Into the Fields and Gathering Vineyards - Judges 9:27

In the book of Judges we learned, “When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech. That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren. And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech. And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him”, and in chapter nine and verse twenty-seven of Judges, we learn how “they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards” where we read,

And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

The verse reads, “And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, …” The writer began with the words, “and they went out” which means “and they, the men of Shechem alongside Gaal, left and departed” “into the fields” which means “to the cultivated land or country”, “and gathered their vineyards” or “and collected and assembled their, the men of Shechem’s, fields for grapevines”, “and trode the grapes” which means “and treaded, marched and pressed upon and the fruit known as grapes”, “and made merry” or “and fashioned, accomplished and produced rejoicing, praise and celebration for harvest”. The writer shared how “Gaal” and the “men of Shechem” departed to their “grape vineyards” and collected “fruit known as grapes, pressed them and produced rejoicing within themselves”. 

The verse continues, “… and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.” The writer added the words “and went into the house” which means “and left and departed into the habitation, abode and dwelling place” “of their god” or “belonging to their, the men of Shechem’s, deity”, “and did eat and drink” which means “and devoured and consumed food and imbibed banqueting beverages”, “and cursed Abimelech” or “and trifled, slighted and made little account of Abimelech whose name means ‘Melek is father or my father is king’ and was Gideon’s son by a concubine”. The writer shared how the “men of Shechem” departed to the dwelling place of their deity, ate food and drank as they trifled “Abimelech”. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how “Gaal” influenced the “men of Shechem” as they proceeded forth to their grapevine “fields”, collect fruit from them, pressed the grapes and rejoiced and were glad. They also departed into the dwelling place belonging to their “deity”, ate, drank and slighted “Abimelech”. We can see how there is a plan with the “men of Shechem” which included feasting and celebrating their denouncing of “Abimelech”. Jehovah God observed all these things, and we shall see how this works out for them. God had a plan to rescue Israel from “Abimelech”, and each of these details were known by Him. God wants us to have full confidence and trust in Him, and when we receive His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all ruth and empower us to live according to that truth so we have full confidence and trust in Him regardless of the people and circumstances who are employed to perform His perfect plan. (See John 3:16; Proverbs 19:21)

Next time we learn how, “Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is 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".