Sweet and Good

DEVOTION

JUDGES

SWEET AND GOOD

Judges 9:7-21

7 When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, "Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. 8 One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king.' 9 "But the olive tree answered, 'Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and men are honored, to hold sway over the trees?' 10 "Next, the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and be our king.' 11 "But the fig tree replied, 'Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?' 12 "Then the trees said to the vine, 'Come and be our king.' 13 "But the vine answered, 'Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and men, to hold sway over the trees?' 14 "Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, 'Come and be our king.' 15 "The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!' 16 "Now if you have acted honorably and in good faith when you made Abimelech king, and if you have been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family, and if you have treated him as he deserves— 17 and to think that my father fought for you, risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian 18(but today you have revolted against my father's family, murdered his seventy sons on a single stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his slave girl, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is your brother)— 19 if then you have acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today, may Abimelech be your joy, and may you be his, too! 20 But if you have not, let fire come out from Abimelech and consume you, citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelech!" 21 Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelech.

NIV

We find on maps that this Mt Gerizim overlook is in very close proximity to the ancient city of Shechem, so it is very possible that this speech of Jotham was clearly heard by the people of Shechem, including Abimelech. Jotham spoke a fable which would be considered prophecy. Using all those kinds of trees that produce good things for the people. Olive trees give olive oil, fig trees give those good and sweet fruit, and the vine gives wine, all good things for both eating, drinking and offerings to God, but the thornbush has nothing to offer but it is so common and it could be the start of bush fires that consume everything in his path. Certainly, this fable or prophetic word has some relevant meaning to the people of Shechem, but could it apply in any way to our lives? Perhaps, we see the vain ambition to be in power, like Abimelech, who had only the purpose of self-gratification and did not have the benefit of the people of Shechem in mind. Much like the thorn or bramble bush, his power would kindle a flame of domestic war, and his subjects would be consumed. We always need to be careful not to pursue leadership for our own benefit, but only as God directs and then as we are told to live by love, whatever position we hold in the body of Christ, is for the purpose of love and building each other up until we all reach the unity in the faith. No matter where we serve each other in the body, we should always look to the benefit of others, and not of our own, for God is our source of all things, and He and He alone is worthy of all praise, honor, and glory. Let us not do anything out of vain ambition or self-gratification, but only do what is for the benefit of others, like the olive tree, fig tree, and the wine of the vineyard, all sweet and good, like the word of God. Let us feed each other from the sweetness and goodness in the scriptures, so we all grow in our walk with the Lord, for the Lord is sweet and good.