Today’s passage: Judges 9:42-57
Helpful thoughts:
- The fire that was sparked the previous day is now a full blown blaze. Abimelech captured his own city, killed all his subjects and destroyed the land.
- The tower the people of Shechem ran to for safety was at the temple for the false god “of the covenant” to whom they had committed themselves.
- After Abimelech destroyed his own city, he had to get another one. With these military victories complete, Abimelech was now ready to further his budding empire. But, the capture of Thebez would bring about his death.
- Jotham’s fable has come true, in some ways literally.
Questions to consider:
- In what way does this narrative actually complete Gideon’s narrative? What part did Gideon have in creating the environment within which something like the reign of Abimelech could happen (As short-lived as it was)?
- Did Abimelech save Israel from an evil king? Or was Abimelech the evil king that God saved Israel from after having brought about trouble with their own sinfulness?
- Should we expect things (Life in general) to get more or less complicated as a consequence of sin? How does walking in righteousness and repenting when we sin give clarity, light and direction? How has God made our paths straight?