Judges 9:1–10:5 “The One who redeems me from myself”
The King of Peace has come to us.
There is power in His word.
The King of Peace has come to us.
Today’s passage tells the story of Abimelech, the son of Gideon, who made himself king. In Abimelech’s desire to rule, we see our own reflection. Don’t we also try to be king? Don’t we try to be the masters of our own lives? Don’t we often choose to live by our own will?
The people of Shechem and the whole house of Millo crowned Abimelech king at Shechem. But let us remember what Shechem represented in Israel’s history. It was at Shechem that God appeared to Abraham and promised to give him the land, and Abraham built an altar to worship the Lord. It was at Shechem that Jacob returned to his homeland and declared, “Now I will serve only the Lord.” It was at Shechem that Joshua and the people, after crossing the Jordan, gathered to worship in the promised land for the first time.
So Shechem was a spiritual center. It was the place where God’s people declared, “We will worship only the Lord. He alone is our King.” And yet, in this very place, Abimelech crowned himself king.
The only surviving son of Gideon, Jotham, went up Mount Gerizim and told the people of Shechem a parable about the trees. In his story, the olive tree, the fig tree, and the vine—all essential, fruitful trees in Israel’s economy—were asked to be king. But each one refused. The olive tree said, “Shall I give up my oil that honors God and man?” The fig tree said, “Shall I give up my fruit that delights God and man?” The vine said, “Shall I give up my wine that cheers God and man?” These trees knew their purpose: to bear fruit and glorify God.
Finally, the trees turned to the thornbush. The thornbush said, “Come and take refuge in my shade.” But a thornbush has no shade. Anyone who comes near is only scratched and pierced. The story seems almost absurd, yet it mirrors our own lives when we try to rule as kings ourselves.
From Mount Gerizim, Jotham spoke this parable. It is significant, because in Deuteronomy, before Israel entered Canaan, Moses gathered the people at Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal. He preached his final sermon: “If you obey the Lord, blessing. If you disobey, curse.” But we know from Scripture that Israel did not obey. They fell into judgment and curse.
And this is why Jesus came. He became the atoning sacrifice. He bore the curse. He carried our sin. He opened the way for us to become children of God. Even when all of Israel was trapped in sin, as we see in today’s passage, God did not give up. He raised up a new judge—Tola.
There is something unique about Tola. In Judges, every other judge is described as delivering Israel from someone: from Midian, from Jabin, from the Philistines. But with Tola, the text simply says, “He saved Israel.” Saved them from whom? From themselves. From their own self-rule.
In the same way, Jesus saves us from ourselves. He is the King of peace. He saves us from our own failures, from our own desires, from the judgment and curse we deserve. Jesus is our King, our Shepherd, even now.
So let me ask: Do you confess Him as King? Do you remain in Him? Do you follow Him? Are you living under His blessing and grace? Or are you still trying to be the master of your own life?
Let us long for His grace. Let us hunger for His mercy. For He bore all our sin to give us true peace and true grace. May our lives confess this: “Lord, be the King of my life.” May we walk in obedience and trust, following Him alone.
