ESOCS Devotional 31 August 2025 – Deborah’s Sense of Responsibility
MEMORY VERSE: “In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways. The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel until that I Deborah arose, and that I arose a mother in Israel.” Judges 5:6-7
TEXT: JUDGES 5:1-12
Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying:
2 “When leaders lead in Israel,
When the people willingly offer themselves,
Bless the Lord!
3 “Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes!
I, even I, will sing to the Lord;
I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.
4 “Lord, when You went out from Seir,
When You marched from the field of Edom,
The earth trembled and the heavens poured,
The clouds also poured water;
5 The mountains gushed before the Lord,
This Sinai, before the Lord God of Israel.
6 “In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath,
In the days of Jael,
The highways were deserted,
And the travelers walked along the byways.
7 Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel,
Until I, Deborah, arose,
Arose a mother in Israel.
8 They chose new gods;
Then there was war in the gates;
Not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.
9 My heart is with the rulers of Israel
Who offered themselves willingly with the people.
Bless the Lord!
10 “Speak, you who ride on white donkeys,
Who sit in judges’ attire,
And who walk along the road.
11 Far from the noise of the archers, among the watering places,
There they shall recount the righteous acts of the Lord,
The righteous acts for His villagers in Israel;
Then the people of the Lord shall go down to the gates.
12 “Awake, awake, Deborah!
Awake, awake, sing a song!
Arise, Barak, and lead your captives away,
O son of Abinoam!
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Deborah is one woman among many women in the scriptures that were exceptional in their works. She was full of strength to have led Israel into a battle and gained victory over Jabin who had oppressed Israel with 900 iron chariots. The strength of Deborah, among many others, can be seen in her sense of responsibility. It is good we understand that we either accept responsibility or die in adversity. It is either you accept responsibility or you end as a liability. Also, responsible people accept responsibility, while irresponsible people avoid responsibility.
As we celebrate the Women Association Anniversary today, we present us with what it means to exist with the sense of responsibility, as women and mothers:
It means to be the answer you are looking for: You become the answer people are looking for; you are the solution your generation is praying for in the midst of the oppression from the Jabins of this wicked world. Israel was under oppression until Deborah accepted the responsibility to lead the nation to war – “…until that I Deborah arose…”
- It means to hold yourself responsible for the needed change in your generation: Whatever change that is needed in your family, church or nation, you should take up the challenge like David who said, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the Living God?” The problem that exist in your family is the reason for your existence – “… and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).
- Doing the right thing and moving on the right direction without any external motivation or encouragement: Responsible people are highly self-motivated and encouraged. David, despite the attitude of the people towards him, still encouraged himself (1 Sam. 30:6). Responsible people don’t look for encouragement but they are mobile encouragement that people are looking for. David didn’t need assistance to confront the lion and bear. When it was time to bring Goliath down, nobody supported or encourage him – he was man alone. He encouraged himself.
You should make up your mind not to wait for people to motivate or encourage you before to act. The Lord is on your side and He is your sufficiency in all situations.
Congratulations from heaven to ESOCS Women across the world on your coveted anniversary in 2025!
CHALLENGES
- Take a decision to be a generational blessing and not a burden.
PRAYER POINT
- Lord, please grant us the grace to exist with the sense of responsibility in our generation, in Jesus name. Amen.
FURTHER READING: 2 Samuel 7:15-29; Judges 5:1-12; Romans 1:16-32; Revelation 22:1-17
ESOCS Devotional 31 August 2025
