Under the Palm Tree

Honoring Deborah During Women’s History Month

Happy Sabbath, friends!

It is officially the month of March, which means it is Women’s History Month in the United States. Throughout this month, we are going to honor four influential women mentioned in the Word of God.

You may be asking, what does Women’s History Month specifically honor? It recognizes the often-overlooked contributions of women to history, culture, and society, while also highlighting the struggles they have faced for equality. This recognition was first established as a week-long celebration in the United States in 1981. It later expanded into a month-long celebration in March in 1987 and eventually spread internationally. Today, Women’s History Month continues to celebrate these contributions while encouraging important conversations about equality, representation, and the lasting impact women have had throughout history.

This is a very impactful month, as even in modern-day society women can still be overlooked, stereotyped, or taken advantage of.

Even in Biblical times, women were often overlooked — yet Jesus still revealed purpose within each person, regardless of gender.

Who Was Deborah?

The first woman in the Bible we will be recognizing today is Deborah — honestly one of my favorite stories in the Bible.

First, who is Deborah?

Judges 4:4–5 (NIV)
“Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided.”

She was a prophetess.
She was a judge.
People came to her for wisdom and leadership.
Her authority was public and recognized.

The first thing in these two verses that catches my eye is when it states that Deborah was leading Israel at that time. It wasn’t a man — it was a woman whom God was using to lead His people.

What I also find interesting is that when we hear or read that someone is a leader, we often imagine them being in royalty or positioned in a place of high status. Yet Deborah, who was leading Israel, found her place of leadership while sitting under a specific palm tree known as the Palm of Deborah.

This place of judgment exemplifies the righteousness, justice, and spiritual authority she held as a leader.

When Leadership Is Rooted in God

What I find even more fascinating is that Barak, who was a military leader of Israel, looked to Deborah — a woman — for guidance through the war they were facing against Sisera.

Judges 4:6–9 (NIV)
“She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’ ” Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.” “Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.”

What I find so moving is that Deborah’s response to Barak is nothing but Holy. You can clearly see through this Scripture that the Lord was using Deborah.

What is so powerful is when she states that Sisera would be delivered into the hand of a woman.

Wow.

The way the Holy Spirit uses both male and female to fulfill His divine plan for His people is absolutely powerful. I am sure during that time, and even today, women can be looked down upon in leadership roles — but that did not stop Deborah from faithfully serving in the position God called her to.

God was Deborah’s leader, which allowed her to become His vessel in leading the Israelites.

The same can be true for us as well. The Lord is our leader, and if we trust Him and surrender our lives to Him, we too can become vessels used to lead His people through the spiritual battles we face daily.

When God Speaks, It Will Happen

Judges 4:14 (NIV)
“Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?” So Barak went down Mount Tabor, with ten thousand men following him.”

Just as Deborah stated in the previous verses — that Sisera would be delivered into the hand of a woman — that exact thing happened. The Israelites received victory, and it was all thanks to our Heavenly Father.

Our God spoke through Deborah, and when God declares that something will occur, it will occur indeed.

Numbers 23:19 (NIV)
“God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?”

Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)
“so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

We can trust in the truth that when God says something will happen, it will happen without a doubt. It may not happen in the way we imagined, but it will always unfold according to His divine plan.

Bringing Victory Back to the Lord

Another noteworthy moment comes after the victory. Deborah and Barak did not praise themselves or boast in their success — instead, they lifted their praise to the Lord and sang a song of worship.

Judges 5:1–31 (NIV)
“On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song: “When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves—praise the Lord! “Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I, even I, will sing to the Lord; I will praise the Lord, the God of Israel, in song. “When you, Lord, went out from Seir, when you marched from the land of Edom, the earth shook, the heavens poured, the clouds poured down water. The mountains quaked before the Lord, the One of Sinai, before the Lord, the God of Israel. “In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned; travelers took to winding paths. Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel. God chose new leaders when war came to the city gates, but not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel. My heart is with Israel’s princes, with the willing volunteers among the people. Praise the Lord! “You who ride on white donkeys, sitting on your saddle blankets, and you who walk along the road, consider the voice of the singers at the watering places. They recite the victories of the Lord, the victories of his villagers in Israel. “Then the people of the Lord went down to the city gates. ‘Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, break out in song! Arise, Barak! Take captive your captives, son of Abinoam.’ “The remnant of the nobles came down; the people of the Lord came down to me against the mighty. Some came from Ephraim, whose roots were in Amalek; Benjamin was with the people who followed you. From Makir captains came down, from Zebulun those who bear a commander’s staff. The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; yes, Issachar was with Barak, sent under his command into the valley. In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart. Why did you stay among the sheep pens to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart. Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan. And Dan, why did he linger by the ships? Asher remained on the coast and stayed in his coves. The people of Zebulun risked their very lives; so did Naphtali on the terraced fields. “Kings came, they fought, the kings of Canaan fought. At Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo, they took no plunder of silver. From the heavens the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera. The river Kishon swept them away, the age-old river, the river Kishon. March on, my soul; be strong! Then thundered the horses’ hooves—galloping, galloping go his mighty steeds. ‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the Lord. ‘Curse its people bitterly, because they did not come to help the Lord, to help the Lord against the mighty.’ “Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women. He asked for water, and she gave him milk; in a bowl fit for nobles she brought him curdled milk. Her hand reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workman’s hammer. She struck Sisera, she crushed his head, she shattered and pierced his temple. At her feet he sank, he fell; there he lay. At her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell—dead. “Through the window peered Sisera’s mother; behind the lattice she cried out, ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why is the clatter of his chariots delayed?’ The wisest of her ladies answer her; indeed, she keeps saying to herself, ‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoils: a woman or two for each man, colorful garments as plunder for Sisera, colorful garments embroidered, highly embroidered garments for my neck—all this as plunder?’ “So may all your enemies perish, Lord! But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.” Then the land had peace forty years.”

What an exceptional example of what we, as followers of Christ, should do whenever we experience success or victory. We must bring our victories to the Father because we ultimately would not be blessed with those moments without His guidance leading us through them.

What is so remarkable is that after this song of praise to the Lord, the Israelites experienced 40 years of peace.

This shows us that when we bring our successes and victories before the Lord and thank Him for the strength and perseverance He gave us, we place ourselves in a posture that honors Him — and the Lord blesses those who honor Him.

Proverbs 3:9–10 (NIV)
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”

James 4:10 (NIV)
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

Psalms 115:1 (NIV)
“Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”

A Reminder for Women Today

I absolutely love the story of Deborah because it is a beautiful reminder for women all around the world that God has a purpose and a plan for you.

The world may try to tell us otherwise, but He does — and it is evident through His Word.

We simply need to trust Him and allow Him to lead our lives so that we can be like Deborah and become walking examples of Christ in the lives of others.

Deborah allowed the Lord to use her in such an impactful way.

She didn’t chase — she was seated.
She didn’t rush the Lord’s timing — she was steady.
She didn’t seek man’s approval — she was sought after.

She was already leading before the battle ever began.

Just as the Lord was leading before our lives ever began.

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Amen.

References

Arteaga, S. (2024, March 20). Importance of Women’s History Month. University of Connecticut. https://today.uconn.edu/2024/03/importance-of-womens-history-month/

Radiant Futures. (n.d.). Women’s History Month. https://radiantfutures.org/womenshistorymonth-2/

Life Lessons. (n.d.). Women’s History Month. https://lifelessons.co.uk/resource/womens-history-month/