The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1944-12-15
Sunday School
Lesson
Text: Judges 4:1-9, 1916

One of the strange contrasts
Of history is between the power
and influence that women have
exercised and the part that they
have played in the affairs of ma
! tionS and the fact that at most
| times and in most places the
position Of women has been in
| ferlor TO that of men, the infer
I iority in some instances amount
| ing to actual degradation.
In England, for instance, the
contrast is marked by the fact
that while even to our own
times the legal position of Wom-
en- has been very much limited,
two Of England'S greatest SOW
ereigns, Elizabeth and Victoria,
were women. In other lands and
times, moreover, women IN spite
Of their sex, have been outStand-
ing in leadership and action.
Their action has not always been
for good. Evil women, as we'll as
good women, have exercised
great power; some women, like
Catherine Of Russia, have mix
ed record Of good ard bad rule
Among the ISraelites women
occupied an honorable yet some
what inferior place. Note, for in
stance. Saint Pauls prejudice
against women assuming any
equal part with men in the early
church. Yet Paul reveals how
important a place Priscilla and
other good women occupied in
the early days of Christianity
if he had not been so influenced
by prejudiceS in this matter he
might have remembered ( h G
greatness of Deborah, and the
part she played in a time Of dan
ger and crisis. and the way in
which she saved Israel.
Deborah stands as one of the
magnificent, heroic figures in
history; woman as remarkable
in her strength Of character. de-
VOtiOn TO her people, and CapaC-
ity foy action as Joan Of Arc.
She YVES a prophecies, dwelling
under a>palm tree, and we read
that the1cbildren Of Israel came
up 10 her for judgment. That in
itself tells her character and wis
dom. No one appointed her
Judge; she wasn't elected. Her
people had been conquered and
in bondage for 20 wears. COWed
into subsection by King Jabin of
Caanan, and his Captain Siscra,
with their 900 chariOtS Of iron.
Deborah ruled by force Of char
aCter and the people came to
her because they trusted her.
She was like a leader Of an
underground movement among
an enslaVed people. But in her
heart and her hopes she was not
afraid Of Sisera and his iron
ChariotS. She trusted in God and
she watched for the hour to
strike, and she planned her
strategy. When the hour came
she sent for Barak, the soldier.
Barak wasn't a coward: but he
was a soldier, accustomed 10
measure forces and chances Of
success. When Deborah told Of
her strategy and urged him 10 go
against SiSera. he refused TO go
unless Deborah went with him.
There was sly humor in Debor-
abs answer, She would 20, but
all the honor Of the victory
would 20 10 woman Barak was
wise enough 10 see how much
greater was Deborah, even if
she was a woman. To his credit
be il said that he cared more for
the result than for the honor.
So he led his forces TO W..
Tabor. and the victory was com
plcte. SiSera fled. 10 meet death
by the hand Of Jael.
But Deborah was the real con-
qucror and the real hero. With
out her, Barak wouldn't have
dared attack.
Blessings on the man who has
a Deborah TO go with him and
inspire him with faith and cour-
age when he has a job to do,
The war is revealing many De-
borahS today.