Strong Tower ♡♡♡

 

"Next Abimelek went to Thebez and and besieged it and captured it. Inside the city, however, was a strong tower, to which all the men and women-all the people of the city-had fled. They had locked themselves in and climbed up on the tower roof. Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull" - Judges 9:50-53

It's the woman for me, but let's stay focused here, shall we? :) So Abimelech is this tyrant, who is power drunk. Judges 9 starts off with this guy who hires reckless scoundrels to become his followers, so that he can plot his way into being king [Judges 9:4]. Please stay with me. He goes on to his father's house and murders all seventy of his brothers and then get's crowned by the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo. One of the things I love about God though, is his incredible depth of patience. God is so patient, but don't think for a second that his eyes are shut and his hears closed to the works of the wicked. Scripture says that "After Abimelek had governed Israel three years, God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek" - Judges 9:23-25 [wait what? aren't these the same people who crowned him king? Yep, you are super smart]. God did this to avenge the brothers he had murdered.

"Now Gaal son of Ebed moved with his clan into Shechem, and its citizens put thier confidence in him. After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden them, they had a festival in the temple of their god. While they were eating and drinking they cursed Abimelek" - Judges 9:26-27

First the people put thier trust in this new guy on the block Gaal son of Ebed. Scripture says they put thier confidence in him [epic fail]. Welp, they ended up with the temple gods, that could do nothing to save them. I mean, they cursed the guy quite alright whilst they drank and ate. All that did, was stir up the fires even more. There was now word on the street that Gal son of Ebed was angry. A little birdy let Abimelek know this. One thing led to another and it ended in premium tears. At the end of the day, ------> "Abimelek pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he destroyed the city and scattered salt over it" -Judges 9:45 Yikes!!!!

Ok, so they launched out again. Perhaps the stronghold will save us this time? The citizens went into the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith. But Abimelech had heard they had assembled there still------> "He ordered the men with him, "Quick! Do what you have seen me do !" [what a tyrant?!!!!! who trained his scoundrels so well] So all the men cut branches and followed Abimelek. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire with the people still inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, also died" - Judges 9:48b Dang!!!

By this time, I imagine Abimelech's shoulder's raised so high. Undefeated. Ever heard this saying "the slow movement of a tiger is no sign of cowardice?" I wish Abimelek had heard this saying too. Abimelek continued to succeed in his wicked ways, until this day when he met his Waterloo. I like how the bible says "next" ----->"Next, he went to Thebez and besieged it and captured it [Judges 9:50]. Guess what? Scripture says that but inside that city was a "STRONG TOWER" . I can happily end it here, after doing the chicken dance :)

"....Inside that city was a strong tower, to which all the men and women-all the people of the city-had fled. They had locked themselves in and climbed up on the tower roof. Abimelek went to the tower [the audacity] and attacked it. Scripture says, but as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull" - Judges 9:51-53. Abimelek had thought this was another of his "expert" things to do. "Let me set this on fire just as I did with the people in the tower of Shechem". All it took was an upper millstone by the hand of a woman. God indeed uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. Only if someone had told Abimelek on that day, that this was no tower of Shechem, or the gods of Gal son of Ebed. This was the strong tower of the most high God. "I legit have goosebumps". Abimelek's attack that day, was a missed call...

"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe" - Proverbs 18:10

One of the things I realized whilst reading this chapter of the bible is that Abimelek was always on the offence. He was not only a schemer but also a thief. Notice how in all of the three events, after becoming king, he was ruthless and aggressive? And the enemy is no different. A tyrant, who continues to hire scoundrels to do his dirty business. He teaches them to simply do what they see him do. Him and his cohort continue to ravage lives, looking to destroy them. But there is a strong tower, where the righteous; those who seek refuge in God are kept safe. Are you safe? Or are you almost safe?

The name of the Lord is a STRONG TOWER. But are you kept safe inside that tower? If yes glory to God, If no, please relocate.......

Love

SR