Women of Fire:
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Week 8
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October 9, 2016 Rev. Tom Boeck, Associate Pastor
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âDeborah is identified in Judges 4:4 by two terms: âa prophetessâ,
literally, âa woman (Heb. .iťťâ), a prophetâ; and as one who was
âjudging Israelâ at the time of a 20-year period of oppression by
the heavily armed Canaanites. Between these two terms is
another identifier, the phrase .eĹĄe. lapp.^.Ă´., typically translated
âwife of Lappidoth (Torches).â However, it could equally mean
âfiery (or spirited) womanâ (lit., âwoman of torchesâ) because
Lappidoth, elsewhere unknown in the Bible, is unlikely to be a
manâs name and because the noun .eĹĄe. (construct of .iťťâ) can
mean âwoman ofâ as well as âwife of.â The need to have a
woman identified in relation to a man, rather than the
acknowledgement that a womanâs identity could in some
instances stand alone, apparently influenced virtually all modern
and ancient translations.
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Yet the several roles Deborah plays as an autonomous woman in
national life would warrant her name appearing with the epithet
âfiery womanâ and without reference to a man.1â
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 In our Upper Story, we see a God who continues to love His
chosen people and continues to place leaders into their midst
who will keep guiding them toward a ________________
relationship with Him, their creator and savior.
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In the Lower Story, God uses Deborah as the fiery leader who
challenges the people of God to _____________Him and leads
Israelâs general, Barak and the Israelite army into battle against a
heavily armed enemy.
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1 Meyers, C. (2000). Deborah. In D. N. Freedman, A. C. Myers, & A.
B. Beck (Eds.), Eerdmans dictionary of the Bible (p. 331). Grand
Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.
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Judges 4:4-8 (NIV) â4 Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of
Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. 5 She held court under
the Palm of Deborah between Ramahand Bethel in the hill
country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have
their disputes decided. 6 She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from
Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, âThe Lord, the God of Israel,
commands you: âGo, take with you ten thousand men of
Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. 7 I will
lead Sisera, the commander of Jabinâs army, with his chariots
and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your
hands.ââ
8 Barak said to her, âIf you go with me, I will go; but if you donât
go with me, I wonât go.â
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Luke 8:1-3 (NIV) â1 After this, Jesus traveled about from one
town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the
kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some
women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary
(called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;
3 Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household;
Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to
support them out of their own means.â
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In My Story, God _________________ each of us to do His will, to
serve others and to share His love with those around us as we
grow closer to Him.
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Here at our church the LWML provides support to these ministries
and missions:
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. Concordia Scholarship Fund
. Charlotte Travis Scholarship Fund
. Roland Trinklein Scholarship Fund
. Little Lambs
. M.U.S.T. Ministries
. Project Compassion
. Navajo Sponsorship
. Lutheran Bible Translators
. Lutheran Social Services
. Military Troop Support
. Social Ministries
. Choir Music
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826 (LSB): âHark! the voice of Jesus crying, "Who will go and work
today? Fields are white and harvests waiting--Who will bear the
sheaves away?" Loud and long the Master calleth; Rich reward He
offers thee. Who will answer, gladly saying, "Here am I, send me,
send me"?
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Are you on fire for the Lord?
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Through prayer and study of Godâs word, your fire for the gospel can
be restored!
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