The first reading today is from the Book of Judges and is a marvelous parable for its time in Israel’s history. Please take a moment to read the verses known as the Parable of the Trees.
The Book of Judges is set in a period of Israel’s history after the conquest of Canaan but before the establishment of the monarchy under King Saul and King David. The people had entered the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua, but over time the cohesion of the People of God broke down, as did their worship of God. All of this led to a cycle of the Israelites being attacked by other groups of people, facing disaster, and then crying out to God for deliverance. In response, God raised up judges – a tribal leader, military commander and judge. The role of the judge was to lead the people, defeat the enemy and reestablish good order and proper worship, acknowledging God as their true leader. When the crisis was over the people willingly accepted God as their true sovereign…But soon the people were distracted and the cycle began again.
One of the great judges was named Gideon. When peace was restored Gideon’s son, Abimelech, decided he wanted to “inherit” the mantle of leadership. He was not raised up as a judge by God. He sought to supplant God’s intention with his own ambition. Abimelech’s rise to power was marked by treachery and violence. He convinced the leaders of Shechem to support him as their ruler and then assassinated his brothers, who might have posed a threat to his rule. He missed one brother: Jotham, the narrator of the parable.
Jotham warns the people of Shechem about the folly of supporting Abimelech and predicts that their choice will ultimately lead to destruction and chaos. The reign of Abimelech’s terror continues in the Book of Judges.
Mini-bible study concluded, what do you make of these verses and the parable of the trees? Do you see yourself in the reading? Are you like Gideon? Abimelech? Jotham? Just a regular person trying to get by and stay out of the way when the “giants” stomp around? Even if you do not see yourself in the parable, the question that lingers, is God the Sovereign in your life?
Throughout the Book of Judges, the people of God continue to face this question and the challenge of living that commitment. If you have a moment, read 1 Sam 8 when the people ask the last judge, Samuel, to ask God to appoint a king over them so that they can be like the other people. And recall, prior to Jesus’ crucifixion, the crowds yelled “we have no king but Caesar.”
So… who is the Sovereign in your life?
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