Deborah’s Song (and Yours)

[On that day Deborah sang,] “…they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel.” – Judges 5:7b (NIV) 

Just out of the battle she led, Deborah sang her song. In her song, she acknowledged her sister-in-arms, Jael, and how effective she was in the battle’s final triumph. These women were warriors. Successful ones.  

Out of the horror and loss and trauma of war, Deborah sang. 

First she praised God. She praised her comrades. And then, she praised herself!   

Deborah sang a song praising God, neighbor. and self. A good 1,200 years before Jesus was born, Deborah’s song followed Jesus’ formula: Love God, neighbor, and yourself.  

At the Emmy Awards earlier this year, Niecy Nash-Betts gave a Deborah Victory Speech.  

First, she acknowledged her victory, saying this: “Thank you to the Most High for this divine moment.” Next, she acknowledged some of the people who got her there.  

Then, she said: “And you know who I wanna thank? I wanna thank me.”  

Ms. Niecy wasn’t being arrogant. She wasn’t making a joke. She was modeling something that so many of us struggle to do ourselves: she sang Deborah’s Song. She followed Jesus’ most fervent command by loving herself, rightly, in the context of her love of God and neighbor. Ms. Niecy on that stage had just come off of her own battlefield. And she had a song to sing.   

I don’t know what battles you’re facing. But I do pray that you come off that battlefield clear on your own song. As we each do, let’s pray: 

Prayer
Bring me off the battlefield and write your song on my heart, O God. Amen.

About the Author
Kaji Douša is the Senior Pastor of The Park Avenue Christian Church, a congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ, in New York City.