The Gospel According to Judges (Judges 9) Questions for Reflection

Dig Deeper

Judges 9 centers on the tragic actions of Gideon’s son, Abimelek. Although immediately following victory over the Midianites Gideon declared, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you” his judgeship spiraled downward as he assumed many ungodly liberties taken by kings of his day. His many wives and idolatry led “all Israel” astray. (Judges 8:23,27)

The account of Abimelek reads much like a judgeship only without a repentant cry of the people to the Lord for deliverance and the Lord raising up a deliver. After rousing his mother’s kin to join him in killing his brothers he establishes himself as king of Shechem. His reign begins to unravel when God “stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek” (Judges 9:23).

The Scriptures offer many warnings to God’s people about counterfeit messages and people. What counsel do the following Scriptures provide for dealing with a counterfeit prophet/teacher/god/prophecy/message?

Deuteronomy 18:21-22; 1 Kings 14:23-24; Jeremiah 28:8-9; Matthew 7:15-20; 2 Corinthians 11:20 & 1 John 3:7-10--

Deuteronomy 13:1-4; Ezekiel 13:17-23; 1 John 2:20-23; 2 John 7-11--

Isaiah 28:7; Jeremiah 23:11,14; Zephaniah 3:4; Galatians 1:6-9--

1 John 4:1-6--

Romans 16:17-18--

2 Timothy 3:1-9--

Titus 3:9-11--

Memorize This

1 John 4:1-- Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.