Jotham prophesied and God fulfilled His Word.

1. Abimelech was Gideon's son by a concubine. June 6, 2010

2. 7 And when they told it to Jotham , he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.

3. God used Jotham to call the men of Shechem to repentance. They had chosen a worthless murderer to be their leader . In the United States of America, we have the responsibility of voting for our public leaders. When we choose wrong, we sing a sad song. But God holds us responsible .

4. Jotham prophesied a curse on it all. He used a fable, personifying trees. The trees were the people.

5. 8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. First we see that the people wanted a man to be king over them -- rejecting God . Their neighbors all had men as kings; They wanted to be like their neighbors.

6. 9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? 10 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. 11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? 12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. 13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

7. The major point of Jotham’s parable was that only worthless people seek to lord it over others, for worthy individuals are too busy in useful tasks to seek such places of authority. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty. The olive tree was busy making oil. The fig tree was busy making sweet fruit. The vine was busy making wine.

8. If a Christian doesn’t want to be a servant, then God has no job for him or her. We in the Kingdom of God have no ambition to rule over our brothers and sisters. We want to serve . Every job in God's Kingdom is that of a servant .

9. 14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. 15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon. No good man wanted to rule over them. They went to a worthless man . He would take the job, but he let them know, "If you don't put your trust in my rule, I will destroy you."

10. A thorn bush can provide no shade.

11. So, we see that no good can come from choosing a man to rule over us instead of God . No shade

12. 16 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands; 17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian: 18 And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech , the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)

13. 19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you: God will bless those who deal truly and sincerely with the Lord and His chosen . Enjoy the blessings.

14. In other words, if you know you are doing right in the sight of God, You can look forward to good things to come. It matters not what others think or say.

15. 20 But if not , let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech. Jotham didn't have to do one thing against Shechem or Abimelech. They would destroy each other .

16. Hosea 10 12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till He come and rain righteousness upon you. 13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way , in the multitude of thy mighty men . Proverbs 11:5 … the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 6 …. transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.

17. 21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother. If they had been righteous , Jotham's words would have brought them comfort . But they knew they had done wickedly. Jotham had to run for his life.

18. Let us live wholeheartedly for our Lord, and expect His Blessings. Men make promises they can not keep.