How does Judges 9:6 illustrate the consequences of ungodly leadership choices? Setting the Stage: A Coronation at Shechem “Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo gathered together beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem and proclaimed Abimelech king.” (Judges 9:6) • Shechem is a place of covenant memory (Joshua 24:25–26). • Yet the people ignore God’s covenant standards and enthrone Gideon’s ruthless son who has just slaughtered his own brothers (Judges 9:5). • This single verse captures the moment a community abandons God-honoring criteria in favor of convenience and blood ties. Seeing the Ungodliness in the Choice • Leadership birthed in bloodshed cannot enjoy God’s blessing (Genesis 9:6). • Abimelech claims power without divine calling; contrast with God-appointed leaders such as Moses (Exodus 3:10) or David (1 Samuel 16:1–13). • The crowd’s silence implies complicity—“He who is not with Me is against Me” (Matthew 12:30). Immediate Red Flags in Judges 9:6 1. Popular consensus replaces divine guidance (cf. Proverbs 14:12). 2. A covenant tree, once a witness to obedience, witnesses rebellion. 3. No prayer or prophetic consultation occurs, ignoring Deuteronomy 17:15: “You shall surely set over yourselves a king whom the LORD your God chooses.” Ripple Effects Through the Chapter • Civil war erupts: Shechem rebels, Abimelech destroys the city and sows it with salt (Judges 9:45). • Leaders and citizens alike perish in a blazing tower (Judges 9:49). • Abimelech himself dies shamefully by a woman’s millstone (Judges 9:53–54). • Judges 9:56-57 sums up God’s verdict: “Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech… and He also brought all the wickedness of the men of Shechem back upon their heads.” Wider Biblical Warnings About Self-Exalting Leaders • Hosea 8:4 — “They set up kings, but not by Me.” • Psalm 94:20 — “Can a corrupt throne be Your ally?” • Proverbs 29:2 — “When the wicked rule, the people groan.” • 1 Samuel 8:10–18 — Israel learns that demanding a king “like all the nations” brings oppression. Practical Takeaways for Choosing Leaders Today • Measure character before charisma; God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). • Seek confirmation through Scripture and prayer rather than majority opinion. • Remember that corporate complicity in ungodly leadership invites corporate discipline. • Trust that God ultimately vindicates righteousness and judges rebellion, just as He did at Shechem (Galatians 6:7). |
    |