In the book of Judges we learned how Jotham told the men of Shechem, “the trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign you over us. 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” and in chapter nine and verse nine of Judges, we learn how Jotham said, “the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness” where we read,
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?
The verse reads, “But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, …” The writer began with the words, “but the olive tree said unto them” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the tree that produced olives uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked them, the trees”, “should I leave my fatness” which means “am I, the olive tree, to cease, desist, forego and leave undone my, the olive tree’s, abundance, fertility and blessing” “wherewith by me they honor God and man” or “who through the means of me, the olive tree, they, the other trees, honor, enjoy and glorify the Supreme Deity and people”. The writer shared how the “olive tree” responded to the “trees” by asking why it ought to depart from it’s fertility and abundance from which the Supreme Deity and people enjoy and glorify it.
The verse goes on to say, “… and go to be promoted over the trees?” The writer continued with the words, “and go to be promoted” which means “and proceed forward and depart to exist as wandering, quivering and staggering as a vagabond” “over the trees” which means “higher and above the timbers, stocks, planks and stalks”? The writer shared how the “olive tree” also questioned whether it should proceed toward being exalted as ruler above the “trees”.
When we consider the words in this verse, we discover how the “olive tree” did not want to leave it’s current fertile and honored position to become a quivering ruler over the other “trees”. We shall see how this relates to “Jotham’s” point in our future verses, but for now let us be mindful of the idea that “Jotham” is wisely working toward telling the people of “Shechem” that choosing “Abimelech” as their king was not a wise decision. Jehovah God will also let us know when we have made bad choices in our lives, and because we all have sinned and come short of His glory (See Romans 3:23), He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days. When we yield o Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and help us to be wise in our choices so we never have need to be like the trees and olive tree in “Jotham’s” story. (See John 3:16: 16:13; Acts 1:8; 1 John 1:9)
Next time we learn how, “the trees said to the fig tree, come, you, and reign over us”, 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".
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