Text: Judges 9
Theme: Abimelech
Introduction:
After the death of Gideon, Abimelech craved to inherit his father's position of authority over Israel. But as the son of a concubine, he does not enjoy the privilege to succeed. So, Abimelech used money to hire rough, immoral men as paid goons to help him slaughter his brothers. Only the youngest, Jotham, escapes by hiding during the genocide (Judges 9:1–6). The leaders of Shechem and the people gathered at the official town pillar to make Abimelech their king. Jotham, the survivor of Abimelech's massacre, interrupted it by calling from Mount Gerizim. From this vantage point, he can be heard without being immediately captured (Judges 9:7).
Jotham told a fable. In this story, the trees look for a king. This offer is rejected by the olive tree, the fig tree, and the grapevine. All of these are valuable, productive plants that never desire to seek power over others. So, the trees settle with the bramble. It referred to Abimelech as worthless and dangerous (Judges 9:8–15). The death of Abimelech, and the destruction of Shechem with its leaders so how God rendered justice (Judges 9:56–57).
Lessons:
1. Abimelech was not counted as a Judge. There is a possibility that we wouldn’t be counted as Christians by men and God.
2. Abimelech killed 70 of his brothers on a single stone, and shed innocent blood amidst anguishes, screams, and cries of his kin. Gideon’s unfaithfulness and disobedience have brought great destruction to his family. All his heritage was wiped out mercilessly. How true it is that ‘your sin will find you out’ (Numbers 32:23). Let us set our minds on things that are above. (Colossians 3:1–4)
3. It is interesting to note Judges 9:4, which mentions seventy pieces of silver. It could suggest that each brother was only worth one piece of silver for the killing contract. How chiefly we are tarnished by evil men.
4. Men of Shechem chose the Bramble rather than the valuable leaders to rule them. So, they followed a wicked person without a passion for battle. So, they were eradicated completely. It is an account of how God allowed the evil that Abimelech and the men of Shechem sowed to be reaped and to rebound upon their own heads. Following people who are not god-fearing will result in utter destruction beyond the construction of our lives. (Judges 9:56–57).
5. Abimelech is made of the bad elements that we saw in Gideon – like personal vengeance and brutality. The unconfessed secret sins will create problems for the prosperity of our lives. What kind of legacy, influence, and lessons do we leave for our children? For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. (James 3:16) Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3–4).
6. Shechem was a prominent city in the scriptures ever since the days of Abraham. God appeared to Abram and promised at Shechem (Genesis 12:6-7). Jacob and his sons entered into an agreement with the inhabitants of Shechem (Genesis 34). Shechem was the burial place of Joseph (Joshua 24:32). The covenant was renewed with Israel at Shechem after crossing the Jordan (Joshua 8:30-35). Joshua gave the farewell speech on serving the Lord at Shechem (Joshua 24). But the city was brought down to ashes (Judges 9:45) because the leaders aligned with Abimelech and later with Gaal (Judges 9:26). The glories of our lives can be easily forgotten and will become rotten if we persist in sin and associate with evildoers against the Will of God.
7. Warren Wiersbe entitles Judges 9 "My Kingdom Come" to the evil ambitions of Abimelech in stark contrast to the petition in the Lord's Prayer "Thy Kingdom Come." For whose kingdom do we exist?
Discussion: What one lesson you learned from this passage?
(Ref: Bible ref; Explaining to the Books: Judges; Judges Bible Study by Brent Kercheville; Austin Precept)
