The Lord Leads: Judges 8:33-9

Introduction:

In the book The Convection to Lead Albert Mohler subtitles his first chapter in this way, “True Leadership Starts with a Purpose, Not a Plan.” In the ninth chapter he subtitles it, “Leaders are trusted when their lives are in alignment with their convictions.” The principle is this leadership starts with conviction and must be lived out in actions that correspond with that conviction. Ablimelech is indeed a leader, but whether or not he is a good one is for us to decide as we go through this text. Read verses 9:2-6; 16-20 with me asking this question: How does the Bible use Abimelech to tell us of the importance of leadership?

Body:

I. What does Abimelech teach us about forgetfulness? 8:33-35

Exposition:

Spiritual decline strikes yet again after the death of Gideon. Israel, instead of cleaving to and living in light of the redemption that God had brought them, whored after Baals. They were not ignorant of what of God had done, but decided when external restraints were removed to ignore him. They didn’t forget Yahweh, they forsook Him. Not only did they fail to remember their God, but they also were ungrateful for the leader that He used to bring about their deliverance. Though Gideon was by His own merit useless, God used Him to lead His people and give them rest from oppression. What follows will show the nature of this betrayal of Gideon. In what ways do you suppress the truth of God in your life? Are their certain areas in your life that you say are not His? Have there been leaders in your life that have been imperfect, but God used in mighty ways to form you spiritually?

Application:

We are taught in this passage that forgetfulness is easy, swift, and indiscriminate. It is easy in that when restraints are removed we can easily ignore what we know to be true. It is swift in that when it happens the decline in our lives will be swifter than we thought. It is indiscriminate in that it can come to all of us individually and collectively. However, we must remember Jesus is king by being reminded He is king. God has provided means for us to do so. One that is often most ignored or neglected is the idea fellow Christians. We are called to hold one another accountable to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Specifically God appoints leaders in the church to serve fellow members in the pursuit of God. When we have leaders who do this we must thank our God for them. When they are gone we must patiently pray for God to raise some up or send some our way. Let us not hastily put people in positions just because they are willing to do the job.

II. What does Abimelech teach us about carelessness? 9:1-21

Exposition:

1) Consider how Abimelech takes charge in Israel: 1-6

i. Abimelech strolls into his family reunion on his mother’s side. He walks to makes a toast, “Hey, go tell all the leaders in Shechem this, ‘Isn’t it difficult having some many leaders from Gideon’s family? Wouldn’t one ruler be easier? Oh ya, remember y’all I am your kin, so you know who the best choice is.’”

ii. What Abimelech asked his relatives did. The leaders in Shechem responded to Abimelech’s appeal with money out of the house of their pagan god. He went and hired a group of dumb, ruthless thugs, who he took to Gideon’s home town. When they got there they massacred seventy of Abimelech’s half siblings, Gideon’s other sons, on one stone. Only one survieved. After all this the leaders of Shechem made Abimelech king.

2) Consider Jotham’s fable: 7-15—Jotham’s fable is one that confuses many and it is debated on exactly what Jotham is getting at here. Lets read it start in the second part of verse seven (Read 7-15) Rather than discussing each and every step we will focus on the general details. The trees are the people in search of a king, the specific trees they go to are their potential candidates. They start out with optimal choices, but these choices refuse to rule. Then comes the bramble or in some translations thorn-bush. The bramble welcomes them and offers them shade if it is done in good faith, and fire will come upon them if not. Jotham then applies his fable to the current situation in the verses that follow.

3) Consider Jotham’s application: 16-21

i. Jotham now applies the fable to the events of making Abimelech king. Read verse 16 with me [Read it]. These “if” sentences are meant to be a jab to the listeners. They were meant to ask themselves, “Did we act in good faith and blamelessly with making Abimelech king? Did we treat Gideon well?”

ii. In verses 16-18, Jotham reminds them of how Gideon was used to deliver them. Then he says what they did to Gideon’s household in making Abimelech king.

iii. In verses 19-20, we have two more “If” sentences. The first is much like verses 16, but adds a reward if they did in fact act faithfully to Gideon. The second, is a curse if they did not. This curse would both affect the leaders of Shechem who made Abimelech king and Abimelech himself. Both would face dire consequences if what they had done was wrong.

Application:

1) Specifically, we are not to be careless when we choose leaders. This is something that many churches do. We are tempted to pick people who are willing to do the position and not people who are called and therefore equipped for the position. We are tempted to act as if the passages on church leadership in 1 Timothy and Titus don’t actually apply when we select people for those positions today. We must measure a potential leader (i.e. Pastor, Deacon, Trustee, Song Leader, and Sunday School Teacher) by the Scriptures and then decide if they are the ones. The right person at the wrong time is still the wrong person. A person may not be spiritually mature enough for a position right now and putting them in that position would be a mistake, but down the road they may be ready. At that time it is our obligation to put them in that position.

i. In order to be a leader a man must have followers. And to have followers, a man must have their confidence. Hence the supreme quality of a leader is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, on a football field, in an army, or in an office. If a man’s associates find him guilty of phoniness, if they find that he lacks forthright integrity, he will fail. His teachings and actions must square with each other. The first great need, therefore, is integrity and high purpose. - Dwight D. Eisenhower Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.

ii. It is idiotic to pick unqualified people for a job, in fact according to scripture it is immoral.

2) Generally, we are not to be careless in making decisions period. Christians ought to be some of the most informed decision makers on the planet. We are to be informed by the scriptures, interpret other information through their lens. When you look at the life of Jesus you see that He had purpose in everything he thought, said, and did. We must seek to do likewise. Take time this week to think over decisions you have made in the past. Are any of them careless? Confess your carelessness to God and He will forgive you. Take big decisions to Him in prayer and weigh the possible decisions with the Scriptures and then make your decision. However, if a decision has to be made immediately prepare yourself for those situation by being in God’s word regularly and praying to Him constantly, for in doing so you will be more conformed to the image of Christ and are likely to make a better decision.

III. What does Abimelech teach us about consequences? 9:22-57

Exposition:

1) Read verses 23-24 with me [Read it]. This is the backdrop of what is about to take place in the remainder of the story. It is the fulfillment of what Jotham cursed. God is orchestrating the events that follow, in order to punish Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem.

2) Abimelech ruled for three years (22), but the men of Shechem grew tired and made the road ways unsafe for travel (25). This was to make Abimelech’s kingship look weak

3) Gaal in his drunkeness at Baal’s pub started speaking hatefully towards the king. He says, if you the people would follow me I would overthrow this worthless king and his henchman Zebul. Zebul heard this and sent messengers to tell Abimelech. Abimelech came by night as his henchman had told him. He waited their. In the morning Gaal as he walks out from the city to the field sipping his coffee. He sees Abimelech’s men in the shadows of the early morning. Zebul knowing that these are men, plays dumb and says that Gaal is mistaken. Gaal says, “Look, they are moving.” Gaal is then told to put his money where his mouth is by Zebul. This was enough to spur him into a battle he could not win. Abimelech dealt with him swiftly. (26-41)

4) The next day Abimelech punished the city for the actions of Gaal and his followers. He slaughtered the people in the fields and then he took the city of Shechem. He killed everyone. The leaders of Shechem fled to the tower. Abimelech had his men follow his example and set the tower on fire and the leaders died. Jotham’s curse came to pass on the people of Shechem. They made an unfit man king in an unfit way and they were punished. What about Abimelech’s consequences? Continue with me in verse 50-57. (42-49)

5) Apparently, Thebez had also dealt treacherously with Abimelech. He sought to do to them what he had done to Shechem. The people like those in Shechem ran to a tower. Abimelech being the pragmatic man that he was thought to do the same thing to this tower as the one in Shechem. Yet, as he approached to set the blaze, a woman from the roof of the tower dropped a rock on his head. Still living for the moment he asked his assistant to kill for fear of being that guy who, you know, who got killed by a woman. His assistant did as he asked. He killed Abimelech.

6) In verse 56-57 we see that as this portion of the narrative began with God bringing judgement it also ends with it. Follow with me [Read it].

Application: We learn four things about consequences in this portion of the narritive.

1) God judges sin

2) God judges in accord to His time

3) There is no cohesion or fellowship in sin

4) Humiliation comes to the enemies of God and his people

Conclusion:

Ultimately we may conclude from today’s text that Yahweh is the leader we all need, and he provides His people with leaders. It is Him and those he raises up that we should follow. We must remember that it is him who we serve, we must never be careless, we must know there are consequences for sin. From this narrative we also learn that enemies can arise from with in the ranks of the people of God. That there are such things as wolves in sheep clothing. We must discern using the scriptures and prayer. Furthermore, this is one reason the choice of good leaders is important, for you have entrusted them with the stewardship of seeing these said wolves and confronting them. Jesus Christ is our LORD may we as a church push forward with that truth clearly before our eyes and planted deeply in our hearts. It is a church that knows this that by God’s Spirit and Word will raise up good leaders. Let us be a church that submits all things to him and him only.