The Song of Deborah

Friday, August 1, 2008 -- Week of Proper 12
Joseph of Arimathaea

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 977)
Psalms 69:1-23(24-30)31-38 (morning) 73 (evening)
Judges 5:1-18
Acts 2:1-21
Matthew 28:1-10

The Song of Deborah which we read today in Judges is among the oldest texts we have in our scriptures. Many scholars regard it as a firsthand, authentic historical witness of the events of the decisive Battle of Megiddo, approximately 1125 BCE.

Deborah served as a judge, a charismatic leader who exercised some authority beyond the judge's own tribe, being recognized by multiple tribes of Israel during the days of the Tribal Confederacy. Most judges served primarily a military capacity, though some may have exercised some legal administration.

Through the conquest, Israelites had become entrenched in the central hill country, but Canaanites still controlled most of the plains. The strategic advantage of their chariots made defense of the plains more likely. Commercial trade routes between Egypt and Mesopotamia ran through the plains and valleys. The Valley of Jezreel was among the most important passages, guarded by the Canaanite fortress of Megiddo. (This is the scene of many historic battles, and imagined by John the Divine as the place of the final battle of Armageddon, literally "hill of Megiddo.") The poem of Deborah complains that "caravans ceased and travelers kept to the byways." Israel's economic life was cut off.

The details differ somewhat between the prose version of the battle (chapter 4) and the poetic one (chapter 5). The poem is vivid and compelling. Tomorrow we will read the exciting report of battle -- the "loud beat of the horses' hoofs with the galloping, galloping of his steeds." The poem gives victory to God for a storm which flooded the river Kishon into the valley, forcing the Canaanites to abandon their chariots. A woman named Jael of a non-Hebrew tribe of Kenites kills the Canaanite general Sisera, pounding a tent peg through his skull with a mallet. (Women customarily handled the tent pegs among bedouins when moving their camps.) To me, the end of the poem which we read tomorrow is remarkable literature.

The Song of Deborah celebrates an important victory. The ten tribes who responded to Deborah's call to arms are praised. The poem censures four groups who did not answer the call, and doesn't mention three of the traditional tribes. This decisive triumph ended any united Canaanite resistance against Israel. There would be continued troubles, especially from other directions -- Moab, Ammon, Midian. But this is an important battle establishing Israel in the plains and valleys as well as among the hills.

The poet sings, "Tell of it, you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets and you who walk by the way. To the sound of musicians at the watering places, there they repeat the triumphs of the Lord, the triumphs of his peasantry in Israel."

Matthew's gospel also has us reading of brave women. At the dawn of Easter Sunday, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary courageously come to the tomb where an executed enemy of the Empire has been buried. Matthew says that Pilate had set a guard of soldiers to secure it. The women see the empty tomb. The meet the risen Lord. Jesus commissions them as missionaries and tells them he will appear to his brothers later, in Galilee.

Maybe we can hear the echo of the Song of Deborah from twelve centuries earlier as we imagine the report these women will sing to the other disciples: "Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes; to the Lord I will sing, I will make melody to the Lord, the God of Israel."

Lowell

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About Morning Reflections
Morning Reflections is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

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The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Visit our web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Our Rule of Life

We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.

Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas