Judges 9:7-15
7 Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and cried out. And he said to them: “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, That God may listen to you!
8 “The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’
9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I cease giving my oil, With which they honor God and men,
And go to sway over trees?’
10 “Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us!’
11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I cease my sweetness and my good fruit, And go to sway over trees?’
12 “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us!’
13 But the vine said to them, ‘Should I cease my new wine, Which cheers both God and men,
And go to sway over trees?’
14 “Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us!’
15 And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me as king over you, Then come and take shelter in my shade; But if not, let fire come out of the bramble
And devour the cedars of Lebanon!’
This is the first parable in the Bible.
There was a son of Gideon, the judge of Israel, named Abimelech who was born through the concubine of Gidoen. This fact that he was not among the 70 sons of Gideon who were the offspring of Gideon’s wife blocked his desire for rulership. He realized that if any of the 70 sons remained alive, he had no chance of becoming a ruler. He got support from the Shechemites, the people of his mother, and killed the 70 sons of Gideon on one stone (Judges 9:5). However, Jotham, the youngest one, escaped. Now, Abimelech was crowned the king by the Shechemites. When Jotham heard about this, he put forward the parable.
Trees decide to have a king over them. This decision itself was an unwise one since trees need no king over them.
They first approach a very valuable and important tree.
Olive tree – Olive was the main crop of ancient Israel. These olives were used to crush valuable olive oil out. Olive oil was used for cooking, fuel for lamps and soothing lotion for the skin. Kings and priests were anointed in ancient Israel with this oil. The emblem of Israel has two olive branches on both sides of the menorah.
However, the olive tree declines the offer.
Next, they approach the fig tree
Fig was an important fruit in ancient Israel. Amos 7:14 – It stands a symbol of peace and prosperity. It was a food to eat as well.
The fig also turns down the offer.
Next, the trees go the vine. Vine is a plant and not a tree. Now they left the trees and approach a plant to be a king over the trees.
Though a plant, vine had its own importance. Wine was pruned each spring. At the time of harvest, the grapes were picked to trodden out of wine press. Jesus refers to Himself as true vine and we, its branches (John 15:1) since the hearers of His time new the importance of it.
Here, in the parable, a temptation was set before an olive tree, fig tree and vine. Even the deep-rooted olive tree was not spared from temptation.
We too may be rooted deep spiritually and serve God in one way or other, but, remember that we are too subject to temptation.
Temptation by Satan mostly comes as sweet offers blinding us to the trap behind it. The temptation here was a kingdom, a throne, a crown, a sovereignty over other trees. There came a request from other trees, “Reign over us.” To rule over others is a very strong temptation. Many fall for power, fame and money.
Even today, we can see many Christians missing to give their time to God, to hear the Word and grow in His grace just to spend that time to make more money.
However, when the offer come to the olive tree, it gives a thought.
Judges 9:9 - But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I cease giving my oil, with which they honor God and men, and go to sway over trees?’
Should I? meaning Is it right? Is it wise? Is it God’s will?
There are 1000 things which may seem right in the world, but the question is: As a Christian, should I? One wrong decision in life (be it in marriage, job, business and contract) may make you regret it for the rest of your life.
Nehemiah 5:14 - Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the governor’s provisions.
Nehemiah was the governor of Judah. He had the right to take his daily portion. It was a proper provision for governor’s support and all the previous governors had taken it.
But Nehemiah does not do so. Why?
Nehemiah 5:15 - I did not do so, because of the fear of God
I would not have been wrong for Nehemiah to take the governor’s provisions, but he would not because he saw something better which made him realize that God would be somewhat compromised if he did that. The people were poor, so he decided to not impose a tax upon them and thereby not take that which was lawfully his.
This is what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:12 - All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
It was not a small thing for the olive tree to be made the king over other trees.
But the question it considered was: should I cease giving my oil and be promoted over the trees?
Giving oil – it was the chief job of the olive tree and the tree understood becoming a king would hinder its job of giving oil. If the olive tree becomes a king but ceases giving oil, it is a loser.
This is what we must consider when an offer comes to us.
Will it really be for the glory of God or will I become useless for God by accepting the offer?
Genesis 13: 10, 11 - And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east.
When given a choice, Lot pitched his tent towards Sodom because he saw that the well-watered plain of Jordan was a good place for his flocks and herds. He lived he Sodom and pitched his tent there because he saw that to be a comfortable place. He failed to notice that the people of Sodom were extremely wicked (Genesis 13:13). But we all are aware of the later end. Once Lot was taken captive by neighbouring kings and Abraham had to come to his rescue. Although his life was graciously spared, his house was burned, his wife became a pillar of salt and his daughters did horrible things. His descendants were the Moabites and Ammonites who also resisted the Israelites, the children of God.
We need to approach God with a question – should I? in prayer even for small things.
Finally, it was the bramble that accepted the offer - Judges 9:15.
Bramble grows about 3 to 4 feet tall. It takes up all the sunlight that trees growing under it shadow cannot survive. They become dead. Bramble do not have much beneficial use. Rather, it pricks people by its thorns.
Accepting the offer was no loss for bramble. Since it does not have any good that must be ceased.
Let us remember that what satfisfies a bramble cannot satisfy an olive tree. People dead in their trespasses and sins can do anything. But as children of God, we always need to question ourselves: should I?
Jesus had a temptation placed before him by Satan.
Matthew 4:8, 9 - Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
What was Jesus’ reply?
Matthew 4:10 - Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve’
Had Jesus spoken before Pilate, he would have been released. But He gave no answer.
John 19:8-10 - Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, 9 and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.
10 Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?”
Jesus knew that dying on the cross was His mission.
Shechemites made a foolish choice of making Abimelech the king.
It did not last long.
Judges 9:23 - God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech.
Abimelech died an unpleasant death
Judges 9:53 - But a certain woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull
What satisfies a bramble must not satisfy an olive, fig and vine. What satisfies the people of this world but not satisfy the children of God.
Remember to ask the question – should I? in prayer before making any choices in life.
