THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SHECHEM’S SIN
Jotham was the only surviving son of Gideon. All of his brothers had been murdered by their half-brother, Abimelech and Jotham had barely escaped with his life. Abimelech had conspired with his mother’s family who lived in the town of Shechem. Afterwards, the citizens of Shechem made him their king. When Jotham heard about their treachery, he climbed Mount Gerizim to call down God’s judgment on the inhabitants of Shechem and the murderer, Abimelech.
Surely, the irony of the location would not have been lost on the citizens of Shechem. For Shechem lay in the valley between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, the two mountains where Moses had instructed the people to divide into two groups and shout the blessings and the curses from God’s law (See Deut. 11:29, 27:12, Joshua 8:33). The significance of hearing Jotham shouting God’s judgment down on them from Mount Gerizim would have been evident. Never mind the fact that Shechem had been set apart to be a “city of refuge” (Joshua 21:21), a place where convicted murderers were not to be protected.
It had been in Shechem that Joshua renewed the covenant with Israel saying, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15). Yet now years later, the people of Shechem had chosen the murderer Abimelech as their king. And the judgment called down from Mount Gerizim would soon come upon them.
Shechem had chosen to go against God’s law and against the very calling of their city as a place of refuge. They did this with full knowledge, so that they were without excuse.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank you for forgiving our sins through Jesus, our Refuge. For He alone is able to save. You have rescued us from the curse of sin and have blessed us with your righteousness and eternal life. Shechem cannot live up to its calling. But You, Lord Jesus, have surely lived up to Yours! Thank you for saving us and adopting us as children of God. In Jesus’ name, amen.