Winter 1994

Trees & Their King

By: Michael Tao

In Judges 9, we have a very interesting account of the oldest Bible parable. A parable given by Jotham, one of the seventy sons of Gideon. This parable is full of messages .

After the death of Gideon, one of his sons Abimelech slew the other 68 brothers upon a rock, because of his ambition of reigning over the Israelites. Only Jotham escaped from this manslaughter. Jotham climbed up the mount Gerizim, which is about 800 meters high, lifted up his voice and spoke a parable to the people of Shechem down below. Shechem was the hometown of Abimelech's mother, and the people there were enticed by Abimelech to follow him.

By studying this record, we can see Gideon, this seemingly flawless hero, had his weakness. Judges 3:30 says, "And Gideon had three score and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives", when one has many wives, he does not have much time to train up his children. No bible character who has more than one wife can enjoy a happy family life. Polygamy is not the way that God wants man to live. In Judges 17: 6, 21:25, it says, "...every man did that which was right in his own eyes", to have many wives certainly was a right way in the eyes of some individual, however not in the eyes of God.

This parable talks about once trees wanted to recruit their own king, and first went to olive tree. However the olive tree turned down their offer by saying, "Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man,and go to be promoted over the trees?" The Olive is a special kind of tree, it takes seven years to bring forth the first crop, and another seven years to come into full maturity. Olive contains oil abundantly, it was even called the oil tree in Isaiah 41:19, one full grown olive tree can produce as much as twenty gallons of oil. Olives can be used for many purposes, and are one of the three main sources of diet in Palestine, the other two are milk and honey. Olive oil is also used to anoint kings and prophets, to honour the respectable, to heal the sick, to comfort the disheartened, to shed light in the darkness when used in a lamp, and certainly serves as the only fuel for the lampstand in the sanctuary. The olive tree has its harvest once every other year and is a symbol of peace (Genesis 8:11). Here the olive tree treasured its service towards God and man, which is far more important than being a king of this world.

Then the trees went to the fig tree with the same request. The fig tree again turned down their request by saying, "Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?". The fig tree is also a very special kind of tree in Palestine, it harvests three times a year : in early summer, in summer with the main crop, and in the fall. The figs are always dried on the housetops and pressed into cakes (1 Samuel 25:18). Dried figs are used in winter. Fig trees grow singly or in small groups, and provide a delightful shade with their large leaves. Fig tree is also unique in a way that the leaves and fruit come at the same time. That is why Christ rebuked the fig tree in Matthew 21:18, because the fig tree had "nothing thereon, but leaves only". This fig tree that Christ rebuted typifies the nation of Israel, which only has a religious outlook, but is fruitless in its testimony. As well as a vine tree, the fig tree is a symbol of prosperity in the Bible. With the same motivation as the olive tree, the fig tree declined the offer.

Then the trees took the same offer to the vine tree. The vine tree answered them: "Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?". Vine trees are always planted on the hillsides, and in vineyards. Hedges and fences are built around the vineyards, and 10 to 40 foot high watch-towers are built in the vineyards to keep away foxes and thieves. Great care has to be given in preparing the soil, in cultivating , in pruning, etc. Vines needs the sun by day and the dew by night. Their roots can penetrate the deep cracks of the rocks to get nourishment. The vine is harvested in September and October, and they are so abundant that the whole family would rejoice in it.

These trees are different in many ways, but they have the same attitude. They are both faithful to their calling and service towards God and people.

These trees desired to have a king over them so much that they went to the bramble. The bramble is the same as thorns and thistles, it is a result of God's curse toward the ground after Adam and Eve sinned (Genesis 3:17-18). There is nothing good with the bramble, yet this bramble boasted and said, "If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon". As a matter of fact, brambles grow so low and have almost no shadow. However, it boasted that they should come to receive its shelter; if not, then fire would come out from it to destroy even the cedars of Lebanon.

The cedar of Lebanon grows in the mountains of the northern Palestine, it separates itself from the crowd. The word "cedar" means "strong and firmly rooted tree", it can grow to 120 feet high with an average of 40 feet high. They are perfect building material, and were used by Solomon to build the Temple and his palace. Cedars are also admired because of their fragrance, so the wood is not infested by insects or pests. Cedars do not produce edible fruit, but they are the best lumber, which means they have to die to serve God and man. The cedar is compared as a king and a giant in the Bible (2 Kings 14:9, Amos 2:9). However, these trees refused to come to this king tree to invite it to be their king, finally they went to the filthy bramble and put up with the abuse.

Is this not what the world is doing today?

These trees wanted to recruit a king, with the same motivation, the Israelites asked God to give them a king. They would rather be commanded by a figure that they could see, and not depend on God. Dependance of God takes an obedient attitude, patience, humility, and self-examination. Godly man come to seek God's will even with fear and trembling. Israelites had no time for God, modern men has the same attitude. This bramble was so prideful that it was completely blind to its desolation. So are modern men, everyone is blinded and preoccupied by their goals and dreams, yet do not know they are on a broadway to hell.

Jotham went on with his speech to the people of Shechem that his father, Gideon, never failed them, however they murdered all the sons of Gideon. Jotham also said if they indeed preferred Abimelech to be their king, then they should remain faithful to Abimelech, if not, Abimelech would devour them. Jotham then disappeared without grudging, he put the revenge into the hands of God.

After studying this portion of the Bible, we may need to ask, "What kind of tree are we? Do we value our service toward God so much, that even the glory of this world becomes pale comparing with it?

For those who have not received Christ as their Saviour, the question is: Will you go to Jesus Christ, this King of all kings, to ask him to reign over you, or will you go to the Bramble? Do you choose to be accepted God, be commanded by man?