August 23 2023

Then all the lords of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem. When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and cried aloud and said to them, ‘Listen to me, you lords of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.

From Judges 9:6-15, NRSV

Gideon, whose call we heard about in yesterday’s reading, was able to deal with the Midianites who were oppressing his people and to win a time of peace. After his death Israel again started to fall back into sinful ways. Abimelech, one of Gideon’s many sons was made king. He had killed all of his brothers except Jotham who had managed to escape. Jotham wanted to warn his people that they had chosen an unworthy king. He did so by means of a parable. In the parable, a succession of trees are invited to become “king”. Each one declines the invitation by explaining that they are more concerned with carrying on their useful and productive work. For example, the olive tree questions whether it should forego its oil “by which gods and mortals are honoured” simply to stand swaying over the other trees. Eventually, it is only the thorn that wants to accept the invitation. The bramble would not be able to give shelter and protection to the other trees and would easily catch fire and be destroyed. Jotham was warning his people that the king they had chosen would be like this thorn bush and that he would eventually bring ruin to himself and to the people he was supposed to protect.

• • Why do you suppose Abimelech had been made king?
  • How can we discern the worth of the people we choose to lead us?

Pray for those in positions of leadership that they will be focussed on the needs of their people rather than on their own status.