Deborah Prophetess and Judge

Psalms 139:19-20
19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!
Get out of my life, you murderers!
20 They blaspheme you;
your enemies misuse your name.

If you read the book of Judges we learn that Deborah was a woman but she was also appointed by God and Israel to be a judge. Deborah was a judge at a time of great distress when people gave up caring about morals. "In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was proper in his own eyes." Judges 17:6; 21:25 Deborah often had to give godly advice about things and not let her personal judgment get in the way. It wasn't always easy to tell a man what God has told her. In Judges 4:6-8 we read about how God told Deborah to tell Barak to fight against Jabin's army. Deborah even said that God would deliver the enemy into Barak's hands. However, Barak didn't trust God and said that he would only go if Deborah went with him. Therefore the battle was won at the hands of a woman. Later in Judges chapter 5 Deborah even tells the Israelites that God has allowed their enemies to overcome them because they were not focusing on God.

To be in a position of judge is a very hard thing. However, to be required to relay messages to many people from God is another very hard thing. If we were judge wouldn't we want to destroy the wicked and anyone who went against the word of God. In society today many of us forget that we are not judges. Christians judge other Christians and even non-believers. Our world has once again fallen into immorality with homosexuality and abortion as only two of many forms or immorality. However, it is still not our place to judge. God is the only one who can judge these people. If you remember from reading Judges, Deborah didn't make decisions on her own, she carried out orders from God! God commands us to love our neighbors... even our enemies. He says to bless those who persecute us. He also reminds us to remember that even those living in immorality deserve the Love of God. We were once stuck in the miry clay too people. It's very hard not to be judgmental Christians but we need to remember to stay focused on God and just be a messenger of His love and His truth.

James 4:12
12 God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?