Introduction:
On January 30, 1933, Tonto made his first appearance on the Lone Ranger Radio Show on WXYZ Detroit. Tonto was a Potawatomie tribesman who found John Reid dying after he and other Texas Rangers had been ambushed. He nursed the wounded man back to health. When John Reid vowed to clean up the west and took on the identity of the Lone Ranger, Tonto agreed to be his partner in this endeavour.
The Lone Ranger was a famous Texas Ranger, but in his time of need Tonto was there to nurse him back to health and later on become a trusted partner for him. Tonto was a skilled horseman, tracker, excellent shot and a good fighter. Ironically, Tonto did not have his own horse the first two years of the show and after riding double with the Lone Ranger they finally got him a donkey. Tonto saw potential in the Lone Ranger and assisted him in his quest to clean up the west.
We have been working our way through the book of Judges in our series “Character Sketches from the book of Judges. Today I want to look at forth Judge in the series and that is Deborah.
When pastors preach on Deborah they often preach of God providence in the raising up a Godly woman that was in tune with God and delivered her people from ternary. Some have preached leadership sermons comparing the leadership styles of Deborah and Barak the leader of the Israelite army and some have preached sermons supporting women in ministry. I believe there is room for all of these sermons from this text, but today I want to look at this narrative from maybe a new perspective. I want to look at recognizing and celebrating gifts that others have. I touched on that a bit last week and no one asked me what gift I saw in them! You can still ask!
In our society we are taught to look out for number one. We are taught to step on whoever it takes to get to the top. It does not matter how bad we make others look as long as we ourselves come out smelling like a rose. But is that what God has called us to do? Tracie read Romans 12:1-8 for us today and we read that each of us have gifts, we are not lone rangers.
We pick up the story of Deborah from the book of Judges Chapter 4. The people of Israel had fallen back into their sinful life style and they would forget that God had delivered them from Egypt and many other oppressive leaders over the years. They had forgotten about how God had raised up Othniel, Ehud and Shamgar. Once again, things got so bad that they cried out to God to deliver them. Once again, God did, He raised up Deborah. Let’s pick up the story in Judges 4:4.
4. Deborah was a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth. She was judge over Israel at that time. She held court under Deborah’s Palm between Ramah and Bethel in the hills of Ephraim. The People of Israel went to her in matters of justice. She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “It has become clear that God, the God of Israel, commands you: Go to mount Tabor and prepare for battle. Take ten companies of soildiers from Naphtali and Zebulun. I’ll take care of getting Sisera, the leader of Jabin’s Army, to the Kishon River with all his chariots and troops. And I’ll make sure you win the battle.” Barak said,”If you go with me, I’ll go. But if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.” She said, “of course I’ll go with you. But understand that with an attitude like that, there’ll be no glory in it for you. God will use a woman’s hand to take care of Sisera.”
I. Recognizing the gifting of others
Deborah was Judge over Israel and a prophet of God. We think of other great leaders from the Bible who were both ruler of the nation, but also the military leader. Saul and David are good examples. On the other hand, Deborah called for Barak to assemble the army. She was prophet and judge, but we get the picture that the military thing was not her thing even though she had the whole plan in place.
The U.S. President in the commander and chief of the military, but he is not on the ground in Iraq fighting. This is kind of like how Deborah’s role is here.
Barak listens to Deborah’s plan and is ok with it, but states he will only go If Deborah goes with him. This is where we can start reading a lot into this passage of Scripture especially when Deborah replies to him, “of course I’ll go with you. But understand that with an attitude like that, there’ll be no glory in it for you. God will use a woman’s hand to take care of Sisera.”
When we read this story we can almost hear a hint of spite or arrogance in her voice, but we would be mistaken to do so. You see latter on in this chapter after the big battle that comes up in verse 15, all of the army was killed by Barack and his soldiers, all except the leader Sisera. In verse 17 and following we see what happened. Meanwhile Sisera, running for his life, headed for the tent of Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite. Jabin king of Hazor and Heber were on good terms with one another.
So Sisera thought he could find a safe place to hide in this tent because Jael’s husband was a friend of his King, Jabin. Well she had a mind of her own and to make the story condensed: She hid him under a carpet (He must have been tinier than me) gave him some milk, let him fall asleep and then hammered a tent peg through his neck. End of the story he was dead.
So when Deborah said to Barak: “of course I’ll go with you. But understand that with an attitude like that, there’ll be no glory in it for you. God will use a woman’s hand to take care of Sisera.” There is a good chance that because of his hesitation that the end defeat of killing the military leader would fall into the hands of a woman. Not Deborah, but Jael. Deborah took time to correct Barak hesitation, but still knew he was able for the job.
When I first read this story I did not come away with that view, but the more I have regurgitated this passage I believe that Deborah was a leader that saw the good and gifts in Barak. Deborah knew that Barak had what it takes to lead the soldiers into battle. We do not know much about their past, but in verse 6 she has a command from God to send Barak. Some have said they thought they were married, but it would be a mistake to read too much into their prior relationship because the text does not support it (Beacon Commentary)
Deborah was a prophet. Deborah also received the command from God. Deborah was God’s link to the people. Barak saw this spiritual gift in her or he would not have been willing to go to battle in the first place. Furthermore, I believe he valued her and her relationship to the most high (she was a prophet) that he wanted her to come to the battle ground with him.
So Deborah needed Barak and Barak needed Deborah. We are not lone rangers, we truly need each other. We all have gifts that can glorify the kingdom.
I may of shared this story with you before, but It touched me more than most. I met a guy in Calgary one day at one of the Nazarene churches and we got talking. His job was to find handicapped people jobs. He had one client that was a quadriplegic and could not talk. He soon realized that this man had a gift. This man could smile. So what job did he find for this man? Well, a big oil field company hired him to come in for a few hours every week and paid him a salary to sit at the front door and smile at people as they walked into their head offices. We all have gifts. What are your gifts?
Romans 12:6-8 states:
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
II. Recognizing the need for coming along side others
When Barak said he would only go into battle if Deborah came with him, Deborah could of said no, she could of looked for someone else or she could of tore a strip off of him, but she did not. The Message says: “of course I’ll go with you.” The New King James says: “I will surely go with you.” No hesitation, just willingness. I believe she truly saw the gifting in Barak and realized He simple needed some encouragement.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 states: 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. We need to build each other up, encourage each other, not tear them down, and not stand idly by as they flounder. Often the world mentality would say sit back let others fail so you look better, but the Bible says we are to build each other up, come along side.
Sometimes when we have a gift we may not know it or we are to shy to explore it that often it stays hidden. Often others can see it too, but if they do not take the time to encourage them to practice their gift it may be all for waste. That would be a shame.
Others you may see real potential in them, but they just need some guidance. Could that be mentorship?
My friend was a Christian for about 8 years before he ever entered a church. He was a trucker and listened faithfully to the radio preachers and even sent his tithe faithfully to them. I had encouraged him to join a fellowship and even recommended one that I knew of. After two years of me encouraging him to go he went to the very church I recommended. The pastor of this 500 member church recognized him as being new and within three Sundays had him a role in their church. You see my friend was a really outgoing person and the pastor saw that in him and made him a greeter. It just took a little effort on someone’s part to recognize the gift. He has since married the church secretary.
III. Recognizing the need for guidance from the Spirit
Finally, we need to recognize that there is another partner each of us need and that is guidance from God. A divine partnership. Deborah and Barak would not have leaded the people of Israel to victory if Deborah was not in tune with God. Verse 6 states: “The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you:” Deborah was a prophet that listened to God and acted. We need to be seeking what the Lord has for us.
Proverbs 3:5 says: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways acknowledge him, and He will make your paths straight.
Are you taking time in God’s Word this week and in prayer? Have you not heard from Him in awhile? We all need to take time to listen to His voice. It’s hard for us in this society with all the busyness and media to take time to be quite before God, but we so need that time. Some of my best devotional times are when I am away from everything and it is just my Bible and me. What do you have to do to create that intimate time with you and God?
Conclusion
1. In conclusion, I just want to remind us that we all have gifts that God is excited about and that we can use to in the Body of Christ, the church. There is no gift that is insignificant. On the other hand no one can be gifted in every area and no gift stands alone, we all need each other.
In March of 1981, President Reagan was shot by John Hinckley, Jr. and was hospitalized for several weeks. Although Reagan, the nations commander and chief, was hospitalization, it had little impact on the nations activity. Government continued on. On the other hand suppose the garbage collectors in the U.S. went on strike like we saw that in Toronto not long ago. The city was crippled by the mounting garbage everywhere and it was becoming a health hazard and smelly. A three week nation wide garbage strike would paralyze the country. So who is more important the president or the garbage collector? In the body of Christ everyone is urgently needed. It does not matter who you are or what your role is in the church. We are a body that functions together. Paul reminds us of this 1Corinthians 12:21-22: The head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem weaker are indispensible.
2. Secondly, we need to take time to build each other up and encourage them in the gifts we see. Sometimes a small word of encouragement can spark a fire of promise.
I was not involved in ministry and had absolutely no interest in it. At my Dad’s funeral 11 years ago this month, my uncle was watching me and talk to people and came up to me and said that I had a pastoral heart like my dad’s. I thought he was crazy, but those words stuck with me on my journey over the next couple years as the Lord brought me in tune with His will. Your words have so much power. Your words can spark a fire; just make sure it’s a good fire!
3. Lastly, we need to remember that there is a partnership in the Spirit that we all need. If we are a lone ranger our gift will only be a goof. We need the Spirit to guide us in all things.
John 16:13 says: But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth, He will not speak on His own: He will only speak what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.
The Spirit of truth will guide us into all truth. Are we taking time to listen to the Spirit of God?
In the T.V. series the Lone Ranger we seen that the Lone Ranger needed Tonto and Tonto needed the Lone Ranger. So do you want to be like the T.V. Lone Ranger or like Tonto, both of them needed each other. We need to rely on each other and the Spirit. Or do we want to be lone rangers with no capitals and no bullets in our guns where we go through life doing things on our own and not relying on others and celebrating the gifts God gave them.
So lets celebrate the gifts in others and encourage gifts in others and do it all with the Spirit of God and His Guidance. And guess what? This Body of Christ will an unstoppable force. ----Wait for it ------ High Ho Silver!!!!
