“Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.”
Judges 9:14-15 KJV
After Gideon’s death, Abimelech the son of Gideon’s concubine, assumed leadership and killed all his half-brothers, except Jotham, who spoke a parable to the citizens that all the trees asked first the olive tree, then the fig tree and then the vine to be the king but each refused. Finally all the trees said to the thornbush to come and be their king. Th thornbush said if they put their trust in its shade they can anoint it king, but if not, let fire blaze out of its thorny branches and consume the cedars of Lebanon! The three trees before the thornbush represent the believers enjoying following Christ: the olive tree signifies the oil of anointing of the Holy Spirit; the fig tree is the goodness and sweetness of Christ’s love; and the vine is the joy and cheer that Jesus brings to our lives. A thornbush offers no shade and Abimelech, the thornbush, offered neither shelter nor care to Israel. May the Church not look to the world for shelter and care but let Christ be our sufficiency! Amen!
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