Sam Bailey - Deborah and Barak - Class 1 - Deborah - The Inspirational Prophetess

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1. 0:01

   So for those that have missed the several announcements and newsletters that we’ve had over the past few weeks, our Bible week this week is going to be on Deborah the Inspirational Prophetess. We’re and we’re very grateful to have Sam and the family here with us. And for our first study, we’re going to be looking at Judges 4 versus 1 to 5. I’d ask Matt to read that for us and if Sam can come up after that, that’d be great.

2. 0:33

   Thanks. Judges chapter 4, verses 1:00 to 5:00. And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of Yahweh, when Ehud was dead, anyway sold them into the hand of Jabin, king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazel, the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in harsheth of the Gentiles. And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, for he had 900 Chariots of iron, and 20 years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

3. 1:20

   And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidos, she judged Israel at that time, and she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah, between Raymar and Bethel and Mount Ephraim, and the children of Israel came up to her for judgement.

4. 1:46

   Well, good afternoon my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ. And young people, as you’ve noticed in the accent, I am from New Zealand, my wife is not. And for that she’s really enjoying being back in her home country. And we are so excited to be back here in Adelaide and to be able to share the fellowship with you all, to acquaint ourselves with old friends and to meet a bunch of new ones as we endeavour to learn and grow together around God’s Word. Over the course of.

5. 2:20

   The week we want to uncover, I suppose, some essential lessons and stories from the life of some remarkable people that lived in the time of the judges. In the time period of the judges. It’s probably one of the most intriguing sections of the Bible and and in the history of the nation of Israel. It’s a time.

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   That was characterized by just countless battles and immense bloodshed and extreme violence. You know it was a. Time we find the nation, though, that they frequently lost sight of the God whom they served and turned aside from practicing true worship under Joshua’s guidance, and become steeped in idolatry and in corruption and rapid moral decay.

7. 3:03

   And what we find, brothers and sisters, is we find that this is a state that they inherited because of a lack. Of faithful leadership from the appearance generation. It’s a state though, that they accepted as the appearance failed to. Utterly remove the nations from before them, as they received their inheritance upon entering the promised. Land.

8. 3:31

   In the book of the Judges, there’s a documented. Narrative isn’t it by the sisters? Of a nation in whose history? Depicted. Faithlessness. Idolatry and corruption. And yet scattered through this. Dark period of Israel’s times. The Scripture highlights for us some remarkable characters who demonstrate incredible faith, bravery and spiritual perception. Whom God used.

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   And God raised to inspire and to encourage and to revitalize a remnant of His. People. To continue to keep the promise and his purpose alive. Throughout time do. You know it’s those. Inspirational examples that we want to explore with Deborah and Barrett and jail, and we wish to gain some incredible insights from powerful lessons in leadership.

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    For us today. And to gain. Encouragement from what? They were able to achieve as we endeavour to cast. Aside our enemies and the environment that we live in to try and seize our inheritance and prepare for the Kingdom and so. Over the course of our six studies together, we’re going to have a look at six hey, 6 studies.

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    Your old sixes. Yes, 6 Right. So Deborah, we’re going to have a look at tonight, the inspirational prophetess. But before we look at Deborah, we want to have a look at the background to her. Remarkable. What makes her so remarkable? We want to have a look at the background to her as a person and then in our second study tonight, we’re going to have a look at Bayreq. What?

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    Was. His. Challenge. What was the problem? How? Deborah motivates him to get him to take. A role. That he was hesitantly not fulfilling. And to uncover how she worked with him so that we can learn lessons around helping each other as well in our war. Then we’re going to have a look in our exhort tomorrow at the the lovely story of jail and we’re going to call they’ve called that the displaced wife and we’ll see why as we get into the story. And then we want to have a look in our fourth study during the middle of the week on the tribes and Debra’s song, right what Debra sings about what makes her. And Bayreq.

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    Sing their. Hearts out about this, about what they did and what they didn’t do and what were they were so encouraged and what were they were so disgusted by when they looked at the nation at the time. And then on our Thursday night, I think it is, we want to have a look at the interesting insight that Deborah sings about at the end of Judges Chapter 5 about. Sisra’s mum, Sisra’s mother.

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    What on earth? Was Deborah talking about at the end of Judges Chapter 5 about a woman who’s dwelling in a castle with her maidens and what was what was actually going on in the story and what we find brothers and sisters in that study is this, that actually the destruction of Sisera? Was only but a prelude to the main event.

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    That actually, Sisar’s destruction was actually just a catalyst for the nation to respond and to seize their inheritance that they’d failed to take. And that’s what Deborah and Bay are going to sing about. And Sisar’s mum? Well. Well, she was the queen of the empire. And of course the type is absolutely obvious with Armageddon and the subjugation of Europe, with this woman who dominated a castle. And then what we want to do in our final study, together with the exhort on the following Sunday, is to have a look at this expression.

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    Leading captivity, Captive what? What? Does Paul? See in Deborah’s song and in David’s commentary that gets pulled from Moses. That was so remarkable about what? Christ accomplished. And how he led. And what that demands of each and every one of us in terms of our response and our leadership and our ecclesias so.

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    That’s the course. Of the next 6 studies hopefully hopefully stay with us as we endeavour to to go through this remarkable. Story. OK, so Deborah and the story in the context of her times to this. Study. We want to spend some time. To show that the issue of the nation. At. This point in time was. That of failed leadership.

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    There weren’t people standing up. To take the responsibility amongst the nation to help them understand God’s purpose and God’s. Ways. Why was that? What happened? How did they get to this point? Yet. His remark wasn’t the nation was a come out of Egypt, they. Seize their inheritance. God works amongst them, and then only a very short period of time later they’ve totally lost the plot.

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    How and. Why did that occur? Well, tonight we this afternoon we want to actually have a look at how that occurred. And so we. Find as Israel. Leaves the. Wilderness and crosses. Over the river Jordan Joshua assists the nation. To take control. And after a series of military campaigns, the nation who once occupied the land of Canaan were subdued and the 12.

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    Tribes received their allotted inheritance in the land and the. Levites. Well, they. Received their cities of refuge and and the Tabernacle. Was established in Shiloh and we know that that’s. All the story because. In Joshua 18 don’t turn this up in verse one it says that the land was. Subdued. Before them, but come with me to Joshua chapter 21. I want to show you that there’s some interesting expressions that we can see start to unfold as we get into the story of this story of judges.

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    So Joshua 21, the land is subdued before them, and Joshua sees in Joshua 2021 and verse 43 he sees. Right. So thus, thus everyone in their suburbs were given to the Levites this their inheritance. And it says in the summary of Joshua 21. And of course, if you went through back of Joshua 21, it’s the the allocation of the cities of refuge and the inheritances of of of Levi. But at the end of that.

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    Chapter it says in verse 43, Joshua 21 and. Yahweh gave unto Israel all the land. Which he sweared to give. Unto their fathers and. They possessed it and dwelt therein, so they received. All of it. It was the. Land notice that he swear unto his your colouring and pencil their fathers right, and Yahweh gave them rest all about according to all that he swear unto.

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    Their fathers, and there stood not a man of all. Their enemies before them. Yahweh delivered them all. Their enemies into their hand. They failed not ought any good thing. Which Yahweh had spoken unto the House of Israel. All came to pass. Can you get the emphasis of Joshua 21 that God promised that He would give unto their fathers everything that He said, and exactly what He promised He gave.

24. 10:34

    And he gave unto their. Fathers all. Came to pass, that Yahweh had spoken unto the house. Of Israel. All of it. Came to pass. And so, brothers and sisters and young people. Under Joshua’s leadership. And under their guidance, the tribes took their inheritance. And whilst the work was started, they remained yet work to be completed. Whilst the land had been subdued before them, the nations amongst them had not yet fully been eradicated. They had to yet finish what Joshua had begun, and Joshua knew that, and he knew the importance of that. And he calls the nation.

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    Together and Joshua chapter 23 come with me to Joshua chapter 23 so. They had begun. They had subdued the land all the enemies had been given into. Their hand, everything God had promised them, had happened, and Joshua knew that there was a lesson still that they had to. Finish. And so he calls the nation.

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    Together at the end of his life, to warn them and to exhort them and to encourage them to complete the task. To remain faithful to their obliteration of the enemies. And so in Joshua 23 and verse one it says and it came to pass a. Long time. After. Yahweh had given rest unto Israel from all the enemies roundabout, that Joshua waxed old and was stricken in age. Joshua can no longer lead in front of them. And Joshua calls the nation of Israel together and says to them, calls for the elders notice. And for the heads, and for their judges, and. For their officers.

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    Why does he do that rather than sisters and young people? Because he’s wanting to inspire the leaders amongst the nation to continue the work that he now can’t do. He calls for the leadership amongst the nation and he. Says to them, I’m old, I’m stricken an age, and you have seen all that Yahweh your God hath done unto you, all these nations because of you. Yahweh, your God is he that hath fought for you. You already know.

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    Notice the past tense. He’s already fought for you. You know that. So he says, Behold, I have divided verse 4 unto you by lot these nations that remain. To be an inheritance. For all your tribes. From Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great. Sea westward and.

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    Yahweh, your God, He. Shall he’s the future? He shall. Expel them from before you. And drive. Them from out of your sight, and ye. Shall. Possess their land as Yahweh. Your God hath promised you, but he says. It. Requires something really special. Be ye therefore verse 6 very courageous to keep and to do.

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    All that is written in the book of the Law of Moses, that you turn not aside from the left to the right, that you come not among these nations. These that remain among you neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause them to swear by you. Neither serve nor bow yourselves unto them, but cleave unto Yahweh.

31. 13:40

    Your God is ye have done this day for Yahweh. Hath driven out from among you great nations and strong. But As for you, no man. Shall be able to stand before you this day one man who should chase 1000. For Yahweh your God, here it is. That fighteth for you as He hath promised you. Can you see the links from chapter 21 to chapter 23? Take, he says, Here’s the exaltation. Take good heed, therefore, unto yourselves. That ye love.

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    Yahweh your God, else if you do in any wise, go back and cleave unto the. Remnant of these nations, even those that remain among you, and make marriages with them, and go on unto them, and they do, you know, he says for a surety. That Yahweh your God will no more drive out any of these nations from. Before you.

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    But they shall be sneers and traps unto you, and scourges in your sight. And thorns in your eyes, and until ye perish. From off the good land which Yahweh hath given for you. And so Joshua’s message was pretty simple. Was the exhortation was it? Remove them or be removed. Yourself. It’s simple. You’ve got to finish the job we’ve started. Else.

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    You will be removed. Watch out for. These nations and just in your mind, just remember that verse 13 know for a certainty that Yahweh of God shall no more drive out any of these nations from before you, but they shall be sneers. And traps. Notice that. We’ll see. That’s exactly what happens. In Psalm 106 and so.

35. 15:20

    They had to be very courageous. And he warns them about the nations that remained amongst them. They had. To finish. The job and if you had the colouring in pencil, colour it in. Those that might remain among you all. Right those that remain around you. Habits twice verse. Seven and verse 12. There was a remnant that.

36. 15:39

    Still. Needed to be eradicated from among them. And So what happens? The leadership passes away those that are. Strong die in the next generation. Those are sisters have to stand up and so we come now to Judges chapter 1. And So what happens now is Joshua dies verse 1 of Judges chapter 1 it says now.

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    After the death of Joshua. It came to pass that the children of Israel asked Yahweh, saying, Who shall go up for US against the canalites first to fight? Let’s let’s take Joshua’s expression and Joshua’s words, and let’s finish the job. And so they begin. And what happens when the sisters and we won’t have time to spend in in Judges chapter 1, but in the screen you’ll see.

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    That they begin. To. Eradicate the nations. That were amongst. Them with gusto. So Judah takes Simeon with him. After seeking Yahweh’s blessing and they start out with incredible determination and so in verses. Four to seven the Canaanites by with Judah are destroyed and conquered in Jerusalem. The Canaanites. Then in verses 8 to. 15 are overcome and destroyed in Hebron. The Canaanites are wiped out and destroyed in Hormar in verse 17. The Canaanites are annihilated and destroyed in Philistia and Gaza and Ashkelon and Ekron.

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    They’re all gone, Judah shot off to a flying start. Why? We’ll come and have a look across the page. Judges chapter 1 and verse 9. Why was it that they could do this with so much? Ease verse 19 seats that Yahweh was with Judah, and he drove out the inhabitants of the mountain, he.

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    Started off with a flying start because Yahweh was with him, He sought Yahweh’s blessing and they. Went for it. But then the mission came to a grinding halt in the verse season. Verse 19 But could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had Chariots of iron.

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    You know they couldn’t drive them out. They had Chariots of iron. You see, Judah was absolutely enthusiastic about their work and their inheritance. They commenced their battles with eager zeal and passion, supported by their. Brethren from Simeon. However, as soon as the work started to. Encounter some obstacles and challenge they came face to face. With.

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    Chariots of. Iron. And all of a sudden, this is their faith. And their trust in God was tested. And it melted. I think sometimes we can be very. Easy to judge. Judah in this time. You know, we can think, oh, come on, Why? Why couldn’t they carry it off? You know, it’s not. It’s not hard to think.

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    How hard? That might have been brothers and sisters. They were fighting tanks. With toothpicks. They had nothing in their hand. They were bringing a knife to a gunfight. Here. The Chariots, they had nothing. But they had Yahweh. And Joshua and you could be easily forgiven for for for sort of, you know, forgiving Judith for having some challenges. But God was with them.

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    And without God, they would have been completely ill equipped to battle the Canaanites. But Joshua had given them a warning. Other sisters. A warning that they would face. This. Challenge. They would come face to faith, faced with Chariots. Of iron. Have a look. Just hold your hand here and Judges 1 and turned back to Judges Joshua chapter. 17 He had warned them of this. Joshua 17 verse 17 So this was this was Judah. And the Sorry, this was the children of. Joseph, he’d told, told them that they’d face these things. They said, well, hey, look, you ever the children of Joseph, said verse 13.

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    Hey mate, we haven’t got a big enough portion. You know, why have you given me just one lot and one portion to inherit? Saying I’m such a great people. Verse 14. And Joshua said, well, if you’re a great people, you get up into the wood and cut it down yourselves, knock them out. The children said, well, the Hill’s not enough for us. All the Canaanites dwell on the land of the valley. They’ve got Chariots of iron.

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    Verse 16. All right, both they of whom are best Shan and. Their towns of the Valley of Jezreel, they’ve got Chariots. The Valley of Jezreel, Brothers and sisters, we’re going to come across the Chariots of iron. In the Valley of Jezreel all again. In the story of Deborah and Bayrek. And Joseph says that’s going to be too hard for me, mate.

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    I’m taking this Hill Country. Yeah, I could. Cut down some. Forests. Sure I can. But I can’t. Take that area. And Josh, Josh Joshua turns around in verse 17 and says. To the House of Joseph. Even to Ephraim and. Manasseh says you thou. Art a great people. You has. Great. Power, thou shalt not just have one lot only, but the. Mountain shall be thine, for it is the wood, and thou shalt cut it down.

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    And the outcomes of it shall be for thine. For thou shalt. Drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron Chariots and though they be strong. You will do it, says Joshua. Get on with it.

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    And so Judah encounters Chariots of iron and their their faith melts before he says, listen, you’re going to face that issue and you need to be strong enough to have courage that God is strong enough to help. You. But you know, he’s the sad, sad. Thing about judges chapter 1 because judges 1 is now going to depict.

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    For us. What? Happens when one person or one tribe fails to finish the job. You see, it was. Judah’s faithless leadership because of. Chariots of iron that now set up a disastrous precedent. For the other nations? Who failed to completely eradicate their challenges in their inheritance. Judah was first. But tribe after tribe after tribe now failed to drive out.

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    The inhabitants from the land due to first verse 19, they could not utterly drive out the inhabitants of the valley, but then Benjamin couldn’t either. Verse 21 Neither did Benjamin Dr. out the Jebusites, neither could Manasseh. Verse 28 Neither did he utterly drive them out. Verse 29 Ephraim Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites verse. 39 of the. Zebulun, drive out the inhabitants. Verse 31 and Asher.

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    Neither did Asher. Drive out the inhabitants. And they just coloured the pencil. And right across. They could not utterly drive them out, did not utterly drive them out, did not do it one after the other. Judah Benjamin Manassa. Ephraim Zebulun, Asher, one tribe. Cascades now amongst the nation. What like mould brothers and sisters, that fear and cancer now permeates the remaining tribes. Verse 33 it says and NAFTA.

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    Lie. Neither did NAFTA lie. Drive out the inhabitants. NAFTA lie. That’s Bayerat’s drive. And so, like mold and cancer, the faithlessness of one tribe began to spread and infected the remaining tribes and to ultimately Israel compromised their divinely appointed. Position and purpose. They lost their faith. Lost their inheritance.

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    So much so brother sisters, that Psalm 106 verse 34 to 43 says we won’t read all of it, but here’s a section. They did not utterly destroy the nations concerning whom Yahweh. Had commanded them, but were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. They served their idols, which were as Joshua 23 verse 13 said, would be a snare unto them thus.

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    Were they defiled? With their own. Works. And went. To whoring with their own inventions, therefore, it says. The wrath of God kindled against his people in so much the that he hoard his own inheritance. He gave them into the hand of the heathen. And then that hated. Them ruled over them. Their enemies also oppressed them. And they were brought in under under subjection, under their hand.

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    And Psalm 106. Describes for us the. Problem of the Time of the judges. Because they fell amongst the nation and intermingled. He gave it season to the hand of the heathen, and to them that hated them that. They ruled over them. Their enemies also oppressed them. And they were brought in subjection under their hand.

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    Faithless. Leadership brothers and sisters and young people. In the tribes and a lack of trust. In. Yahweh’s protective. Hand cost Israel. Their inheritance, but the. Question we have to ask is why? Why? Did their faith fail? What caused the tribes faith in God to waver so much?

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    Well, Judges 2 tells us exactly. What happened? Come with me to Judges chapter 2 and verse 6. Here’s the summary. Of why? Their faith failed, so Joshua 2, verse 6. Sees. And when Joshua had let the people go. The children Israel went every man. Unto his inheritance, to possess the land and the people served Yahweh all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the leadership, the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great.

59. 26:26

    Works of Yahweh that he did for Israel. So they served them while they were there. But then Joshua the son of Nun and the servant of Yahweh, died, being 110 years old, and they buried him in the board of his inheritance, and Timothy Eries in the mount of Ephraim on the north side of the hill. Gage and also verse then says that generation were gathered unto their fathers.

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    So everyone that surrounded Joshua that had seen them, and all the elders and the leaders that were there at that time that had seen the great works that Yahweh did passed off. And now, says verse 10, there arose another generation after them which knew not. Yahweh. Nor yet the. Works that he had done for Israel. The children of Israel did.

61. 27:19

    Evil in the sight of Yahweh. They served Balaam. They forsook. Yahweh Elohim of. His the expression. Their fathers which? Brought them up out of the land of Egypt and followed. The other gods, the gods of the people. That were round about. Them and bowed themselves unto them, provoke Yahweh to anger, and they forsook.

62. 27:35

    Yahweh and served Balon. Astrov and the anger of Yahweh. Was hot against Israel, he. Delivered them into the hand of the spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of the enemies. Round about them. So that they could no longer, so they could not any longer stand before their enemies, other sisters and young people.

63. 27:59

    What was the problem? What caused their faith to fail? The answer is the record in Judges Chapter 2. Was that the parents failed to transfer. And to inspire the next generation and failed to pass on the mantle of leadership and responsibility to their children who haven’t witnessed the. Power of God and. Conquering the land they failed to demonstrate in their next generation. The same fervency and zeal that they themselves had. And So what happened, brothers and sisters, was that they forsook Yahweh Elohim of their.

64. 28:42

    Fathers. And serve Bail and Astroph. You see the problem is. That the parents failed to transfer the truth. But just as. Devastating the children. Didn’t stand up and grab it with both hands. To personalize the truth for themselves. Oh, brothers and sisters and young people, here is an enormous lesson for all of us.

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    When it comes to leadership and the truth, see, there’s a lesson 1st and. Foremost to parents, to leaders, to elders. Those that have position of responsibility, you see many, many of those have grown up. They’ve been in the truth for quite some time. They’ve experienced life, they’ve experienced the trials. You’ve seen the hand of God working in your life, mother, sisters. It’s imperative now that we invest in the future with the next generation because they have to play a leadership role. When we’re gone.

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    We must play a leadership role in ensuring our lifelong passion and zeal in the truth that we’re built up over so much time. That we’ve appreciated. God’s hand working with us and our challenges and our trials. We’ve got to hand that in all responsibility. To the next. Generation, we’ve got to allow them room to grow.

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    To develop in the truth, realizing that they are just starting out on the same journey that we’ve already embarked on many years before. And we’ve got to let them grow, make mistakes. And develop.

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    It’s a process, brothers and sisters. It’s a journey that takes time and patience and diligence and. Trust. That as much as God has worked in our lives. He’s going to work in these.

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    And we’ve got to. Cherish that next generation. We’ve got to encourage that next generation. To grow the same zeal, the same passion, and the same energy in service, in the truth, if they’re ever, ever going to have the ability to hold on to that and pass. That to the next generation and I think sometimes it’s very.

70. 31:22

    Easy to be upset, build resentment, be impatient, become bitter that people who haven’t got the same tenacity or the same. Fervor that we had at their age. We’ve got to grow there. It’s our responsibility. We’ve got to guide it gently, we’ve got to encourage it fervently and above all else. Make room for them to grow, to grow into the role. Of leadership so that they too can personalize the truth in the same way as we did.

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    You see, brothers and sisters, this role. Is an optional. It’s imperative. It’s our responsibility, it’s our duty in the truth to ensure the truth remains alive and to. Trust that God will protect it. And then? To grow. And to develop it’s our responsibility to pass the mental of. That. Responsibility to the next generation and the truth depends on brothers and sisters ’cause if we don’t do it, it’s pretty obvious what happens. So enough about the responsibility of parents and elders amongst ecclesia.

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    What’s the responsibility for young people and for those that are growing up on the truth? Well, so I’ll put myself in this bracket as well. You know, it’s our responsibility as as younger people in the ecclesia, as we try to grow, to look to the wisdom. And the experience? Of those that have gone.

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    Before us. To understand what they’ve achieved and why they’ve achieved them and how. God’s worked in their life to realise that they’ve worn. The heat and burden of the day. And have learnt so many life lessons that God has taught them. That we might learn from them. Many have walked. Most of their life in the truth, and they bear the scars and the experience of trials. Both won and lost, but those that have worked with others. Through the issues.

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    Of life have built up a deep appreciation of the love and. Power. And patience and Providence of God. In their own lives, it’s our responsibility and our duty as. Those growing up. In the truth to respect, therefore, the thoughts and experiences of those that have gone. Before, but more importantly, or just as important?

75. 33:57

    It is our. Responsibility to step up, to not shirk that responsibility. To take on. The role and. Responsibility of trying to help and to grow and to serve because. They won’t be there forever. Oh, they brothers. Sisters. As we know. And it won’t be long and. It’ll be our turn to transfer that truth to our children. As we grow.

76. 34:23

    So that they carry on the truth if Christ remains away. Therefore, as young people, it is our responsibility to personalize the. Truth early. But in in doing so, listen and to seek advice from those who have witnessed the. Power. And the mercy of God in their own lives and to take on the mantle of responsibility and to step up and serve wherever we can. And thus brothers and sisters by. Leaning in.

77. 34:52

    Together and by God’s grace, the truth will. Pass from generation to generation. Because God will bring about His purpose. So there’s great lessons, isn’t it, brothers, sisters, if we’re going to maintain our faith together, we have to learn to work together. But unfortunately, brothers, sisters, this didn’t happen in this generation. We don’t have time to look at it tonight, but if you go to the appendices of the judges, what we see in the appendices is exactly the problem of what happens if it’s not passed.

78. 35:29

    Properly from generation to generation. Don’t have time to look at it, but you know, chapters 17 to 18 of the appendices of the judges that fits in. Right. At the section in Judges Chapter 2 demonstrates 4 Haas firstly, the idolatry that occurred in the tribe of Dan when one man stole from his mother and mummy mummy says. Oh, you’re a good boy for returning. Part of it and then builds an idol out of it. So.

79. 35:52

    It’s disgraceful. And then and the idolatry in the tribe of Dan was created from the grandson of Moses. And you know what that ended up doing by the? Sisters was corrupting. All the doctrine of the troops and then in chapter. 19 to 21, we see the story of of the of the the Levite, who has a concubine who’s abused by the men of the men of Benjamin and cut up in pieces and sent around the the tribe of the entire 12 tribes and the and the.

80. 36:21

    Story of this in chapters 19 to 21 is the immorality in the tribe of Benjamin was caused because of the grandson of Aaron and. This demonstrates a problem with the corruption of practice. In these two stories encapsulate the challenge of the time of failed. Leadership and transferring the truth from generation to generation, and how quickly. That can happen.

81. 36:50

    The appendices we know begin and end with a catch phrase that summarize the time of the nation of Israel. Judges 17 verse 6 and Judges 21 verse 25. The encapsulation of that. Those appendices says that in those days there was no king in. Israel. But every man did that which was. Right in his own eyes. Do you know?

82. 37:15

    Sometimes we can mistake the thinking of this expression meaning that they just did whatever they wanted. But I don’t. Think that that’s quite true. I think it’s slightly worse. Than that. You see, I don’t think necessarily it means that they did whatever they. Wanted do you know what the word from right? When it says every man did that which was right in his own eyes is the word used in Jeremy chapter 12 and verse 8. You see Jeremy 12 and verse 8 says don’t bother turning it up, I’ll do it for you.

83. 37:45

    Jeremy 12 verse 8 says listen. Moses says, listen, I don’t want you to do after the things which he do here this day, every man. Doing what was. Right in his own eyes. For you’re not yet coming to the rest of the land of your inheritance. But when you go over, I want you to do all these things in the place that God chooses.

84. 38:04

    The word for right is the word for straight it’s the word. For judgement, righteousness, and what they were doing was they were trying to work out the truth, but not using the law as their guide. Joshua had said that don’t you turn from the right hand to the left. You make sure you do exactly what Moses.

85. 38:23

    Said we saw that and in Joshua 21 when he said. Listen, you need to keep straight and true. Don’t do what’s? Right in your own eyes. Don’t try and work out what you think. ‘S right, and we know that when we. Look at the story of the Levite. He says, oh, oh, I think the man says, oh, yes, that’s right. We need a priest.

86. 38:39

    All right, you’re of Levite. Great. Bang. He was. He was trying to do the truth. But not all Levites were priests. Only the sons of Aaron were priests. So he was trying to do sort of what he thought he was right, but not wasn’t complete abandonment. It distorted the truth and. Corrupted its practice. You see, they were doing what was right but failed to use the law.

87. 39:01

    As their guidance, so they apostasized. From the truth and it’s interesting, brothers and sisters. Who were they supposed to turn to to understand what was right? Who are they to turn to? Judges 16 says sorry, Deuteronomy 16 says. That he would appoint for them. Judges so every man shall give as he is able judges 16 verse 18 says that he.

88. 39:28

    Will put judges. And. Officers they were supposed to make in all. Thy gates, which Yahweh thy God hath given thee throughout thy tribes. And they shall judge the people with just judgement. They were going to help them understand the law. The Levites weren’t able to be in every city. And so God appointed judges for them, or actually not God. Moses says.

89. 39:50

    I want you to appoint judges in every city. Make sure it’s done. There was no king to lead them. They had to appoint judges in every city throughout all thy gates to not to give just judgment. Thou shalt not rest judgement, thou shall not be respected persons, neither take a gift or be, you know, dodgy.

90. 40:09

    Thou shall alter together be just, thou shalt follow. And that thou must live and inherit the land which they God giveth thee. That’s Jeremy 16 verses 17 to 20. And so, with no king to lead them, they were supposed to turn to the judges. But brothers and sisters, when we get. To the time of Deborah and Bayrak, we get to the time of Ehood. Where were the judges?

91. 40:36

    They were supposed to be in every city, but they weren’t there. They weren’t there. So with no king to lead them and the failure of the judges to speak. The law, Well, it was natural that the dilution of the truth began until here. They stood once more, no leader, no knowledge, no hope, doing that which they thought was right in their ion eyes.

92. 41:00

    And rapidly losing everything. So in Joshua chapter 2 it says that God. Raised them up. Judges, verse 16, nevertheless. Yahweh raised. UP judges which delivered them. Out of the hand of those that spoiled them. Joshua 2, verse 16. And yet they would not hearken unto the judge. But they went to whoring after their own gods, and bowed themselves unto them, and they were quickly turned out of the.

93. 41:30

    Way you see, God raised up judges. Judges were supposed to judge the people in all spiritual matters, and God raised up judges both to respond. To the idolatry and to lead the people in their responsibility to overcome their enemies. And so the first judge that God raises is Ehud. We have no time to look at the story. Fascinating story for the man who’s who was this amazing with his left hand straight with a lagger under the fat guts of of. Eglon and disappears and he dies and the nation has this incredible piece.

94. 42:06

    Of of time from Ehud’s leadership who? Snuck in and and absolutely wiped. Out the problem for them and. Showed them what it meant to lead into how to overcome. And so they had 80 years. Of. Peace under his reign and one after the other, God raised up judge after judge after judge. But as with leaders, if people don’t follow.

95. 42:33

    Things fall back, and so we pick up the story. Now, brothers and. Sisters in Judges Chapter 4. So here we are without without leadership amongst the nation. A vacuum created. Because Ehud’s now dead, and once more without that solid leadership. A void. Opens up once more and thus once again the children of Israel fall into apostasy because he is gone. And we pick up the story now in Judges chapter 4 and verse one. Hopefully you can see how this all builds to the story. Of how?

96. 43:07

    Amazing it. Is for this particular prophet tears to turn up amongst the nation. And so it says, Judges 4 and verse one, that the children of Israel did again evil in the sight of Yahweh when Ehud was dead, and Yahweh sold them into the hand of Jabin, king of Canaan. You see, Ehud had.

97. 43:34

    Provided a secure environment through God’s assistance, both military and spiritual leadership. The people. Ought to have leveraged this time 80 years he gave them to consolidate their inheritance, but they. Well, they failed to capitalise on the opportunity and failing to realise that the 80 years that they received was actually. A gift of God.

98. 43:55

    They apostasized and used it to their own end. They missed it through complacency and mistaken self assurance. They thought God was. With them but not. Because he moved, they moved into apostasy and so once again they do evil in the sight of Yahweh. You know Judges chapter 5 Deborah sings in her song. They choose new gods.

99. 44:18

    Judges 5 verse 8 they chose. New Gods and what happened? Other sisters there was war. In. The Gates There was war in the. Gates. Where was the judge supposed to be? Brothers and sisters? The judge was supposed to be sitting in the gate providing just judgement. But because they’d forsaken the judge, because they’d forsaken God, because they had apostasize.

100. 44:43

     Instead of a judge giving righteous laws. They now have war and so it sees God sold them into the hand of Jabin, king of Canaan. There’s a, there’s. Irony in that brother, sisters. Human nature doesn’t change, and neither does God’s punishment. He traded them. To a group of traitors. There’s irony in that, brother, sisters. He trades them.

101. 45:09

     He sells them to a group of traders. And the Canaanites. The Canaanites means the lowland. They come from the root word meant to bend the knee. Right. And or to humiliate? Do you know who they were? They were a trading. Nation of merchants who would. Sell their soul to get a deal. And their leader Jabin.

102. 45:33

     His name means whom God observes. Whom God observes, really, Of course, because God put him there. His name comes from the root word meaning understanding or intelligence. That’s Jabin, whom God observes from the root word of understanding and intelligence. You see, this one was the CEO of a merchant trading nation who was the entire representation of the wisdom. Of the world in all its conceit and all its glory. He’s the CEO, the wisdom of the world, intelligence and God put him in this place and you know he. Gripped that nation of Israel and grabbed them and poured them under, sold them into his hand and crushed them. And he’s reigning in.

103. 46:23

     Hazel just means a castle, and he’s got this. Dominant castle over the entire region with iron. Tentacles and he’s. Crushing them. And he rules over the. Vast area from the land of the north of Galilee right down through the Jezreel. Valley and. How? Did he dominate these people? Well, it says that he had Sisera. And 900 Chariots of iron.

104. 46:52

     You know, it’s very easy, brother and sisters, to read through the story and to read that. There was a. Hand of Jabin, king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazel, Brothers and sisters. If we had done our readings, we would. Know. That this had already. Happened not long. Ago, have a look in your margin against H on my in the Y margin Bible, Joshua.

105. 47:19

     Chapter. 11 Yahweh sells. Them at the hand of Jabin, king of Canaan. Hang on a minute. Joshua, 11, had already told us about a king by the name of Jabin who had lived in a castle called Hazel once before. Come back for me to Joshua Chapter 11. You see this? This is a repeat.

106. 47:39

     Why is it a repeat? Joshua 11. Says. And verse one came to pass. When? Jabin, king of Hazel, had heard these things. He sent Joba, king of Mudron and the king of Shimyon and the king of Ashfaa to the kings. That were on the. Mountains and to go up against. Them and they were verse 4 says that they they were all their hosts. Were were were much people even as the sandwiches upon the sea shore and multitude with horses and Chariots. Many we’ve seen this man before, Jabin, who’s reigning in Hazel with all these Chariots and horses and Joshua in a previously previous military campaign had taken Jabin the first out in the first battles and crusades in the land. You see, the kings of Canaan joined forces, this sand of the seashore for multitude, and they had horses and turrets and Joshua wipes them out in.

107. 48:39

     Verse eight look what it says. And so verse 7 So Joshua came, and all the people of war with them against them by the. Waters of Miriam. Suddenly and they. Fell on them and Yahweh. Delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smoked. Them chased them unto great Zeidon, now brothers and. Sisters, we start to find out why. Bayrak and his men.

108. 48:57

     Don’t just fight. Sisera. They chase Sisera out. Because that’s what Joshua. Had done. And they come in the valley of Mizpah and. They smoked them until there was left none. Remaining, just remember that expression. We’re going to see that in our second study. And Joshua did unto them as Yahweh Badam, and he hoffed their horses and burned.

109. 49:18

     Their Chariots with fire. And Joshua at that time turned back and took Hazel and. Smoked the king thereof with the sword. For Hazel, before time was the head of all those kingdoms, and they smote all the souls that were in with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them. They’re not, was not left. Anything to breathe.

110. 49:34

     And he burnt. Hazel with fire, and all the cities of those kings and all the kings of them did Joshua take and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroyed them as Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded.

111. 49:48

     So here’s the question if Joshua done that in Joshua Chapter 11, what on earth is Jabin now living again in a resurrected castle? Only moments later in history?

112. 50:04

     Here’s a new king calling himself Jabin, living in a recently refurbished city that had been once taken by the children of Israel. What had they failed to? Do by the sisters and the answer was because of Naftalise faithlessness, Bayrek’s tribe by the sisters. They failed to capitalise on that conquest and lost it.

113. 50:26

     And now? They were paying. For it, you see, because now another. King. Had arisen and. Taken back the city of Hazel and had taken on the title of his predecessor from 120 years before that and now had expanded his empire even further. And he didn’t just now. Want. The city of. Hazel. He didn’t just take back the city of Hazel. He was.

114. 50:53

     Now not just the King of Hazel Brazen. Sisters, we come now to Joshua chapter 4, and he’s the king of Canaan, brother. Sisters, he’s taken all the territory and boy. Oh boy, is he going to make. Israel pay for their crimes. Naftullah is now going to be oppressed. They are going to be his servants and he mightily oppresses.

115. 51:18

     Them says judges chapter 4 he mightily. Oppresses them. You see lesson in that, brother, sisters. If we don’t take away, if we don’t destroy the. Things that take away from God and that lead us out of the truth. If we don’t. Utterly remove things like that. They’re going to come back and bite us and not just bite us.

116. 51:38

     They’re going to come back with so much more force because they’re feeling oppressed. They’re going to come back with. Double pressure. We can’t just. Temporarily remove from. View like a Band-Aid we’ve got to utterly cut off. Things while we can. So that we can take our inheritance. And so the oppression of Jabin’s military campaigns were managed now by a man called Sisera, the captain of his host.

117. 52:06

     His name means. Array battle array Sisera’s name means a battle array and by name. Sisera. Was also by character. You see, this man was a military genius, a military strategist, a warrior who marshalled army all over the Jezreel Valley. He led and he marshalled the entire army from a city called. Harisheth of the Gentiles, and that’s remarkable.

118. 52:35

     About the city, the Hebrew word for. Harisheth. Means a city of mechanical workers just. Tuck that. Away in your brain. We’re going to come across that in our third study tomorrow. A. City of mechanical workers means a root word for. Carving and cutting. It was a city of artifices and workmen, beaters of metal. These were the city of the grease monkeys. And the panel beaters, right there were apprentices. They had them up all over the place, trying to have taken them from all around the surrounding tribes. It’s Harris Sheath of the Gentiles. They had gone and handpicked the best people for this job. And under that oppression?

119. 53:16

     It sees verse 3, the children of Israel. Cried unto Yahweh, for he had 900 Chariots of iron and 20. Years. He mightily oppressed. The children of Israel. 900 Chariots. Of iron, you see, these little metal objects by the sisters stood as a testimony of witness for their faithlessness. Their nightmare had returned, their faithlessness of their grandparents failure and their parents now comes back in vengeance. To haunt them.

120. 53:44

     And for 20 years, it says he mightily oppressed. Them. You know the word mightily. He’s only used two other times in the Old Testament, and it’s a word that is used of entire dominant strength. And force. And the word oppression. Is used only. Really. To describe Israel’s oppression from the Egyptian bondage and slavery. Mightily upon it was the worst oppression Israel had ever faced.

121. 54:10

     It was worse than worse than Egypt. It was worse than Eglon. And it lasted for 20 years. Brothers and sisters. That’s what happens when we don’t utterly remove things that cause us problems. How bad was it, brothers and sisters? How bad was that? Oppression. Well, it says. Judges chapter 5 and verse six.

122. 54:28

     It was so bad in the days of Shamgar, in the days of NF, in the days of jail, the highways were unoccupied and the travellers walked through byways. That’s. How bad that oppression? Was judges 5 versus 6. It was so bad that they were scared to travel between cities and if they had to.

123. 54:52

     They’d use the goat tracks from the Backcountry just in case it. Was worse than COVID. It was tough and you know what it sees when it sees that the that the highways were. Unoccupied and the travellers walked through the byways, and the inhabitants of the villagers ceased. They ceased in Israel. Means to come to an end the main arteries for food. Were closed.

124. 55:25

     The main way of getting things around the country was gone. Anyone wanting getting around to travel had to travel through the gnarly goat tracks of the bank country. No one moved around first with scarce trade was not existent. The noose of Sisera and Jabin grew tighter and tighter as the mighty oppression of sank Israel into complete and utter.

125. 55:50

     Depression. And it’s into the scene of. Utter misery and oppression and depression were introduced to one. That gave comfort, Deborah, it sees. Was a prophetess the wife of Lapidoth? She judged Israel at that time. And she dwelt. Under the palm tree of Deborah, between Raymar and Bethel in Mount Ephraim. Deborah. Her name means a bee, and really it’s a reference to its systematic incense instincts and processes. I’ve had a bit to do.

126. 56:28

     With bees in my time, happy to talk about them and remarkable. The thing about a bee is. They are. Really. Organized so the idea. Of to be. Systematic and its instinct and its processes means that she was ability to arrange things. That’s what the root word means to arrange, and it refers to in this termic her voice. She was, obviously.

127. 56:50

     Capable of putting things together in a way that made sense. She could arrange. Words of counsel Deborah was a bee. And one could refer to all her diligence as a worker as she was. But the record? Wants us to realize that although she was diligent, it was the order and arrangement of her counsel and advice that she was recognized, for she was a prophetess.

128. 57:16

     Just remarkable when you look, we don’t have any time to look at it. Psalm 19. Psalm 119. The sweet Council of Wisdom is going to reward like honey. You ever look at those expression? Honey is sweetness. Psalm 19 verse 9 and 10, and Psalm 119 verse 103 and this woman. Was able to provide food that was so delicious. That the nation came day after day. Because in a spiritual wasteland. And in a vacuum of leadership.

129. 57:44

     In the time of the judges, her refreshing counsel of her judgement would have come as relief to the people that sought counsel from. Her. She’s the prophetess. Do you know? What is the What is the work of a prophetess? Well, Deuteronomy 18 says that the work of a prophet. Was to expound God’s mind and to expounds God.

130. 58:08

     God’s message. She had been moved. By Yahweh’s words. And had prophesied of their oppression. And God’s judgements at the hand of Jabin due to their idolatry. And this therefore, brothers and sisters, I believe. Earned her a reputation. Among them as speaking God’s mind and God’s message and. All. Israel, it says, came to.

131. 58:28

     Her for judgement. Do you know that’s remarkable, brothers and sisters. Because judges were supposed to be. Appointed in every. City in every city. There was supposed to be a judge Deuteronomy 16, and yet here. All. Israel were coming up the goat. Tracks to receive advice from this remarkable woman. Where were all the other judges?

132. 58:53

     Brothers and sisters and young people. Leadership had failed the inhabitants, it says. Judges chapter 5 and verse. Seven says. That the inhabitants of the villages. Cease the words really mean. The leaders or the chief rulers disappeared. Leadership completely gone. The place where the judges should have been, there was war happening at them. Leadership was gone.

133. 59:22

     It’s better. Translates that the idea of the inhabitants. Of the villages, it’s The Chieftains or the rulers were gone, leadership was disappeared. As a result. Of failed leadership, idolatry had entered the land. And thus God punished them. And because of this mighty. Oppression all Israel had to scurry in dart. From Bush to Bush, down the byways and the goat tracks to seek the council from this remarkable woman and she dwells under the palm tree of Deborah. We have don’t have any time to look at it but. The palm tree is symbol of righteousness, and she dwells between Rhema and Bethel.

134. 59:59

     The high place. And the. House of God, they knew where she was. They knew what she stood for. And therefore she was capable. Of giving. Advice the palm tree the. Upright, righteous palm tree. And Deborah came at a time of immense leadership vacuum and stood up and took on the responsibility of serving her brothers and sisters.

135. 1:00:31

     You know, that’s a lesson for us out of this study, brothers and sisters, if we haven’t already got a few lessons. You see, leadership is, is service, not a position.

136. 1:00:43

     You see, when times are tough, when the way is difficult, when we see people under stress, trial and anguish, whose responsibility is it to provide the support and to serve? The answer is it’s every single each one of us. That needs to see the need and step up and serve. You see, not everyone is going to be leaders like Bayrack who are going to lead from the front, charging off into battle and leading. The way not everyone can do that, brothers and sisters. But everyone can show Deborah like leadership to care, to show love, to offer support, to offer counsel in times of trial and hardship.

137. 1:01:30

     And particularly in those times leadership is needed. Leadership is not a position. Leadership is seeing a need and serve. We’ve each got to step up and show that we care. We can’t just wait and expect. Others you know here my scene to him is not the spirit of the Bible, is it? We’ve got to step up and show care. We’re not wait for others to stand up with. Care and love.

138. 1:01:55

     For one another, is there a requirement and a commandment of our Lord who demonstrated leadership by service to those He loved? We’ve got to do the same. True leadership is all about the inspiration of others by the power of positive example through service. True leadership is like that, isn’t it? Run the sisters. It’s about the inspiration of others by the power of positive example through what we do.

139. 1:02:24

     And we’re going to see and witness in our next study just how Deborah was so brilliant at that and how she was able to carefully and thoughtfully and lovingly but sternly empowers Bayrack, the hesitant commander, to lead. And who, then, will inspire? Others. To lead himself and to serve and overcome be represses.