Judges 9:7-15 records the first parable recorded in the bible as Jotham saw the trees looking for a king. For some unknown reason in this parable the trees decide to appoint a king and sought the Olive tree, the fig tree and the grape vine and none were interested. Each of these three recognized that they were being asked to replace God that they already had over them at a price of what they were created to do, be a blessing to both God and man.
The trees came to the bramble bush also known as the buckthorn which is not a tree but a worthless thorn bush that was a product of the curse of Genesis 3. It produced no fruit and no shade, its wood wasn’t used so all you could do with it was burn it.
So in the parable of Jotham this worthless bush says to the trees “come take shelter in my shade”, what shade? Those trees in the parable refused the leadership position as they viewed it as a step down as they would have to give up what they were designed to do, “bear fruit”.
Why would a tree do something so foolish, well they wouldn’t yet Shechem had?
Hey saint’s there are still folks like this today who want to lead so they can rule over people not serve people. The test of a person’s character is to see how they treat those who disagree with them. If their only desire is to destroy those who disagree then they are like the bramble; “Plenty of sharp points, but of no real use except to injure others!”
Jesus said in Mark 9:35 as He called the twelve disciples to Him, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”