A Nation Torn Asunder

INTRODUCTION

I invite you to open your copy of God’s Word and find Judges chapter 9. What we’re going to see this morning is the nation—the tribes—of Israel spiraling further and further into chaos and decay—even into civil war. It’s, really, the darkest chapter of Judges that we’ve seen yet.

But, what we also see in Judges 9 is the sovereign and providential hand of God—even in the chaos—working all things toward His glory, His purposes, and for the ultimate good of His people.

The 17th century Puritan, Stephen Charnock, said, “Providence is mysterious because God’s ways are above our human methods. Dark providences are often a smoldering groundwork laid for some excellent design that God is about to reveal.” (“Divine Providence” // Foreword // xix)

So, we’re going to walk through Judges 9 this morning—we’re not going to read every verse—but I want you to see how this chapter plays out like a movie—or a Shakespearean play.

Before we get to chapter nine, though, we need to back up into chapter eight and see, again, the background (???).

After Gideon’s death, Israel’s spiritual drift deepened into open covenant failure as they turned again to Baal and forgot the Lord who had delivered them. Gideon left behind seventy sons from many wives, but Abimelech—his son by a concubine from Shechem—positioned himself as a rival claimant to leadership. That fractured legacy, combined with Israel’s idolatry and unfaithfulness, sets the stage for the violent power struggle that erupts in Judges 9.

And, now, we get to chapter nine, and the first scene of this tragedy…

SCENE 1: BLOODTHIRSTY BETRAYAL Judges 9:1-6

Judges 9:1–6 “Now Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal (Gideon) went to Shechem to his mother’s relatives and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother’s family, “Say in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.” And his mother’s relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.” And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, who followed him. And 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. And all the leaders of Shechem came together, and all Beth-millo, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem.”

There’s a lot happening in this introduction to the Abimelech tragedy…several little details we need to unpack…this story opens on a very spiritually dark note.

“Jerubbaal”—not Gideon. Remember, this name means “the whom Baal contends/fights with.” Gideon is dead…now Baal is worshipped again. It looks like Baal has won.

More signs that Baal has won—Shechem

Shechem—This location is enormously important. Joshua renewed the covenant there. Joshua buried Joseph there. Joshua called Israel to choose the Lord there. Now Baal is worshiped there.

The places that were once devoted to YHWH—now a town that is the center of Baal worship.

Baal-berith—our covenant is with Baal, now.

Abimelech’s conspiracy—Almost like Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” was taking straight from the pages of Judges 9.

Lady Macbeth—"Look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under't."

Given the 70 pieces of silver, hires these worthless and reckless men, and they slaughter his brothers…except for one.

SCENE 2: THE LONE SURVIVOR Judges 9:7-21

After escaping Abimelech’s massacre, Jotham stood on Mount Gerizim and told a parable about trees looking for a king. In the story, the fruitful trees refused the position, but the worthless bramble eagerly accepted it, exposing Abimelech as an unworthy ruler and warning that his reign would ultimately bring destruction to both himself and the people who had chosen him.

Look what he says to him…

Judges 9:16–21 ““Now therefore, if you acted in good faith and integrity when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house and have done to him as his deeds deserved— for my father fought for you and risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian, and you have risen up against my father’s house this day and have killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the leaders of Shechem, because he is your relative— if you then have acted in good faith and integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the leaders of Shechem and from Beth-millo and devour Abimelech.” And Jotham ran away and fled and went to Beer and lived there, because of Abimelech his brother.”

The very next scene is the beginning of the fulfillment of this prophetic word.

SCENE 3: THE REVOLT Judges 9:22-25

Judges 9:22–25 “Abimelech ruled over Israel three years. And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers. And the leaders of Shechem put men in ambush against him on the mountaintops, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way. And it was told to Abimelech.”

The first mention of God in this story.

God sent an evil spirit???

SCENE 4: A NATION TORN APART Judges 9:26-29

So, this guy named Gaal comes into Shechem and begins to win the confidence of the people, stirring them up to rebel against Abimelech by questioning his authority and challenging Abimelech’s right hand man, Zebul’s, loyalty.

Judges 9:29 “‘Would that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech. I would say to Abimelech, ‘Increase your army, and come out.’”

SCENE 5: THE MASSACRE Judges 9:30-49

After hearing of Gaal’s rebellion, Zebul, the governor of Shechem and a loyal supporter of Abimelech, secretly warned Abimelech and helped set a trap for him. Abimelech defeated Gaal’s forces in battle, drove Gaal and his followers out of Shechem, and reasserted his control over the city.

Judges 9:42–45 “On the following day, the people went out into the field, and Abimelech was told. He took his people and divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. And he looked and saw the people coming out of the city. So he rose against them and killed them. Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city, while the two companies rushed upon all who were in the field and killed them. And Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city and killed the people who were in it, and he razed the city and sowed it with salt.”

After the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard what Abimelech had done to the city, they fled for safety into the stronghold of the temple of El-berith. But their refuge quickly became a trap. Abimelech led his men up Mount Zalmon, cut down branches from the trees, and instructed his army to do the same, preparing for a devastating assault on those hiding inside.

Judges 9:49 “So every one of the people cut down his bundle and following Abimelech put it against the stronghold, and they set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the Tower of Shechem also died, about 1,000 men and women.”

SCENE 6: WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND Judges 9:50-56

After destroying Shechem, Abimelech marched against the nearby city of Thebez, but when the people fled into a strong tower and secured themselves inside, he was forced to lay siege to the tower.

Judges 9:52–57 “And Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire. And a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull. Then he called quickly to the young man his armor-bearer and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ ” And his young man thrust him through, and he died. And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, everyone departed to his home. Thus God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers. And God also made all the evil of the men of Shechem return on their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.”

As we come to the end of this terrible saga, I think two things are clear: 1) there are no “winners” here—everybody loses and the nation of Israel is left with deep scars; 2) things are not as chaotic and hopeless as they appear to be on the surface.

This passage teaches us a few things that I want us to unpack for the remainder of our time. The first truth that I think we glean from this story is that…

1) SPIRITUAL DECLINE ALWAYS LEADS TO MORAL & SOCIETAL DECAY

We’re in week 9/chapter 9 of this series and oh how we’ve seen Israel spiral. In chapter one they are seeking after the Lord—asking him, who shall go up for us now that Joshua is dead? And we started this book seeing the unity and cohesiveness of the tribes of Israel.

And, now, it seems to have all unraveled. And time and time again we’ve seen Israel turning away from YHWH—the Lord God who loves them, who rescued them out of Egypt, who has fought for them, provided for them, led them, made them his covenant people.

It’s a sad significance that the covenant name, “YHWH,” is not used anywhere in chapter 9. Sure, “God” is used a couple of times but it’s the generic name for gods or divine beings—“Elohim.”

Nowhere in Judges 9 is the covenant name said. Nowhere in Judges 9 is YHWH worshipped. Nowhere in Judges 9 is YHWH consulted. Nowhere in Judges 9 does YHWH speak. Nowhere in Judges 9 is there any acknowledgment of YHWH’s power and victory.

Israel has abandoned the LORD. They are “whoring” after other gods…that’s not just a crude verb the author decided to use. The people have committed spiritual adultery. They have made a covenant with Baal. And they have spiraled into decay—morally, societally, in every way you can imagine.

Listen…this week we celebrate the 250th birthday of our nation and we see this in our own land. I’m not saying that America serves the same purpose as Israel or that all of God’s promises and work toward Israel is what God does toward America but the Bible says that the nation whose God is the Lord is a blessed nation.

2) WE REAP WHAT WE SOW

On a family level

The seeds one generation plants and cultivates will come to full bloom in the next generation.

Parents—what a timely word for us.

On a national level

We get the leaders we deserve. Power hungry. Conspiracies. Political corruption. And, we’re so guilty of looking to “kings” politically for hope and for peace because the good and just rule of God is not good enough for us.

The judges are representative of the spiritual condition of the nation.

Abimelech “appoints” himself…or so we think.

3) GOD’S WILL RULES OVER THE CHAOS

Nothing is outside of the providential sovereignty of God.

The Main Point: Even in chaos God’s sovereignty and providence are working all things for His glory, His purposes, and our ultimate good.

A family that is divided and life seems chaotic—God is ruling over over all.

I think John Piper is very helpful in how he explains the difference between God’s sovereignty and His providence. Sovereignty is God’s absolute right and power to do whatever He decides. Providence is the active outworking of that power—the purposeful, wise, and loving way God governs His creation to achieve His ultimate goals. (https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/are-gods-providence-and-gods-sovereignty-the-same)

Listen, be reminded this morning that our God is ALL POWERFUL

The all powerful one who created all things is the all powerful one who preserves all things, who governs all things, who upholds all things.

He uses even the evil for His purposes—sending the evil spirit.

Be reminded this morning that our God is ALL KNOWING

Our God governs the world and the affairs of men with infinite and perfect knowledge. He knows the secret intentions and thoughts of every human heart.

Not only does God govern the world, he governs and directs the hearts of mankind.

Proverbs 21:1 “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.”

The “evil spirit.”

Be reminded this morning that our God is PERFECT IN PATIENCE

The evil and the corruption and the slaughter of this text…and in the world today.

The Bible says that God is “long suffering” and “slow to anger.” That means that only he can bear with the evil and the wrongs of wicked men and women. Otherwise the world would not continue for a moment.

He is restraining evil and he is restraining his wrath.

Because he is perfect in patience he rules with providential mercy.

Be reminded this morning that our God is HOLY and RIGHTEOUS

What this story reminds us of AGAIN and what we’re reminded of throughout this entire book and the entire bible and throughout all of human history—all leaders are flawed. Power corrupts.

Abimelech’s story is a perfect reminder that without righteousness, there is confusion and there is disorder and there is evil.

We’re left at the end of this story wondering—Can any good can come out of this?

I think the answer to this is found in the last 5 verses of this chapter.

A woman crushes his head.

Everyone departed to his home.

God returned the evil of Abimelech—on his head—and made all the evil of the men of Shechem return on their heads.

There’s a day coming very soon when the good and gracious and victorious and rightful king is coming—not an imposter king and not a king who conspires and manipulates his way into power. No…a king who has ALL POWER in heaven and on earth. A king who isn’t coming to divide nations but to heal the nations.

A king who laid down his life for you—even while you were dead in your sin, an enemy of God, and fully deserving of His wrath.

A king who has crushed the head of the enemy by his death on the cross and his defeat of death by rising from the dead.

The good news is that this King is Jesus. He he did not come to take life, but to give His life. He died on the cross for our sins, rose again on the third day, and today He offers forgiveness, peace with God, and eternal life to everyone who will repent and believe in Him. If you've never trusted Christ, don't keep trying to rule your own life like Abimelech did. Surrender to the true King. Turn from your sin, place your faith in Jesus alone, and be saved. Today can be the day your story changes forever.