Are We In Our Last Days?
Good Morning Friends,
Today is voting day in Florida with the Presidential primaries. Interestingly, today’s lectionary brings us the first parable in the Bible which is found in the book of Judges. And this parable of the trees is about something beyond the dirty politics of the time. It references the apostasy of ungrateful people. It is about the arrogance of an ungodly leader. And it is about the apathy of an uncommitted people. And as a parable it has a message beyond its surface hidden to protect the teller. So too Jesus told parables about fig trees, vines, olive trees and mustard seeds and the message of them as in today’s text from Judges is one of warning. I do so love the parables of Jesus for they point to just how special we are. Here we discover that our relationship with God is the foundation and cornerstone upon which everything else is built. In their telling one has to wonder if the hint of hope is enough…one has to wonder… Are We In Our Last Days?
Scripture: When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and cried aloud and said to them, ‘Listen to me, you lords of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. The trees once went out to anoint a king over themselves. So they said to the olive tree, “Reign over us.” The olive tree answered them, “Shall I stop producing my rich oil by which gods and mortals are honored, and go to sway over the trees?” Then the trees said to the fig tree, “You come and reign over us.” But the fig tree answered them, “Shall I stop producing my sweetness and my delicious fruit, and go to sway over the trees?” Then the trees said to the vine, “You come and reign over us.” But the vine said to them, “Shall I stop producing my wine that cheers gods and mortals, and go to sway over the trees?” So all the trees said to the bramble, “You come and reign over us.” And the bramble said to the trees, “If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.”
Judges 9:7-15 (NRSV)
When he was alone, those who were around him along with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, ‘To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables; in order that “they may indeed look, but not perceive, and may indeed listen, but not understand; so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.” ‘
Mark 4:10-12 (NRSV)
‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.
Matthew 7:15-20 (NRSV)
But Israel is saved by the Lord with everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity.
Isaiah 45:17 (NRSV)
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:21 (NRSV)
Message: Abimelech was a common name of Philistine kings. Abraham and Sarah had an encounter with the king of Gerar having this name. But the Judges’ parable of the trees has a back story on another Abimelech. This Abimelech’s claim to the throne was on the basis of being a son of Gideon. Gideon had been offered kingship but turned it down. The problem was that the motive for Gideon’s son, Abimelech was ambition and not to serve his people. He wanted to gain power. As a son of Gideon, his name meant “my father is king”, and Abimelech felt he might take the throne his father declined. But there were many other potential contenders. With ruthless efficiency, Abimelech rounded up his 70 brothers, and had them brutally and publicly executed. He was inspired by his father to lead Israel, yet revealed hatred toward his father by murdering his brethren. So you can see the need for a hidden message. When I think about this parable in the light of Jesus’ parables on the Kingdom and in light that we are about to enter Holy Week, I take it as a reminder that perhaps it has a message for us today. Here is the parable of the trees in a nutshell: Each of the trees said “No, I don’t want to lead, let someone else.” So the people turned to the bramble bush for leadership and the bush agreed, and said, “You can rest under my shade.” The irony? It has no shade! So when all the other trees forsook the call of duty, the people settled for what they got. And in this case, it is the triumph of evil all because of the inaction of otherwise good men. It is all a sad commentary on the state of the decline of the Israel. But all is not lost. It was still possible to bring Israel back to God. Samson would turn the tide for a time. The reign of David was to come. But the parable’s message is still true for today, and it means that people will need to rise up from their apathy, and have their prayers and voices heard and today in Florida votes counted. But know this, whatever the election results, there is a bigger story at play beyond the temptation of idolatry and dirty politics. For Abimelech’s Israel as with Jesus’ Israel things had gone from bad to worse, but notice what happens next that causes things to get better. Notice how the story continues and how merciful and gracious God is!
Pray we hear the message of the Bible’s parables. Pray we realize that if we are not willing to be ruled by God, we will be ruled by tyrants. Pray we realize that the theme of Judges is that God would rather forgive than judge. Pray we realize that our inaction can be our end. Pray we tell the difference between what resembles the truth and the real thing. Pray we measure success in the right ways. Pray we have real hope for a brighter future.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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