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Female Judges Deborah and Barak

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Bible verse : Judges 4:23-24 (NIV)
On that day God subdued Jabin, the Canaanite king, before the Israelites.
And the hand of the Israelites grew stronger and stronger against Jabin,
the Canaanite king, until they destroyed him.

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After Joshua died, Israel was ruled by judges directly chosen by God.
After Judge Ehud, who saved Israel from Moab, died, the Israelites once again left God and committed evil.

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God was not with Israel who fell into sin. Israel was severely harassed by King Jabin of Canaan for 20 years. In particular, Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, had 900 iron chariots and was so powerful that the Israelites could not even dare to fight against them.

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Realizing that there was no one to help them other than God, Israel repented to God and prayed to save them from the hands of Jabin.
God heard their prayers and chose a new judge for them.
The new judge chosen by God was Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth and a prophet.

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Deborah, who became Israel's new judge, called a general named Barak and conveyed God's will.

“The LORD God of Israel commands you, ‘Go, gather together 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun and go to Mount Tabor.
I will bring Sisera, commander of Jabin's army, to you, and you will meet Sisera, his chariot, and his army at the River Kishon. I will help you defeat Sisera there.”

God decided to save Israel from Jabin and gave an order to Barak.

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After hearing the word of God delivered by Deborah, Barak said to Deborah:
“If you come with me, I will go too. But if you don’t go with me, I won’t go either.” Barak's words were faithless, revealing that he believed in Deborah, a person, more than in God.

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Deborah said to Barak, who spoke unbelievingly, “Of course I will go with you. But even if you win this fight, there will be no glory for you.
The Lord will give a woman to defeat Sisera.” After saying this, Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.

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Ten thousand people gathered at Kedesh to go to war with Barak.
They went up to Mount Tabor. Deborah also joined them.
After hearing that the Israelites had gone up to Mount Tabor, Sisera took his entire army, 900 iron chariots, and set out from Haroseth to the Kishon River.

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Deborah once again told Barak God’s will. “Get up. Today is the day that the Lord will help you defeat Sisera. “You see, Jehovah has already prepared the way for you.”

Barak led 10,000 men down from Mount Tabor to fight Sisera.

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Barak and his army believed the word of God and attacked Sisera and his army.
As they were fighting, God confused Sisera's army and chariots. Barak rode in a chariot and chased after Sisera and his army, who were fleeing, and killed all of the soldiers guarding Sisera. Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled alone.

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Sisera, who fled alone, headed to the tent of Heber, a Kenite who was on friendly terms with Jabin, to hide himself. Jael, Heber's wife, welcomed Sisera very warmly. “General, please come into my tent.
“Do not be afraid.” Sisera entered the tent without any doubt.

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Sisera, who fled alone, headed to the tent of Heber, a Kenite who was on friendly terms with Jabin, to hide himself. Jael, Heber's wife, welcomed Sisera very warmly. “General, please come into my tent. “Do not be afraid.”
Sisera entered the tent without any doubt.

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A little later, Jael came into the tent where Sisera was sleeping, holding a tent peg and a hammer in her hands.
Then he drove the stake into the temple of Sisera, who was fast asleep.
The stake was driven through his head and into the ground. Sisera died by the hand of Jael.

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Barak arrived there after Jael killed Sisera. Jael greeted Barak and said, “Come here and see. Let me show you who you are looking for.”
Barak saw Sisera dead with a tent stake driven into his head.

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As Deborah prophesied, the honor of killing the enemy commander that day went to Jael, not Barak. God defeated Jabin, the king of Canaan, just as he had told Deborah. Deborah and Barak praised God for giving them victory and sang for Him.
From that day on, Israel became a peaceful nation during the 40 years Deborah was a judge.

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We must remember the words of instruction the Bible gives us through today’s message. Even though we are children of God, if we betray God and leave Him like Israel, God will not help us.
When we always listen to the Word of God and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we live in the peace that God gives us. Also, we must be careful not to, like Barak, rely more on people than on the Word of God.
When you hear the word of God and obey it immediately, you can receive and enjoy the glory that God allows. I hope that you all become children of faith who live by deeply remembering the words of God given through Deborah and Barak.

(This is the sample conclusion provided by CTM. Please feel free to change the conclusion to best suit the listeners of your sermon.)