The Bible book of Judges tells of the first attempt by a man to get himself proclaimed king of all Israel in the promised land. His name was Abimelech, a son of the famous Gideon.
Gideon's leadership had brought freedom from oppression and a time of peace to the people. The people asked him and his sons to be a dynasty of rulers for the nation. Gideon refused, reminding them that the Lord was their king.
Gideon's son Abimelech had no such hesitation. He first killed off all his brothers who might become rivals to him. Then he went to Shechem, a town where he had supporters, to be made king. Spoiler alert: it did not work out well for Abimelech or for the town.
His youngest brother Jotham had escaped the slaughter of his family. He showed up outside Shechem during the king-making and interrupted the ceremony by shouting across the valley. He told a "fable" about what leadership should look like. The story also revealed what leadership most often degenerates to become.
"Once upon a time the trees decided to choose a king.
First they said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king!’
But the olive tree refused, saying, 'Should I quit producing the olive oil that blesses both God and people, just to wave back and forth over the trees?’
Then they said to the fig tree, ‘You be our king!’
But the fig tree also refused, saying, 'Should I quit producing my sweet fruit just to wave back and forth over the trees?’
Then they said to the grapevine, ‘You be our king!’
But the grapevine also refused, saying, ‘Should I quit producing the wine that cheers both God and people, just to wave back and forth over the trees?’
Then all the trees finally turned to the thornbush and said, ‘Come, you be our king!’
And the thornbush replied to the trees, ‘If you truly want to make me your king, come and take shelter in my shade. If not, let fire come out from me and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’" (Judges 9:8-15 NLT)
Basic Definition of Ruling
Jotham evidently had been reading his Bible. He knew it from chapter one, "Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and govern it" (Genesis 1:25). Good government is a matter of doing what you were made to do, bearing fruit and blessing others with your fruit. If you are a fig tree, bear figs. If you are a grapevine, produce grapes and wine.
If people want someone merely to "wave back and forth over other trees," they will end up with a thornbush or a bramble. They produce no fruit--only cockleburs. They provide no helpful shade. They only give wounds with their thorns. They are weeds almost impossible to get rid of, once they take root. (Ask any historian.)
In our desire to make government seem more respectable and important, we rephrase the mocking definition, "wave back and forth over other trees." Someone invented the expression "hold sway." It is so much more sophisticated sounding, but it still means waving back and forth. We also pretend that government officials are "public servants."
In my state, the General Assembly has passed nearly 200 new laws that take effect in 2024. Most of them tell us things that we are not allowed to do. Political parties will differ about which behaviors they want to prohibit, but they don't differ in seeking government power to impose their views on us.
God's idea of ruling well with his authority is that we bless people with the fruit we were made to produce. The olives, figs, and grapes are mentioned to symbolize actual characteristics that allow us to be a little bit like God himself. Godly rulers lead by example. They benefit their subjects by helping them trust in God and live righteously.
Other Scripture to Validate this
The Last Words of David, in 2 Samuel 23:1-7, repeated Jotham's definitions and contrasts between good rulers and bad, including the comparison to thorns and fire.
Isaiah's prophecy of Messiah's reign, in Isaiah 32:1-8, showed how righteous rulers will serve, protect, and provide, not take and boss.
God's warning through the prophet Samuel, in 1 Samuel 8:10-18, predicted that having a king "like the other nations" would add nothing good to Israel. Instead, the king would "take away" from the people. Modern politicians pretend that if they spell "taking" with an "x" instead of a "k" it makes it okay.
Jesus told his disciples not to imitate the rulers of the nations, who "lord it over the people and flaunt their authority," telling those under them to consider the rulers as benefactors. Jesus wants us to become fruitful servants instead of career tyrants (Matthew 20:24-28).
A Timeless Principle for Rulers?
If your political or "kingly" responsibilities keep you from bearing the fruit you were created to produce to bless God and people, skip the government job. Any old tree can do that stuff. You should concentrate on making a difference in the world as God's representative. The Father is glorified when we bear much fruit.
But also, if God asks you to take a role in the public life of a town, county, state, or country, find a way to be fruitful and to serve. Understand that God is the true king, and that you serve with his values, objectives, and methods.
If you serve in a ruling position, guard yourself from the corruption that comes with power. Do the job God sends you to do in office. Then, let go. Be eager to go back to the orchard and be fruitful. Like Abimelech's father Gideon wanted to do.
So, What about this November?
Give priority to your involvement in God's Kingdom: pray for your leaders, for your church, for God's will; share the gospel that changes lives; depend on the power of God; live according to the wisdom from above; invest in eternity; worship the God who created and saved you.
Participate in the world's kingdom as God's representative: vote prayerfully; respect the law and other people; lead as God directs you; overcome evil with good. But don't put your hopes (or your fears) in election results or changes in government. Keep a bit of wise skepticism about campaign promises and about "fact checkers."
Set your hopes in the God who raises up and puts down leaders, who remains in control through good times and bad. He is working his own perfect plan and purpose. His steadfast love endures forever.