Day Three--The Punishment of Shechem (Judges 9:42-49)

1/28/2010 7:20 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                    Focus:  Day three—the punishment of Shechem

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                        Reference:  Judges 9:42-49

 

            Message of the verses:  “42  Now it came about the next day, that the people went out to the field, and it was told to Abimelech. 43  So he took his people and divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the field; when he looked and saw the people coming out from the city, he arose against them and slew them. 44  Then Abimelech and the company who was with him dashed forward and stood in the entrance of the city gate; the other two companies then dashed against all who were in the field and slew them. 45  Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and he captured the city and killed the people who were in it; then he razed the city and sowed it with salt. 46  When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith. 47  It was told Abimelech that all the leaders of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48  So Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand and cut down a branch from the trees, and lifted it and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, "What you have seen me do, hurry and do likewise." 49  All the people also cut down each one his branch and followed Abimelech, and put them on the inner chamber and set the inner chamber on fire over those inside, so that all the men of the tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.”

            This chapter in Judges is one of the bloodiest chapters that I have read thus far in my tour through the OT.  I realize that there have been more people killed in earlier chapters and books of the early OT, but for some reason this chapter seems to be worse than the others to me.

            Abimelech is not finished with his killing as he now goes and lies in wait of the people of Shechem in the fields and after dividing his army into thirds he kills the people in the fields then kills the people in the city, and the rest of the people flee to one of their heathen god’s temple where Abimelech kills all of them by burning the temple, (so much for their god protecting them).

            The killing of the people of Shechem by Abimelech has avenged the killing of Gideon’s sons as far as they are concerned, but as far as Abimelech is concerned that will come next.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I am thankful that the wrath of God, for my sins, was taken out on the Lord Jesus Christ while He was on the cross.  Looking at how God avenged the killing of Gideon’s sons shows me that God acts, not always fast in my way of thinking but He will act and someday all wrongs will be made right.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

 

1. Trust the Lord to bring about justice in His own way and in His own time.
2. Trust the Lord to bless our lunch party today with the staff of WCA.  May the name of the Lord be blessed.

 

1/28/2010 7:46 AM