Appealing to the Vine - Judges 9:12

In the book of Judges we learned how Jotham told the men of Shechem, “t Hearken unto me, you men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you. The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign you over us. But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?And the trees said to the fig tree, Come you, and reign over us. But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?” and in chapter nine and verse twelve of Judges, we learn how Jotham shared, “then said the trees unto the vine, Come you, and reign over us” where we read,

Then said the trees unto the vine, Come you, and reign over us.

The verse reads, “Then said the trees unto the vine, …” The writer began with the words, “then said the trees” which means “at that time uttered declared and proclaimed the timbers, stocks, planks and wood” “unto the vine” which means “to the bending and twining vine especially of the grape”. The writer shared how the “trees” went from asking the “fig tree” to rule over them to asking the twining “vines” to do the following. 

The verse continues, “… Come you, and reign over us.” The writer added words “come you” which means “proceed and move you, fig tree”, “and reign over us” which means “and have rule and have authority higher and above us, the trees. The writer shared how “Jotham” said the “trees” next invited the “vine” to proceed and have rule and authority above them

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how the “trees” continued to attempt to find someone or something that would have rule over them. This time the “trees” lowered their standards from the “olive and fig tree” to the “vine” that was asked to rule. God desires to be the ruler of our lives because no one else sent their Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days. When we surrender to His rule and reign in our lives, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and help us keep Him as our ultimate authority and never settle for anything or anyone less. (See Romans 15:13)

Next time we learn how the vine says, “should I leave my wine, which cheers God and man”, so read ahead …, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".