If You have Dealt Truly and Sincerely - Judges 9:19

In the book of Judges we learned how Jotham told the men of Shechem a story about “trees” searching for a king, and after soliciting the olive and fig trees as well as the vine to rule over them, “then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come you, and reign over us. And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon. Now therefore, if you have done truly and sincerely, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands. (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian. And you are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)”, and in chapter nine and verse nineteen of Judges, we learn how Jotham shares what the men of Shechem are to do, “if you then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day”  where we read,

If you then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, 

then rejoice you in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:

The verse reads, “If you then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, …” The writer began with the words, “if you have dealt truly” which means “whether and in case you, the people of Shechem, have performed and produced in a firm, faithful, reliable and sure manner” “and sincerely” which means “and a complete, whole, entire and sound way” “with Jerubbaal” whose name means ‘let Baal contend’ and was “the name given to Gideon by his father when he destroyed the altar of Baal” “and with his house” which means “and alongside his, Jerubbaal’s, habitation, abode, dwelling place and family” “this day” or “this particular sunrise to sunset or time period”. The writer shared how “Jotham” confronted the men of “Shechem” as to whether they performed in a reliable and sound manner with “Jerubbaal” or “Gideon” and his family at that particular time, then the following is to be done.

The verse continues, “… then rejoice you in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:” The writer added the words “then rejoice you” which means “at that time you, men of Shechem, exult, be merry and gleesome” “in Abimelech” which means “within Abimelech whose name means ‘Melek is father or my father is king’ and was the son of Gideon by a concubine”,  “and let him also rejoice” or “and allow and permit him, Abimelech, even so and indeed exult, be merry and gleesome” “in you” which means “within you, the men of Shechem”. The writer shared how the men of “Shechem” ought to be merry and glad in “Abimelech” and “Abimelech” will be merry and glad with them. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how “Jotham” confronted the truth and “sincerity” of the men of “Shechem” toward his father “Jerrubbaal” or “Gideon” by choosing “Abimelech” to be their royal ruler. In case they were being truthful and sincere, then they were to be merry and glad with “Abimelech” and he was to be merry and glad with them. In other words, they were to be happy in the choices that both of them made. God will allow people to proceed in a path that is in opposition to what He knows is best for their lives. He knows all of our proclivities to sin, and because those sins lead to death, He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and rose from the dead after three days. In other words, He took our place in death, and when we yield to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and help us to choose to follow Him and Him alone as the ruler and Lord of our lives. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Joshua 24:15)

Next time we learn how Jotham says, “if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem”, 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".