When Abimelech Reigned Three Years - Judges 9:22

In the book of Judges we learned how, “Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother”, and in chapter nine and verse twenty-two of Judges, we begin to learn what happened, “When Abimelech had reigned three years” where we read,

When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,

The verse reads, “When Abimelech had reigned three years …” The writer began with the words, “when Abimelech” which means “at the time and moment Abimelech whose name means ‘Melek is father or my father is king’ and was the son of Gideon by a concubine” “had reigned three years” which means “had ruled, had power over and governed for three annual sets of days”. The writer referred to the time and moment “Abimelech” ruled for three annual sets of days. 

The verse goes on to say, “… over Israel” The writer continued with the words “over Israel” which means “higher than and above Israel whose name means ‘God prevails’ and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”. The writer shared how “Abimelech” had ruled over the people of “Israel” for the three annual sets of days. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how the timing was only “three years” from the moment “Abimelech” began to rule over the people of “Israel”, and we shall see what happens next in the following verse. Let’s just be mindful that there is a time for everything, and God is well aware of what “Abimelech” did and the effect it had upon the people of Israel under his rule. God desires to be the king of all our lives, and He made this possible when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and give us the ability to live according to that truth so that our lives are pleasing to Him regardless of the person who “rules” over us. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Zechariah 14:19; 1 Timothy 6:15)

Next time we learn how, “God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and 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".