Article May 1, 1978 Issue

Deborah, the judge

Barbara Jean White

A woman judge? A woman hasn't the intelligence to be a judge! She needs a man to make decisions for her. How can a woman determine right actions for others? A man wields the scepter of authority. If you believe this, learn from the story of Deborah in the fourth and fifth chapters of Judges in the Bible.

Deborah, the Bible shows us, was a judge uninfluenced by many of the false concepts of womanhood. She felt free to do God's will, unhindered by doubt or a limited sense of her capability as a woman.

Deborah was the wife of an obscure man named Lapidoth. Being a housewife evidently didn't interfere with her career as a judge. She was honored as an ideal type of woman—"a mother in Israel." Her courtroom was not in her house but under a palm tree. Because she was a prophetess, giving out the Word of God, Deborah's judgment was highly respected. People came to Deborah with their problems and disputes, and her decisions were accepted.

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