This is a part of a sermon series on the book of Judges. You can watch more here.
I am not sure if you have heard but our country is getting really close to electing a new president of the United States. And some people have different opinions about who should and shouldn’t be president.
I have heard that sometimes, even within a family or a church family, there can be people who love Jesus, but have different opinions about who should be president, so that sometimes we see friction in those relationships and even hostility in our own soul, because we think to ourselves, “How could you vote for that person!”
In our passage this morning we get to zoom in on some family challenges that could apply to some of the challenges we have in our day, so let’s start with Judges 8, verses 4-5:
Judges 8:4-5, “4 Then Gideon and the 300 men who were with him came to the Jordan and crossed over, weary yet pursuing. 5 He said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who are following me, for they are weary, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”
If you are new this morning, we are teaching through Judges in the Old Testament. The book of Judges takes place in the early part of Israel’s history. These judges aren’t judicial leaders as much as they are military leaders, so that in Judges chapters 1-2 we see the introduction, chapter 3 we see Ehud, chapter 4 we see Deborah, and in chapter 5 we see a song, and in chapters 6-7 we see Gideon who is a bit of a reluctant leader.
Do you remember how we met Gideon? Israel is being oppressed by a wicked and perverse people known as Midianites. As a result, Gideon is hiding from the Midianites until the Lord calls Gideon up to lead Israel into battle with only 300 soldiers. Remember?
Gideon started with 32K, then 10K, and with 300 soldiers Gideon is victorious, so that in verses 4-5 we see Gideon chasing after these Midianite kings Zebah and Zalmunna. Have I lost you yet?
I know there are a lot of details, but trying to give us context, because Succoth, are Israelite towns, so that in verses 1-5 Gideon is not only picking fights with these Midianite kings but Gideon is also picking fights with his own people. Jump down to verse 8:
Judges 8:8, “8 He went up from there to Penuel and spoke similarly to them; and the men of Penuel answered him just as the men of Succoth had answered.”
In verse 8 Gideon is picking a fight with the people of Penuel who are also Israelites. Are you starting to see a pattern? You know when people make that comment, “It’s not you, it’s me.” This definitely applies to Gideon. Jump down to verses 16-17:
Judges 8:16-17, “16 He took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and he disciplined the men of Succoth with them. 17 He tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.”
Gideon at this point is well outside of the Lord’s purpose in his life and Gideon is taking matters into his own hand, so that Gideon is killing his own people. Look at verse 18:
Judges 8:18, “18 Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?” And they said, “They were like you, each one resembling the son of a king.”
In verse 18 we see a little background of what’s been going on in Gideon’s life. These Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna, were responsible for killing Gideon’s brothers. Does that make sense?
In fact, this is probably why Gideon is hiding in the barn back in Judges 6, because Gideon has seen horrible things happen to his family and now Gideon is seeking vengeance. I think this is where we get the phrase, “Hurt people, hurt people.” Gideon is chasing down these Midianite kings and seeking not only vengeance, but also taking out his pain on his own people in the process.
This is just a side note, over the next week we are going to see a lot of updates on the election. As people we are highly influential and by now we know 99% of the media is to stir up fear and chaos.
As earthly citizens we have a responsibility to vote and participate in our election system. Read up on their policies. Pray for wisdom, so that with a clear conscience we can participate and vote.
But in our heavenly citizenship, by grace through faith in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, we need to remember that our highest allegiance is to Jesus, so that no matter what happens we keep pointing our heads and our hearts to trust in the Lord. Amen? Jump down to verses 32-33:
Judges 8:32-33, “32 And Gideon the son of Joash died at a ripe old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 33 Then it came about, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the sons of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-berith their god.”
In Judges 8 we see that Gideon isn’t the hero of the story. In fact, Gideon gets distracted by the things of this world, so that verses 18-31 we see Gideon and Israel going back and forth in internal fighting with one another until Gideon dies, so that in verse 33 the sons of Israel turn from the Lord again, and the whole process starts over.
Do you remember our cycle? Do you remember in Judges 6 how Israel is (#1) worshipping the idols of this world? The Lord brings judgment through the Midianites (#2). The people of Israel cry out to the Lord in repentance (#3). The Lord raises up Gideon (#4) and for a period of time there is peace (#5). Praise God! Until the process starts all over again in verse 33. Did you see that?
Judges 8:33, “33 Then it came about, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the sons of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-berith their god.”
There are two quick points of observation before we get to Judges 9. First, in the life of Gideon we see an example of polygamy (multiple wives.) We didn’t read it but in verse 29 we see Gideon has “70 sons and many wives” which means Gideon is deeply involved in polygamy.
Often times people will look at God’s Word, see key people involved in polygamy and conclude, “I guess God’s Word supports polygamy?” No, if we go to Genesis 2 we will clearly see God’s Word describing marriage as one husband and one wife. In addition, Jesus references Genesis 2 in marriage as one husband and one wife.
Yes, throughout the Old Testament we will see key people involved in polygamy but that isn’t what God wants. There are a lot of things that happen in the lives of key people in the Bible that isn’t what God wants. If God crushed everyone who lived unholy lives we would have a really short Bible, right?
There is only one hero in God’s Word. There is only One who lives a perfect life. His name is Jesus. All of Scripture, Genesis to Revelation, is to point people to the hope we have in Jesus.
Second, in the life of Gideon we see a life like our own. Did you notice in Judges 6-8 we see ups and downs in the life of Gideon? In the life of Gideon, we see someone who has sweet moments with the Lord and someone who wanders from the Lord.
In the same way, we long to see those sweet moments with the Lord but we know when we are in the right place, at the right time, and in the right circumstances we will see the worst parts of ourselves exposed, so that in the life of Gideon we see the God of Scripture is the great redeemer.
Did you know Gideon is mentioned in Hebrews 11 as a great man of faith? God loves to take our worst moments upon Himself and give us His glory! He’s the great redeemer. We get swept up in the political rhetoric. We get ambushed with emotions and in those moments, we will think to ourselves, “I have ruined that relationship.”
It is one thing to get beat up by the world but what about those moments when we are beat up by those who are closest to us? It’s in those moments we need to remember He is the great redeemer.
He invites us to turn to Him. He invites us confess our sins, our failures, our flaws, so that He might take our sin. Listen to me, this is the gospel, Jesus takes our sin, and by grace through faith in Jesus, Jesus gives us His righteousness. He’s the great redeemer! Amen? Let’s look at Judges 9, verses 1-2 to see those these passages connect:
Judges 9:1-2, “1 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s relatives, and spoke to them and to the whole clan of the household of his mother’s father, saying, 2 “Speak, now, in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you?’ Also, remember that I am your bone and your flesh.”
I know we are going fast, so you might have missed this but Abimelech is Gideon’s son from a concubine and in verses 1-2 Abimelech is going to the people of Shechem and asking, “Wouldn’t you rather have one person rule over you now that Gideon is gone?”
Typically, at this point in the cycle we would see a foreign nation rise up (#2) and bring judgment on Israel but in Judges 9 we are going to see the judgment takes place from within. Does that make sense?
It’s so easy for us to always be on the lookout for the enemy out there but in Judges 9 we see God’s Word reminding us of the enemy that is right in front of us through friends and family. Look at verses 5-6:
Judges 9:5-6, “5 Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. 6 All the men of Shechem and all Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar which was in Shechem.”
In case I lost you. Gideon had 70 children. One of them from a concubine. His name is Abimelech and Abimelech takes the passing of his father as an opportunity to kill his brothers.
Just in case you were getting discouraged about the friends and family in your life, think of Abimelech and remember, “It’s not that bad.” Yet! In verse 5 we see Jotham, one of the sons of Gideon hide and then the people of Shechem and Beth-millo come together to place Abimelech as their king.
Now, this might not jump of the page to you but there’s no monarchy in Israel at this point. It is the Lord who is king of kings in Israel but the people of Israel have drifted from the Lord so deeply that they are looking from within to put all their hope in an earthly ruler named Abimelech.
Now, I know it’s hard to imagine that a people would turn from the Creator of all things and put all our hope in an earthly ruler, Republicans or Democrats, but sometimes it happens! Spoiler alert! This isn’t going to go well for Abimelech or Israel. Jump down to verses 19-21:
Judges 9:19-21, “19 if then you have dealt in truth and integrity with Jerubbaal and his house this day, rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. 20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and consume the men of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem and from Beth-millo, and consume Abimelech. 21 Then Jotham escaped and fled, and went to Beer and remained there because of Abimelech his brother.”
This could be a little confusing, but if you read verses 7-18 we see Jotham, the brother of Abimelech who survives, returns to deliver a rebuke on Abimelech and the people of Shechem and Beth-millo.
Remember, these are all Israelites fighting with one another. This is the moment at the Thanksgiving meal where the uncle stands up and says, “I got a problem!” In verses 7-18 Jotham delivers a rebuke in the form of a parable around trees and a thorn bush, and I will give you a hint, “Abimelech is the thorn bush!”
You know in those moments when the family member is talking about something really horrible in the family but everyone knows who they are talking about? This is verses 7-18. The olive, fig and vine are the good people in the story but there is this one nasty bramble that is worthless.
A bramble was basically a thorn bush that wasn’t good for anything other than combusting into flames and endangering the other trees in the area, so that in verses 19-21 Jotham is warning the people of Israel, “Be careful siding with Abimelech.”
If you think Abimelech is great, then great, but if not, fire is coming and then in verse 21 Jotham drops the mic and grabs a beer! We will get to application in a second. Let’s look at these last few verses to bring Judges 9 to a close. Look at verses 22-24:
Judges 9:22-24, “22 Now Abimelech ruled over Israel three years. 23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 24 so that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.”
I know the Bible is outdated and doesn’t relate to the challenges we have in our day. I know it’s hard to imagine two groups of people fighting back and forth, villainizing one another about who should and shouldn’t be in charge. But, there are three quick points of observation for us to hold onto in Judges 9.
First, God’s timing is different than our timing. In Judges 9 we see Jotham wanted justice and yet on the surface it looks like nothing happens. Abimelech wanted position and power and he gets it for 3 years until finally the internal conflict begins to break down between Abimelech and Shechem, so that God’s timing is different than our timing.
In our mind, we want immediate consequences. We see Judges 8 where Gideon lived to be a ripe old age after killing all those people and it doesn’t make sense.
Right now, we have allegations against the CEO of Abercrombie with sex trafficking. Allegations against P. Diddy. Politicians making millions in office, so that it’s easy to think, “Where is God’s justice?”
In those moments, we need to remember God’s timing is different than our timing. Romans 1 teaches us that God will hand us over to our sinful desires, but it doesn’t always happen when we want and the way that we want, and we see that in the life of Abimelech.
Jotham tells the people if they follow Abimelech they are going to get burned and at the end of Judges 9 those towns are caught on fire, it just didn’t happen immediately. At the beginning of Judges 9 Abimelech kills his brothers with a stone and at the end of Judges 9 Abimelech is crushed with a stone, but it took a little longer than we want. Sometimes Ananias and Saphira drop dead immediately for lying in Acts 5. Sometimes we have to wait but the focus in the life of Abimelech is to trust in the Lord and His timing.
Second, it’s possible some of us are thinking about that evil spirit in verse 22. What’s up with that? You need to know this isn’t God bringing about evil but more so God allowing the heart of Abimelech to come to the surface, so that which is hidden in darkness would come into the light. Does that make sense?
2 Thessalonians describes God as the “Great Restrainer.” It’s that He is literally holding back the evil of our day at the global level, national level, and our relationships with one another, so that in Judges 9 God is reminding us that we will see injustice and it will not go unnoticed.
Lastly, thinking of our relationships with one another during this election season we need to remember, if someone shows no fear in sinning with you, they will show no fear sinning against you. Do you see that in Judges 8-9? It’s pain upon pain. It’s darkness upon darkness.
It’s foolish to pick fights with our friends, family, and church family, therefore, when we see one another sinning against others we can be sure that they will sin against us in time.
If people will run down others for political positions they will run you down. If people will run down other churches they will run down our church. If people will run down other pastors, how long till they are slandering me?
The quality of our relationships with one another makes a difference. Guarding against media frenzy matters. Taking a posture that we don’t have all the answers matters. Judges 9 makes it really clear that our relational lives can look just like Gideon and Abimelech, therefore, we chase after healthy relationships with one another.
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