Today's Reading Is Judges 9:

Was Abimelech a legitimate son of Israel or a bastard? Why does the author of Judges make a point to reference Gideon by his surname and not his true name in association with Abimelech as his son? (v.1)

Hebrews 12:5–9 (NKJV)

5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?

Isn't it so that Gideon would be honored for what he did for the glory of God rather than the results of the sins he had done for himself like fathering Abimelech absent from the truth?

What do the events that transpire among and between Abimelech and the elders of Shechem say about their faith and attitude toward the spiritual history of Shechem and the testimony of Gideon? (v.2)

Doesn't this testify that none of these parties knew neither God nor Gideon's love for the covenant of Israel?

How were the elders of Shechem already sold out to idolatry before Abimelech won their hearts to make him a king over Israel? (v.4)

Why is this so baffling for this to have occurred in the heart of Israel and at the very heart of Abraham's faith, which is the foundation of Israel's covenant? (v.6)

Was it a truthful statement for Abimelech to accuse his seventy brothers of ruling over Shechem and Israel? Is that the legacy that Gideon sought to leave behind? (v.2)

Judges 8:33–35 (NKJV)

33 So it was, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals and made Baal-Berith their god. 34 Thus, the children of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side; 35 nor did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal (Gideon) in accordance with the good he had done for Israel.

Therefore it was clear that Abimelech had a secret ambition to make himself king by impersonating his father's honor and reputation. (v.3, 18)

And therefore, how were the men of Shechem easy prey since they were already "inclined" to follow him? (v.4)

What were they worshiping by joining Baal to Abraham's covenant? Baal-Berith means "Lord of the Covenant." But didn't the covenant already have both a God and a Lord? Therefore this was a total rejection of Yahweh and the Law. That's what made these hired men who followed Abimelech so worthless and reckless. (v.5)

John 10:7–15 (NKJV)

7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

Where was God's glory in any of these actions and ambitions? (v.6)

Who was able to put them all to the test? (v.7-21)

If Abimelech's mother was a slave of Gideon, what gave him the ambition to kill Gideon's house if there was no malice rooted in his heart? Since Shechem was the gateway into Israel, what did she serve there as Gideon's slave outside of his household in Ophrah?

How is the author of Judges describing the three-year reign of Abimelech as one of the enemies of God that tormented the sons of Israel in the days before the true kings that God had anointed? (v.22)

How does Jotham's curse become a reality? (v.23-24)

How does Beelzebub divide and destroy every kingdom of men? (v.25-57)

Luke 11:14–28 (NKJV)

14 And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. 15 But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons." 16 Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. 17 But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. 18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. 19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. 22 But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. 23 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters. 24 "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' 25 And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first." 27 And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!" 28 But He said, "More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

Therefore what was the evil spirit that led these men to self-destruct? (v.23, 27)

How did this evil spirit demonstrate itself in the ambition of these men? (v.29, 46, 50)

What made these men think they were better or more deserving to rule than the other wicked men? Weren't they all just deceivers fighting over the same position to rule over each other? Was it worth it all? (v.31, 46, 49)

Matthew 15:14 (NKJV)

14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."

What is Christ to the righteous? (v.51-53, 56-57)

Psalm 61:1–5 (NKJV)

1 Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. 4 I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah 5 For You, O God, have heard my vows; You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name.

Proverbs 18:10–11 (NKJV)

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. 11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem.