside the male leadership but rather exhorts the men to do the duty they rightly have before the Lord. She does not exult over the fact that Sisera is killed by a woman, but expresses that it is to his shame that he gave himself over to the hand of a woman. This is an anti-feminist if I have ever seen one.
May the Lord give us the grace to engage in service within his kingdom, exulting in the proper roles he has given us. May we be faithful and humble in our realization of what he has given us to do.
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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogger.com
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