Gideon did not want to be king. He wanted the Lord to rule. His son Abimelek thought differently. He convinced the people of Shechem to make him king. He slaughtered seventy of his brothers-the sons of Gideon-and the citizens of Shechem crowned him as their king. Only Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon, managed to escape.

Jotham confronted Abimelek and the people of Shechem for their treachery. He shouted a parable to them from the top of Mount Gerizim. A truly great man, like an olive tree, wants to be fruitful. It is the useless thornbush of a man who wants to rule others. Abimelek and the Shechemites had not acted honorably. They forgot God who had saved them from Midian's oppression. Instead of honoring God, they were inviting God's judgment on themselves.


Application: Lord, bless me to be mindful of your great salvation work. Give me a heart that seeks to honor you.
One Word: Honor God