THE LESSONS OF THE PAST

IS THE PROPHECY FOR OUR FUTURE

     There are some real horrific stories in the history of Israel. Every time Israel defied the method GOD ordained for the nation’s safety and imitated the world around them, with its customs and generally immoral behavior, great injustices always resulted among the children of Israel. Among the leading stumbling blocks dealt with Israel’s demand for a king to rule throughout the land. The danger here is simple: through Satan’s deceiving of the king he can deceive the multitude. And thus, in the history of the kings on Earth we see the constant rise and fall of kingdoms. 

      In the days of the judges of Israel (c. 1380 BC to 1045 BC) a sinister plot was enacted by a self-serving thug named Abimelech to secure a throne for himself. He hired a group of immoral scoundrels and murdered his own father’s house of seventy brothers to receive his throne. But one escaped, a man named Jotham. Jotham went to the people who had made Abimelech king and gave a lesson that has its counterpart today: 

     And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem. 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. The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. 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. Jud.9:6-15. 

     Historically, men have always turned away from the superior in favor of the inferior. There is no logic in this, nor ethical moral.  It is simply the power of sin over the soul and the temptations of devils that always leads to a harmful outcome.  And the other great lesson from this parable of Jotham is its conclusion. To allow one to rule whose morals are unfit to lead his own life let alone other’s is to feel the brunt of that immorality should an attempt be made to remove the abusive behavior. 

     Enter Jesus Christ. The manner of His rule is the antithesis of sinful man’s. Under His authority a new life awaits every believer in His Gospel. The promises of everlasting life, joy and tranquility are the mainstays of faith for those who are always facing trouble in their lives here in this world. And the more we see the abuse of this world the more we appreciate the promises of the LORD Jesus Christ. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Jn.16:33.