http://countrysidechurchofchrist.sermon.net/main/main/21292090
Jotham’s parable – Revolt of Gaal and Shechem –12-10-18 Judges 9:7-29
Judges lesson 17 Reggie Webb
Consider the lilies of the field… Matt 6:28
Consider the lilies of the field… Matt 6:28
http://countrysidechurchofchrist.sermon.net/main/main/21292090
Jotham’s parable – Revolt of Gaal and Shechem –12-10-18 Judges 9:7-29
thedailylily.com 
Tammy, have you seen those thorns Pastor Reggie speaks of owning?
What a tag, āWorthless thorn bush King.ā This statement set my mind on The King that wore a crown of thorns that was not worthless but The King of all Kings. His name is King Jesus. Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah
Note: I did see President Bushās funeral as referred to by Reggie. I heard the quotes he mentioned and they were highlighted in my thoughts as well. The one about, āhatery corrodes the container itās carried in.ā The Senator mentioned that both his Mother and the Presidentās Mother had taught them both that.
No, Sara, I havenāt seen the thorns Reggie spoke of here, but my son Nick said he has and those thorns are really long, as Reggie described.
When I think about the crown of thorns they placed on Jesusā head, I canāt even begin to think on how painful it must have been, as it was pressed into his head. š¢
Tammy, have you heard as the thorns were piercing the head on Jesus His Mother look on! āļø
Seems Nick got the graphic illustration given by PR. š¤ā¤ļø
I love the picture of the Olive Tree by Jon. It looks like it has center stage in that garden setting. And I thought that went right along with what Pastor Reggie said about the olive tree being the most valuable product in Israel. He pointed out that in Jotham’s Parable or Fable, this tree was too busy being productive to be interested in being king. I like how he taught the comparison lesson that worthy people are too busy to be interested in lording it over others, while worthless people seek to lord it over others.
Debi, sure seems strange a tree with olives would not want to be King and forget olives, donāt you think?
Maybe thatās why Pastor Reggie wanted us to get the quote from the Senator on humility. Guess an odd looking olive tree had the gift that is needful to enter The Kingdom of God. A Kingdom with a King, that once wore a crown of thorns that produces tress. King David understood Psalms 1ā41:1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not witherā whatever they do prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.ā
Sara you asked, “Debi, sure seems strange a tree with olives would not want to be King and forget olives, donāt you think?”
Looking at that ancient looking olive tree in the picture by Jon, I wonder if maybe the olive tree thought that he would rather outlive the king and stay productive than be a king and perhaps have his life cut short and end up evil or disgraced.
I have read these trees can live hundreds of years…and we sure do admire their beauty and productivity.
This Abimelech story is interesting in various ways:
ā A son of Gideon (Jdg 9) who aspired to be king after the death of his father, and did rule three years (Jdg 9:22). He first won the support of the members of his mother’s family and their recommendation of himself to all Israel (Jdg 9:3,4). He then murdered all the sons of his father, seventy in number, at Ophrah, the family home in the tribe of Manasseh, Jotham the youngest son alone escaping (Jdg 9:5). After this Abimelech was made ruler by an assembly of the people at Shechem. An insurrection led by Gaal the son of Ebed having broken out in Shechem, Abimelech, although he succeeded in capturing that city, was wounded to death by a mill-stone, which a woman dropped from the wall upon his head…ā International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
I thought I would try and see Godās love in this story as I hear daily from proclaiming Christians how much God loves us while they are destroying one another with words and action. LoveāI tried my familiar quote, āHis love endures forever.ā I felt a little discourages with my thought pattern after a little study from Psalm 136:10-16.
As I pause on these busy days trying to prepare my ā„ļø For Christmas , Iām thinking history and human heart leaves me to wonder how does God Love? His love endures forever. š
Thinking about the parable I thought of Queen Esther who was born for āsuch a timeā when she as the Queen spoke to the King which saved the Jewish people including herself.
She was obedient to the Lord in doing one thing when asked by God.
Jothan also was born ā as such a time as thisā and also did one thing God asked him to do. He climbed the mountain and delivered a parable on the mountain (which is a classic in world literature) which distinquished blessings of those who were busy and curses on the evil ones. He to was obedient to the Lord in doing one thing when asked.
Wonder if we will or have done that one thing that God has asked us to do? Or if we need someone who has been chosen by God to speak a word to keep us focused on that one thing and not the many things that are good but not what God has called you to do.
Rena, your thoughts in Esther and Jotham followed by your question, āWonder if we will or have done that one thing that God has asked us to do.ā 2 Timothy 1:6 remind us, ā to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…ā
Pastor Reggie mentioned this…
āAnd he was a man of such great humility, those who travel the high road of humility in Washington, D.C., are not bothered by heavy traffic.ā Alan Simpson