Judges 9 -- First Attempt At A King

What a rough chapter!  Gideon had been used by God to help his nation, but his son Abimelech tried to rule by force after his death and really made a mess!  He broke so many commandments in his quest for power – coveting, idolatry, and murder were the worst but not the only ones!

 

“He was his own god, and he had no interest in God’s will for the nation,” my commentary said.  He coaxed the leaders of Shechem into helping him murder the rest of Gideon’s 70 sons, except Jotham who escaped.  “Abimelech was actually trying to wrest the kingdom away from God and the Lord permitted him to have a measure of success.  But God was still on the throne and would see to it that man’s selfish purposes would be frustrated,” my commentary added.

 

God did this by sending an evil spirit to make trouble between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and an evil spirit to punish the leaders of Shechem. 

 

Gaal, another wannabe leader, led the people of Shechem to revolt against the man they’d placed in power, but Abimelech wiped them all out.  Then he headed to Thebez to put down rebellion there as well.  Intending to burn the leaders in their tower as he had done in Shechem, Abimelech made the mistake of getting too close, and a woman killed him by heaving a large millstone onto his head.  “In that way, God punished Abimelech for all the evil he had done to his father by killing his 70 brothers,” the Bible says.

 

The young nation of Israel was still fractured by tribal loyalties, and the desire for a king had been planted.  God did not desire this for them, for He intended to be their only king.  They couldn’t see what a good thing they had, and wouldn’t, until they lost it.

 

Father, it’s terrible that You set apart people and then evil invades, trying its best to keep You from ruling.  But You are God and You are sovereign.  Please work mightily in my family to keep evil out and to allow us to see You as our only King.

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford