By this time of the year, many a congregation will have witnessed the blessed event of the installation of new officebearers. The new elders and deacons have begun their tasks of leading and guiding and teaching God’s people. Thankfully we can fill the vacancies every year again! And yet how often is it not a struggle for a church council to find brothers who are able and willing to serve? And how is the work of the elders and deacons being done? Eagerly? Willingly?

We are very much opposed to having women serve as elders and deacons. For God’s Word is very clear on this matter. In 1 Timothy 2 God declares: “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man.” And yet, are we not today in danger of having women in office by default?

For generally our women’s Bible study clubs are more numerous and better attended than that of men. Where are the men? Where are they preparing to be leaders and commanders among God’s people?

That question could also be asked in the days of the Judges! In those days there was no king in Israel and every man did what was right in his own eyes. Yes, no king and no princes under a king either! For who arose in Israel? Deborah, a mother in Israel. Deborah as a prophetess and judge!

It is through this prophetess that the Lord God encourages men to leadership; to be leaders among His people. The Lord God encourages through Deborah’s song of praise, specifically when she says: “My heart is with Israel’s princes, with the willing volunteers among the people. Praise the LORD!” This mother and wife in Israel encouraged the princes to lead by offering themselves in service. So it should be today also: wives and mothers encouraging their husbands and sons to lead by offering themselves in service.

But where were these leaders in Deborah’s days! Where were the princes of Israel, leading in the fight against the army of general Sisera? Where were the men to direct the fight against the soldiers and 900 chariots of Jabin King of Canaan who reigned in Hazor?

Because of Israel’s disobedience of turning to the gods of the surrounding nations, the Lord God sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan. In those days, the highways and roads in the valleys and plains of northern Israel were under the control of the Canaanites: no one dared to go out because of them. If they did, they stuck to the winding trails and little-used pathways of the hills and mountains. Also village life in Israel ceased. People didn’t live in un-walled villages for fear of the Canaanites who would raid them! This was a time of cruel oppression. There was no law and order in Israel. There was no peace.

Who would deliver God’s people from their enemies? Who would bring God’s people justice and peace? Who would be defending them in those days of trouble? Who would be willing to serve among them: to lead them in battle against their enemies?

Deborah sent and summoned Barak, the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him,

Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead the way to Mount Tabor. I (the Lord) will lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.

It was the Lord God who called Barak to serve as leader under his supreme command! And yet, how unwilling Barak was! For what did Barak say to the prophetess Deborah? “If you will go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go!”

So unwilling to lead according to God’s command! Lacking in faithfulness! Would there ever come one who was willing to lead among the people? There was no king in Israel in those days. But the days would come when there would be a king who would serve as commander in chief, as Prince of peace!

He would offer Himself willingly among his people. He is our Lord Jesus Christ! He said: “Here I am, I have come – it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” And so He offered himself willingly even unto death! And in this way He delivered us from our enemies.

But to keep us in our deliverance, our Lord Jesus Christ, as commander in chief, as Prince of peace, has also graciously given leaders to be among us, his people. These leaders are to offer themselves willingly among the New Testament people of God.

The apostle Peter exhorts the elders in his first letter: “tend the flock of God that is your charge, not by constraint but willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly...” So it is to be in the church of our Lord, with the elders, with those who are to lead and guide the flock: offering themselves willingly among the people! By the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ, may there be that willing spirit among the officebearers who serve in the churches.

And then let us, God’s children, as those who believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, be wholly glad and willingly to follow them. May we submit to them, as we go into battle against our enemies! And so may the Lord be blessed and praised forever.