Monday, June 13, 2005

Searching for the Joy - 13

Jud 9:19 - "If then you have done what is true and upright to Jerubbaal and his family this day, may you have joy in Abimelech, and may he have joy in you;"

I had forgotten about the story behind is about so I looked it up.
Jotham is the youngest son of Gideon (Jerubbaal). His other brothers were ruthlessly murdered by their brother Abimelech (Jud 9:5). Jotham’s response to this is to give them a scathing and sarcastic rebuke starting in Judges 9:9.

What Jotham is saying is “You have about as much chance of being happy with Abimelech as king (and he with you) as you as you did right by killing my brothers.” He is calling a curse upon them.

So where’s the joy?
I guess I’m glad that God treats me with kindness and grace and not as I deserve. He could hold a grudge or cast a curse on me. Instead by His Son He offers to cleanse me of all my unrighteousness, forgive me, heal me, and bless me. I can only say “Thank you Jesus for the cross”

1 comment:

Michael said...

It's an interesting thought Richard but I would disagree that it's a "natural" result.
"What goes around comes around." Not always. Life isn't fair.
I'm very glad that it isn't.
God takes what would seem the worst thing that could happen, His son dying on a cross, and turns it to the greatest good, my salvation.
He says forgive your enemies, be kind to those hurt you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who despitefully use you.
How can that be right?
God's idea of right and wrong, good and evil, action and consequence are very much higher than ours.