Homilist Judges 9:1-22 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's brothers, and communed with them… 1. Jotham's parable is full of interest. (1) On account of its antiquity. First on record. (2) The spirit of its delivery. Full of the humorous. (3) The sarcasm it contains. The satiric is a most useful gift to the Christian teacher, when guided by the hand of wisdom. 2. The principle contained in the parable is, that the highest places ought to be occupied by the best of men, and that the bramble people should never be allowed to occupy a position of greatness. 3. From Jotham's parable the following remarks are suggested — (1) That it is a time of great responsibility to Churches when making choice of a minister. Christ spent a night in prayer before He ordained His apostles. (2) That Churches sometimes show a great want of shrewdness in their choice of a minister. (3) That Churches ought to keep a view to the practical in giving a call to a minister. (4) That very often we find the most insignificant ministers are the most ready to accept invitations from large Churches. (5) That a stated ministry is advantageous to Churches. (6) That great evils follow in the choice of unsuitable ministers. (7) That Churches will never reach their true position while their pulpits are filled with brambles.Conclusion — 1. That the ministerial life is one of great sacrifice. 2. That most frequently the ministerial brambles are blessed with unanimous calls. 3. That the men of small talent, almost without exception, are full of vanity. 4. That the great force of the bramble pulpit is in destruction. 5. Some of our large Churches have frequently been deservedly punished when they have lost their old minister. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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, |
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