In his recital of the parable of the trees in Judges 9, Jotham caused a ray of light to shine in the midst of the darkness. God does not leave Himself without testimony; this we may reiterate with confidence, as we pass through difficult times. And should there be, as here, only a single witness left for God in this world, may we be that one — that despised Jotham, the last of all, but standing steadfast for God. Preserved by the providential goodness of Jehovah, “he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim” (Judg. 9:77And 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. (Judges 9:7)). Moses, in the past, had decreed that six tribes should stand on Mount Ebal to curse and six on Gerizim to bless. Joshua had remembered this when the people entered Canaan, but since then Israel had morally chosen Ebal, the place of cursing. Jotham chose Gerizim, the place of blessing, and he stood there alone. As God’s witness, in face of the whole people, he lifted up his voice and spoke a parable in their ears, proclaiming the blessing of faith and also the consequences of the unfaithfulness of the people. Jotham, in his own person, is the representative of the blessings of the true Israel of God; as to himself, he was feeble and persecuted, yet able to enjoy the favor of God and testify for Him, bearing fruit to His glory.
Greatness and Power
In his recital, three trees refuse to be promoted over the other trees. They depict, according to the Word, the different characteristics of Israel under the blessing of Jehovah. The olive tree said: “Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?” (vs. 9). Oil (from the olive) answers to the unction and the power of the Holy Spirit by which God and men are honored. The Israel of God can only realize this power when they are thoroughly separated from the nation’s principles. These latter set up kings over themselves, seeking for greatness (1 Sam. 8:55And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. (1 Samuel 8:5)), while Jehovah was to be faithfully relied on as the sole ruler of the people.
Sweetness and Joy
The fig tree said: “Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?” (vs. 11). Israel could bear the fruit of sweetness only when in separation from the nations. The vine said: “Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?” (vs. 13). New wine is the joy found in the mutual communion of men with God, and this enjoyment — the highest that could be desired — was lost to Israel when they adopted the spirit and ways of the nations.
Power – Communion—Joy
What a lesson for us Christians! The world is to the church what the nations were to Israel. If we yield to its solicitations, we abandon our oil, our fruit, our new wine. That is to say, we surrender our spiritual power, the works which God has prepared for us (Eph. 2:1010For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)), our sweet fruit and the joy of communion. Are we able to respond to all the offers of the world? Should we leave that which is our happiness and our strength for fruitless turmoil or to satisfy the lusts and ambitions of the hearts of men? Jotham, like his father Gideon (Judg. 8:2323And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you. (Judges 8:23)), appreciates these treasures of the Israel of God and set himself apart on Gerizim, retaining his position of blessing. In the presence of all this apostate people, he is the true and last bud of faith, the sole witness for God. What honor for the young and feeble son of Jerubbaal! Spurned by all, his lot was the only enviable one, for he glorified God in this sorrowful world. May we too, like him, be found on the mount of blessing in the path of separation from evil! There we shall taste all that the trees of God yield. He who has enjoyed these things exclaims, “Should I leave them?”
H. L. Rossier (adapted)