The Book of Judges

 The Book of Judges was taught by Dr. James Modlish

 

Judges 9:1-57

 

Introduction:

The chapter introduces a variety of unusual truths: Abimelech, a type of the antichrist; Jotham, a type of the two witnesses; the parable of the trees; Gaal, a type of the false prophet and the eternal principle of sowing and reaping.

 

I. Abimelech, the murderer (vs. 1-6)

A. Abimelech is the son of a concubine of Gideon (8:31); consequently, he is a usurper and has no legal right of heirship, and so he determines to steal it by deceit and murder.

B. He goes to the in-laws' house where he knew there was a certain level of animosity toward the house of his father. Judas went to "religious" Israel because they hated the house of the father of Jesus Christ.

C. Hiring "vain and light persons" has always been a trick of the devil. (2 Chron. 13:7; Matt. 26:59-62)

D. The primary preoccupation of Satan is to destroy the valuable seed, whether it be human or the Word of God. (I Peter 1:23; Rev. 12:13)
 

II. Jotham, the prophet (vs. 7-21)

A. Jotham, the true seed, stands on Mt. Gerizim, a place of blessing, to deliver his speech. (Deut. 11:29; 27:12; Josh. 8:33)

B. Trees are a type of men and nations. (Mark 11:12-14; 8:24; Isa. 56:12,13)

C. Three valuable trees refuse the role of king and in so doing, recognize that God is king and should remain that way. Remember, Gideon was a judge, but refused to be a king (8:23). Man wants any king but God. Notice the bramble is capable of fire. (Rev. 13:13)

III. Abimelech's problems (vs. 22-29)

A. Evil spirits are frequently sent from God to mess with those who have rejected truth. (1 Kings 22:20-23; Eze. 14:7-11; 1 Sam. 16:23, 18:10; 19:9; 2 Thess. 2:7-12)

B. Men who put their confidence in man are fickle and subjected to constant change. If one man becomes an usurper there will always be another waiting in the shadows to dethrone the first. (Psa. 118:18)

IV. Abimelech's hollow victory (vs. 30-49)

A. Gaal had trouble at first identifying the ambush (vs. 36) because his own heart was filled with greed. (Prov. 15:27)

B. Zebul says in effect (vs. 38), "'Hey, big mouth, it's time to go out and back up your boast." Abimelech is no better than Gaal, but the entire occasion reminds us of how cheap talk is. Christianity is filled with people who love to talk about doing great things for God, but in reality only want preeminence. (3 Jn. 9)

C. Abimelech and Gaal should be allies, but ultimately are enemies which pictures the antichrist and false prophet. (Rev. 17:16)

D. Notice the bramble (vs. 15) burns his enemies as Jotham prophesied.

V. Abimelech's conclusion (vs. 50-57)

A. It's more than coincidental that it's a piece of millstone that does Abimelech in. God pictures the destruction of Babylon with an angel casting a great millstone into the sea. (Rev. 18:21)

B. So far in Judges, two types of the antichrist, Sisera and Abimelech, are finished off by women. (Rev. 19:20)

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