The last verse of Deborah's song is a glorious climax to the whole: "So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord; but let them that love thee be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might." What a sublime image! the sun in his strength of all created objects the most glorious. "Thou sun, of this great world both eye and soul!" Even such in the intellectual world is the man of devotion, reflecting the light of God's countenance, and diffusing that light around on all within its influence. The whole account of this distinguished woman concludes with the words, "And the land had rest for forty years." No fuller testimony is needed in reference to the wisdom of Deborah's government. Prosperity, peace, enjoyment, are all included in the word "rest." Strict as is the unvarying impartiality of Scripture in relating the errors of its most distinguished characters, nothing appears to detract from the excellence of Deborah. Her genius, wisdom, energy, and piety are conspicuous throughout the whole narration; and her administration if judged by the results that followed a peace of forty years' continuance — is as worthy to rank with that of the most able of the leaders of God's ancient people, as her sublime song is to compare with their loftiest compositions. Altogether, the history of Deborah is perhaps the most memorable instance on record of the Almighty elevating a woman to public dignity and supeme authority. |