Judges 9

Choose Wisely

 “Now therefore, if you have acted in truth and sincerity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house and have done to him as he deserves. But if not, let fire come from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and Beth Millo; and let fire come from the men of Shechem and from Beth Millo and devour Abimelech!” ~ Judges 9:16, 20

Have you ever noticed how quickly people can choose what looks impressive instead of what’s actually healthy? Sometimes what grows the fastest isn’t the strongest. A weed can spread across a garden overnight, while a healthy tree takes time to develop deep roots. In today’s scripture reading, the people chose Abimelech, a selfish and destructive leader, because his offer sounded good in the moment. What they had hoped would bring peace eventually brought chaos, division, and destruction.

That still happens today. In our world full of loud opinions, selfish motives, and constant pressure to fit in, it’s easy to be drawn toward things that look appealing on the surface but slowly drain our peace, joy, and spiritual strength. As children of God, we have to learn to recognize what’s truly rooted in Him and not what looks best for our benefit or appearance’s sake.

There are several important truths in this chapter that can help us guard our hearts and walk wisely in today’s world.

1. Not every opportunity is from God

Abimelech convinced people to support him through manipulation and selfishness. The people went along with it because it sounded beneficial at the time, but the outcome brought pain and destruction.

Sometimes opportunities come wrapped in excitement, quick success, or acceptance from others, but beneath the surface there’s compromise. As God’s people, we can’t make decisions based only on what feels good in the moment. We need God’s wisdom continually.

Maybe you’ve been offered a friendship, relationship, job opportunity, or commitment that seems attractive outwardly, but something inside you feels unsettled. That pause may be God protecting you. Taking time to pray before saying yes can save you from unnecessary heartache later. When you seek God first, He helps you discern what’s healthy and what will eventually bring trouble.

2. Your character matters way more than popularity

The people of Shechem wanted a leader who benefited them personally. They weren’t concerned about integrity. They were focused on convenience and self-preservation.

Our culture often rewards appearance, influence, and popularity, but God is always about what is in our heart. As children of God, we’re called to live differently. Integrity, kindness and honesty still matter.

There may be moments when doing the right thing causes you to stand alone. Maybe everyone around you is gossiping, compromising, or cutting corners, and you feel pressure to join in so you won’t feel out of place. But remaining faithful to God and His principles in those moments builds strength within you. A person with godly character may not always be the loudest person in the room, but their life carries lasting fruit. What’s built on truth will stand.

3. God sees what others overlook

Jotham stood alone and delivered a warning that many ignored. Even though others dismissed the truth, God still saw everything happening behind the scenes.

Sometimes you may feel unseen when you’re trying to honor God. You may wonder if your prayers and your obedience matter or if anyone notices your efforts to stay faithful. God sees every act of obedience, every private prayer, and every time you choose righteousness over compromise.

Maybe you’ve been misunderstood, overlooked, or treated unfairly while trying to do what’s right. This passage in Judges 9 reminds us that God is still just. He’s not absent, He sees clearly, and in His timing, He brings truth into the light. Keep walking faithfully even when others don’t understand your journey.

For many years, I lived looking out mostly for myself and those closest to me. So many of my decisions revolved around what felt best for me in the moment instead of what was truly right. There were times I made choices that disappointed people around me because I never stopped to consider how my actions affected others. Other times, I simply went along with what was popular because I wanted to fit in with my so called friends. Looking back now, I can see that it was a life built on compromise and convenience.

What I eventually realized was that selfish motives and crowd driven decisions almost always led to disappointment, confusion, and sometimes even destruction. Just like the people in Judges 9, I was following what looked good on the surface instead of seeking God’s wisdom first.

Everything began to change when I finally surrendered my choices to God and allowed the His Spirit to guide my steps. I started paying attention to that inward check in my spirit whenever something didn’t seem right, even if outwardly it looked like the perfect opportunity. There was one particular situation where everyone around me encouraged me to move forward quickly. On the outside, I felt the pressure to make the rash decision because everything appeared beneficial and exciting, but deep inside I sensed that I should seek wisdom before acting. Instead of rushing ahead like I normally would have in the past, I prayed about it for several days. The more I prayed, the more unsettled I became.

Not long afterward, I started finding out things that were going on behind the scene. What initially looked so promising would’ve brought unnecessary stress, hurt, and pain into my life. In that moment, I could see those warnings are an act of love from my heavenly Father. Sometimes His protection comes through that quiet uneasiness that keeps us from stepping into the wrong place at the wrong time.

Because of that experience I now understand that God doesn’t just care about where we’re going, He cares about how we get there. When we allow Him to lead our decisions instead of our emotions, popularity, or selfish desires, He protects us in ways we may not fully understand until later after the dust has settled.

Today I want to encourage you to stay rooted in God’s wisdom even when the world pushes you toward shortcuts, compromise, or outward appearances. Not everything that looks successful is healthy, and not every loud voice carries truth. God is faithful to guide those who look to Him sincerely. He sees your desire to honor Him, and He will give you wisdom for every decision you face. Keep choosing integrity, listening for His voice and trusting that what God builds in your life will have lasting strength and peace.

Today’s scripture reading: Judges 9

1 Then Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, 

2 “Please speak in the hearing of all the men of Shechem: ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal reign over you, or that one reign over you?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and bone.”

3 And his mother’s brothers spoke all these words concerning him in the hearing of all the men of Shechem; and their heart was inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.” 

4 So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men; and they followed him. 

5 Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because he hid himself. 

6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, all of Beth Millo, and they went and made Abimelech king beside the terebinth tree at the pillar that was in Shechem.

7 Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and cried out. And he said to them: “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you!

8 “The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them. and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’

9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I cease giving my oil, with which they honor God and men, and go to sway over trees?’

10 “Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us!’

11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I cease my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to sway over trees?’

12 “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us!’

13 But the vine said to them, ‘Should I cease my new wine, which cheers both God and men, and go to sway over trees?’

14 “Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us!’

15 And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me as king over you, then come and take shelter in my shade; But if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon!’

16 “Now therefore, if you have acted in truth and sincerity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him as he deserves— 

17 for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian; 

18 but you have risen up against my father’s house this day, and killed his seventy sons on one stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother— 

19 if then you have acted in truth and sincerity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. 

20 “But if not, let fire come from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and Beth Millo; and let fire come from the men of Shechem and from Beth Millo and devour Abimelech!” 

21 And Jotham ran away and fled; and he went to Beer and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

22 After Abimelech had reigned over Israel three years, 

23 God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 

24 that the crime done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might be settled and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who aided him in the killing of his brothers. 

25 And the men of Shechem set men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way; and it was told Abimelech.

26 Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him. 

27 So they went out into the fields, and gathered grapes from their vineyards and trod them, and made merry. And they went into the house of their god, and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech. 

28 Then Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him? 

29 If only this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech.” So he said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out!”

30 When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was aroused. 

31 And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, “Take note! Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and here they are, fortifying the city against you. 

32 Now therefore, get up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field. 

33 And it shall be, as soon as the sun is up in the morning, that you shall rise early and rush upon the city; and when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you may then do to them as you find opportunity.”

34 So Abimelech and all the people who were with him rose by night, and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies. 

35 When Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance to the city gate, Abimelech and the people who were with him rose from lying in wait. 

36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!”

But Zebul said to him, “You see the shadows of the mountains as if they were men.”

37 So Gaal spoke again and said, “See, people are coming down from the center of the land, and another company is coming from the Diviners’ Terebinth Tree.”

38 Then Zebul said to him, “Where indeed is your mouth now, with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Are not these the people whom you despised? Go out, if you will, and fight with them now.”

39 So Gaal went out, leading the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. 

40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled from him; and many fell wounded, to the very entrance of the gate. 

41 Then Abimelech dwelt at Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, so that they would not dwell in Shechem.

42 And it came about on the next day that the people went out into the field, and they told Abimelech. 

43 So he took his people, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the field. And he looked, and there were the people, coming out of the city; and he rose against them and attacked them. 

44 Then Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city; and the other two companies rushed upon all who were in the fields and killed them. 

45 So Abimelech fought against the city all that day; he took the city and killed the people who were in it; and he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.

46 Now when all the men of the tower of Shechem had heard that, they entered the stronghold of the temple of the god Berith. 

47 And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 

48 Then Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him. And Abimelech took an ax in his hand and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it and laid it on his shoulder; then he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, make haste and do as I have done.” 

49 So each of the people likewise cut down his own bough and followed Abimelech, put them against the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire above them, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died, about a thousand men and women.

50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he encamped against Thebez and took it. 

51 But there was a strong tower in the city, and all the men and women—all the people of the city—fled there and shut themselves in; then they went up to the top of the tower. 

52 So Abimelech came as far as the tower and fought against it; and he drew near the door of the tower to burn it with fire. 

53 But a certain woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull. 

54 Then he called quickly to the young man, his armorbearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ ” So his young man thrust him through, and he died. 

55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed, every man to his place.

56 Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father by killing his seventy brothers. 

57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem God returned on their own heads, and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

Journal:

• What voices have been influencing my decisions lately?
• Have I been prioritizing appearance or godly wisdom in any area of my life?
• Is there a situation where God may be asking me to slow down and seek Him more deeply?
• What does integrity look like in my current circumstances?
• How has God protected me in the past through His guidance?