Jdg 9: 1 – 21: THE BRAMBLE REIGNS!!

[Study Aired May 3, 2021 – Read by Gale Cullen]

Jdg 9:1  And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, 
Jdg 9:2  Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh. 
Jdg 9:3  And his mother’s brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother. 
Jdg 9:4  And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him. 
Jdg 9:5  And he went unto his father’s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. 
Jdg 9:6  And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem. 
Jdg 9:7  And 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. 
Jdg 9:8  The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. 
Jdg 9:9  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? 
Jdg 9:10  And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. 
Jdg 9:11  But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? 
Jdg 9:12  Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. 
Jdg 9:13  And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? 
Jdg 9:14  Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. 
Jdg 9:15  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. 
Jdg 9:16  Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands; 
Jdg 9:17  (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian: 
Jdg 9:18  And ye are risen up against my father’s house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;) 
Jdg 9:19  If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you: 
Jdg 9:20  But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech. 
Jdg 9:21  And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother. 

The latter part of Judges Chapter 8 deals with the sins of Gideon and of the people of Israel. One of the obvious sins Gideon committed was marrying many wives and having a concubine who gave birth to Abimelech at Shechem. Spiritually, marrying many wives means having a heart that is not perfect before the Lord.

1Ki 11:3  And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
1Ki 11:4  For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

In the same way, the hearts of the people of Israel were also not perfect before the Lord. They went after idols after the death of Gideon, and so the Lord used their disobedience as an occasion to judge them. In this case, God used Abimelech as the tool to judge Gideon’s family and the people of Israel as follows:

Jdg 9:1  And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, 

Abimelech was the son of Gideon’s concubine in Shechem. So as far as inheritance is concerned, he was not qualified to inherit anything from his father, together with his mother, as both were illegitimate. We know in Galatians 4:26 that Jerusalem which is above is the mother of us all. The flip side of this scripture is that Jerusalem which now is, is the mother of all those who are God’s children but are not destined to have an inheritance. So Abimelech’s mother’s brethren, together with the family of the house of Abimelech’s mother’s father, represent the Babylonian system (the churches of this world) which we came out of or are coming out of.

Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Jdg 9:2  Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh. 

Here Abimelech was asking his brethren to choose him singularly to reign over them or that Gideon’s seventy sons rule over them. Another way of saying this is that the people were given a choice between plural leadership and singular leadership.  In the New Testament, the governance system that prevails in the house of God is plural leadership.  This is evidenced by the appointment of elders in every church by Paul and Barnabas.

Act 14:23  And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

The reason for this type of leadership is to ensure that in every church there are multitude of counsellors so that as we defer to them, we are delivered from nurturing false doctrines in our heavens which will derail us from knowing our Lord.

Pro 11:14  Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Pro 15:22  Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

Pro 24:6  For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Another reason we should have elders in every church is to give direction to God’s children and in so doing, prove what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.  This is demonstrated by the church in Antioch giving direction to Barnabas and Paul concerning the work that they had been penciled by the Holy Spirit to undertake.

Act 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Act 13:2  As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

However, in the current church system of this world (Babylon), we do not see plural but singular leadership, which is contrary to God’s ordained order. It all started even during the days of the apostles as Apostle John made mention of this as follows:

3Jn 1:9  I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
3Jn 1:10  Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

So we can see that singular leadership breeds apostasy as we see Diotrephes assuming prominence in the church and turning the church into a den of people who only conform to what their leader says.  That is why the churches of this world have missed the boat of salvation. We were all part of the people who had missed this boat until Jesus came into our lives.  The world we live in also embraces singular leadership as our presidents are given extraordinary powers to do whatever they like with their carnal minds. The result of this is the oppressive regimes, discontentment by many people, denial of justice, lack of equity, xenophobia, etc. which we are observing today.

As indicated in verse 1, Abimelech’s mother’s brethren, together with the family of the house of Abimelech’s mother’s father, represent the Babylonian system (the churches of this world) which we came out of or are coming out of. No wonder they preferred singular leadership to plural leadership by choosing Abimelech over the seventy sons of Gideon as follows:

Jdg 9:3  And his mother’s brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother. 

Carnal minds always prefer to hear about carnal things. That was what Apostle John was talking about when he said:

1Jn 4:5  They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

The reason the people chose Abimelech was that they identified with him as they of the world speak of things of the world, and the world hears them. That is what it means when they said that Abimelech was their brother.

When the Israelites asked for a King, as they saw other nations around them having kings or singular leadership, God through Samuel told the Israelites the consequence of their decision. What Samuel said is what we see in the world and in all the churches worldwide.

1Sa 8:10  And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.
1Sa 8:11  And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.
1Sa 8:12  And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.
1Sa 8:13  And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
1Sa 8:14  And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
1Sa 8:15  And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
1Sa 8:16  And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
1Sa 8:17  He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
1Sa 8:18  And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

So we see in churches the Head pastor who has all the authority. He appoints for himself other associate pastors (verse 12) and fleeces the people of God as predicted by Samuel. Taking the daughters of Israel to be confectionaries, cooks and bakers is another way of saying that the churches will prepare and eat their own food and wear their own apparel but bear the name of Christ. As we are aware, that is not what should pertain in the gathering of God’s elect.

Isa 4:1  And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

Jdg 9:4  And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.

This verse indicates that the Babylonian system is endowed with a lot of physical resources which makes it easier for them to attract more “vain and light” people who compass throughout the world to win “souls for Christ”, and their message appeals to the flesh. That is why they have more children than the desolate (the elect). However, in the end, they make them more of the sons of the devil as Jesus told us.

Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

Mat 23:15  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

The strength and the resources that these “vain and light” men in Babylon have been given by the Lord is described in the Book of Joel as follows:

Joe 2:2  A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
Joe 2:3  A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
Joe 2:4  The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
Joe 2:5  Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
Joe 2:6  Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
Joe 2:7  They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
Joe 2:8  Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
Joe 2:9  They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
Joe 2:10  The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:

We used to be part of this strong people thinking that we sit as queen and that we shall see no sorrow. During our time as part of these strong men, the word of God did not have any impact on our lives. That is what is meant in Joel 2:8 when it says that when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. But praise be to God who is gradually taking us out of this great mess.

Rev 18:7  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

Jdg 9:5  And he went unto his father’s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.

The consequence of this singular leadership is what is portrayed here in verse 5 where Abimelech slew all the sons of Gideon with the exception of Jotham. In other words, we become spiritually dead in Babylon but through the mercies of God, we as Jotham are spared as remnants. We must note that none of the judges that we have dealt with so far in the Book of Judges ever killed his people. So we can see that everything that this woman (Babylon) touches turns to death. We all became spiritually dead while in Babylon until we heard our Lord’s voice, Who is resurrecting us to life in Him now as a sign that one day, we shall come forth unto the resurrection of life!!

Joh 5:28  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Rev 18:24  And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Pro 5:3  For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:
Pro 5:4  But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
Pro 5:5  Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

Jdg 9:6  And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem. 

It is strange that in verse 6, Abimelech was made a king when Israel had not installed any king since they entered the Promised Land. It was those whom God had raised up as Judges who ruled over the people at that time.  So technically, it was God who was reigning as king over the people of Israel. Thus, the men of Shechem and Millo, by installing Abimelech as king, were usurping the authority of God.

When we were in Babylon, we glorified in our pastors who made all the decisions and had all the authority. We were usurping the authority of God during those days together with our pastors. Furthermore, by thinking that we have our own free will to do anything we want, we were like God reigning in our own temple, which is our body.  That is why the scripture says we were sitting in the temple of God thinking we are God.

1Sa 8:7  And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Jdg 9:7  And 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. 

God was always sending his messengers to us while we were under the spell of Babylon to show us our transgression. As Jotham said, if the Israelites hearken unto Jotham, God may hearken unto them. This is to tell us that Jotham represents the elect as God’s messengers.

Isa 58:1  Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

Jdg 9:8  The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. 

Trees are spiritual symbol for human beings as shown in the following scriptures:

Psa 1:1  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psa 1:2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psa 1:3  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Isa 55:12  For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Isa 61:3  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Olive trees are spiritual symbols for God’s elect as used in the following scriptures:

Psa 52:8  But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

1Ki 6:23  And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high.

1Ki 6:31  And for the entering of the oracle he made doors of olive tree: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall.

The oracle mentioned here is the temple built by Solomon. Cherubims are a symbol of the elect, and in 1Kings 6:23 the Cherubims are represented by the olive tree, which is also a symbol of the elect. The door to the temple of God is made of olive tree wood to let us know that it is through the elect the whole of the human race will come into the temple of God to worship.

So verse 8 is affirming the fact that what creation desires unknowingly is for God’s elect to rule over them. That was what Paul was alluding to when he said that the creature is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. The qualities of the elect are what the world are looking for in their leaders unknowingly.

Inwardly, verse 8 suggests that within every human being, there is this innate longing to be ruled by Christ in doing what is right, but we do not have the capacity to do so in this life unless Christ comes in to make us into another vessel.

Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Rom 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Jdg 9:9  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? 

In this dispensation, God has not pre-ordained for His children to reign over the earth. That was what Jesus made reference to when He said:

Joh 18:36  Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

What the olive tree was saying in verse 9 is that in this age, those whom God is electing must focus on being satisfied with the fatness of his house. The fatness of his house is the word of God, and it is through this that we honor God and man.  So we are not to save the world in this dispensation. Our reign over the earth will be accomplished after the kingdom of this world becomes the kingdom of our God and of his Christ.

Psa 36:8  They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

Psa 63:5  My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Jdg 9:10  And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. 

Again, the fig tree is a symbol of the elect.  As we all know, we have a positive and negative application of the word of God. Here we are looking at the positive aspect. So verse 10 is another way of saying that what the world is looking for are the sons of God to come and reign over them.

Hos 9:10  I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.

Mat 24:32  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

When a tree starts growing leaves, then it is ready to make use of the sun to make its food by a process called photosynthesis. Jesus said that when a fig tree (representing us) starts coming out with branches and leaves, it means that summer is near. We all know that summer is the period when the sun is at its highest and produces so much heat. So what Jesus said about the fig tree simply means that when our eyes are being opened and our ears are hearing the word of God, then we know that the time has come for the sun of righteousness to produce enough heat to burn everything within us that offends so that Christ can take His residence in our hearts and minds!!! It is when He comes to sit in His throne in our hearts that we all will enjoy the “summer” to the fullest!!!

Jdg 9:11  But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

What is being said here by the olive tree is the same as what the fig tree said. The sweetness of the fig tree is the same as the word of God as follows:

Pro 16:21  The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

Eze 3:3  And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.

Here we are advised again to focus on knowing Christ through the word of God and not to engage in activities to save the world as many of our brothers and sisters on the other side are doing. The good fruit of the fig tree in verse 11 is the fruit of the spirit, which as fig trees, we are required to produce, and this happens only when we are out of the grips of our old man and the new man starts taking his place in us. So our focus here in this life is to know Christ through the word and as a result produce good fruits.

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:26  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Jdg 9:12  Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. 

The vine is also a symbol for God’s elect as follows:

Psa 128:3  Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

Jer 2:21  Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?

Just like the olive and fig trees, which represent the elect, the vine also stands for the elect. It is therefore the elect that the whole world is looking for to come and reign over them. The fact that this has been repeated three times means that we will one day reign over the earth after the process of spiritual completion through judgment in this life. It is also to assure us that God has already established our reign over the earth even before the foundations of the earth.

Gen 41:32  And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

Jdg 9:13  And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? 

Wine is also another symbol for the word of God. So what we are being told is that as a vine (God’s elect), we should pay attention to our wine, which is the word of God, and not be distracted by the cares of this world and attempts to save the world.

Hos 2:22  And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel.

Mat 9:17  Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

Jdg 9:14  Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. 

According to Strong, the bramble is a thorn tree. As indicated earlier, trees represents human beings. Without the spirit of God in us, all human beings produce thorns and thistles as stated by the Lord when Adam and Eve sinned.

Gen 3:17  And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
Gen 3:18  Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

So verse 14 is telling us that in this age, the governance of this world is in the hands of the basest of men or people with carnal minds who produce thorns and thistles (the products of their false doctrines) which hurt the people of this world.

Dan 4:17  This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

Jdg 9:15  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. 

The bramble’s statement that those who anoint him/her as king must put their trust in his/her shadow is another way of saying that we should put our trust in human beings. In the scriptures, shadows represent our members or flesh. Throughout the word of God, we are admonished not to put our confidence in man or the princes of this world because men will only produce thorns and thistles which will hurt us.

Job 17:7  Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.

Psa 102:11  My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

Isa 30:2  That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

Psa 146:3  Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

Psa 118:9  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

The cedars of Lebanon mentioned in this verse stand for every high thing in our lives which exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Inwardly, our old man (the bramble) was reigning by default in our lives until Christ started shining His light into our lives.  That was when fire came out and started devouring our cedars of Lebanon. In other words, when Christ comes into our lives to open our eyes and ears, we are judged (fire from the bramble) based on what our old man has done, and this fire destroys every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God in our lives.

Isa 2:13  And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,

Psa 29:5  The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.

Jdg 9:16  Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands; 
Jdg 9:17  (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian: 
Jdg 9:18  And ye are risen up against my father’s house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)

These verses are telling us that the world and the churches of this world love their own and do not see any good coming from God’s elect represented here by Gideon and his sons. In their minds, we are dead to them spiritually.

Rev 11:8  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
Rev 11:9  And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
Rev 11:10  And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

Jdg 9:19  If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you: 
Jdg 9:20  But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech. 

In essence, what is being said here is that God will judge the Babylon in us, symbolized by the men of Shechem and Millo including Abimelech. As you are aware, we are all currently being judged for all the Babylonian traits in us. Outwardly, the church system of this world (Babylon) will be judged one day as spoken by the Lord.

Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Rev 18:6  Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
Rev 18:7  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
Rev 18:8  Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

Jdg 9:21  And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

When we start our journey with Christ, we harbor a lot of fears. Gradually, as we get to know Christ better, most of our fears subside. One of the fears that can wreck our relationship with Christ is the fear of man. In this verse, for example, Jotham was afraid of his brother Abimelech. Let’s hear what the word of God has to say about the fear of man.

Pro 29:25  The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

Jos 10:8  And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.

The solution to our fears is to continue to know Him more through the word of God and over time, we shall see that all our fears are gone. That will be a sign to us that we are gradually maturing!! May His name be praised!!!