“The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.

And the bramble said unto the trees, 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.” -Judges 9:8-15

This hidden parable is found in Judges. Its context is Gideon has just subdued the Midianites and we see the people even ask Gideon to rule over them and his son and grandson. Gideon’s response is “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; The Lord shall rule over you.” (Judges 8:22-23) In the next chapter Gideon dies, leaving seventy sons including Abimelech a son he had with his concubine. Abimelech kills all his brothers desiring to be the only ruler of Shechem and Beth Millo. One brother escaped, Jotham, and climbs on a mount to tell the people this parable. He follows by saying ” Now therefore, if you have acted in truth and sincerity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal (Gideon) and his house, and have done to him as he deserves- for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;” -Judges 9:16-17

So many times we see God’s people desiring a King or someone to rule over them when God is waiting for them to desire Him to be their one and only King. This is true today. We have been created by God, for God. When we don’t put Him in His rightful position, the throne of our hearts, we will be led astray and into captivity over and over like the Israelites. Now this parable teaches us we must do this in truth and sincerity. In the truth of God’s word and in the truth of what He has done- Jesus, our Savior who came to deliver us once and for all from sin and even death. The other very important verse to notice in this parable is: “If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow.” Once we anoint Jesus the King of our hearts we must be diligent in our trust in only Jesus. Another translation of this verse reads “and rest in my shade”. Under the shade of His tree, Jesus, we find our rest. Continue under this tree, steadfastly continue in the faith of the Almighty King.