A Woman God Can Use
Judges 4:4-5
Deborah, a woman who was a prophet and the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. It was her custom to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her for judgment.
Deborah means “bee.” I picture her as a queen bee, too! Bees are busy and diligent workers. I can’t help but think of the Proverbs 31 woman when I think of Deborah. Without doubt, she was a trusted and respected woman in Israel. Lappidoth means “to shine, lamp, or flame.” Like the husband of the Proverbs 31 woman, Lappidoth must have been a man who stood out as a leader.
Deborah is the only woman judge and one of the few true women leaders we find in Scripture. This fact alone makes her a woman of interest. She held court underneath the palm of Deborah, indicating that they named the place after her. This place of leadership was located between Ramah, which means “seat of idolatry,” and Bethel, which means “house of prayer.” She judged in the hill country of Ephraim, which means “double fruit.” Indeed, when we rightfully judge between the seat of idolatry and the house of prayer, God will make us doubly fruitful!
The Israelites found themselves between the seat of idolatry and the house of prayer. Surely, there was much temptation to compromise. Perhaps, this was the reason they returned to evil, and God sold them into the hands of Jabin. Deborah was a woman God could use. She could recognize the idolatrous from the godly and make a right judgment. God placed her in leadership for this very reason.
We often find ourselves caught between the world and the word. While the world tugs at us from one end, our Holy Spirit led conscience tugs at the other. Can we rightly judge which influence we should follow? Although compromise might appear to please many, our purpose is to please God. Know that when we rightly judge between our own seats of idolatry and the house of prayer, God will make us doubly fruitful, as well!
Determine today to follow the examples of the Proverbs 31 woman and Deborah. Stay busy and faithful to the task where God has called you. Do everything you do with excellence. Correctly judge between the world and the word, and allow the word to influence your thoughts and your actions. You will find that you will be a woman God can use to do great things, and He will reward you with double fruit!
Have a blessed day!