Dare to Be a Jotham

Daily Scripture Threshing for Today, Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Today's Text: Judges 9:1–21

Key Verse: Judges 9:7 (KJV) — “And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.”

After Gideon died, Abimelech, his son by a concubine of Shechem, rose up with ambition in his heart. He persuaded the men of Shechem to make him king, asking them whether they preferred to be ruled by all the sons of Jerubbaal or by one man who was “your bone and your flesh” (Judges 9:2). With money taken from the house of Baal-berith, Abimelech hired vain and light persons, murdered his seventy brothers upon one stone, and seized a throne God had not given him. But one son escaped: Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon. Dare to be a Jotham: dare to survive what was meant to silence you, and dare to speak when wickedness celebrates itself.

Jotham did not gather an army, seek a palace, or answer bloodshed with bloodshed. He climbed Mount Gerizim, lifted up his voice, and proclaimed a parable that exposed the empty heart of Abimelech’s kingship. The olive tree, the fig tree, and the vine all refused to abandon their fruitful calling merely to wave over the trees. But the bramble, useless for shade and dangerous for fire, eagerly accepted the invitation to rule. Jotham’s message was unmistakable: when honorable, fruitful people refuse corrupt ambition, a bramble may become king — and its rule will consume everyone who trusted it. Dare to be a Jotham: dare to name evil for what it is, even when it wears a crown and sits in the place of power.

Standing alone on that mountain, Jotham spoke truth to an entire city that had joined hands with a murderer. He reminded the men of Shechem of Gideon’s sacrifice, of the deliverance God had given them through his father, and of their shameful betrayal of Gideon’s house. He did not flatter their politics or excuse their violence. His voice rose above fear, family grief, public opinion, and personal danger. Then, having delivered God’s warning, Jotham fled to Beer and dwelt there because of Abimelech his brother. Dare to be a Jotham: dare to speak the truth without needing applause, and dare to use wisdom after courage has done its work.

Jotham’s parable was more than a speech; it was a prophetic verdict. He declared that if the men of Shechem had acted truly and sincerely in making Abimelech king, then they should rejoice together. But if they had acted wickedly, fire would come out from Abimelech and devour Shechem, and fire would come out from Shechem and devour Abimelech. In time, exactly as God permitted, the treachery between Abimelech and Shechem destroyed them both. Scripture says, “Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech” (Judges 9:56). Dare to be a Jotham: dare to trust God with the outcome when you have faithfully declared His truth.

Jotham teaches us that godly courage is not measured by numbers, rank, age, or safety. He was the youngest surviving son, a lone voice against a violent ruler and an approving city; yet his voice carried the weight of heaven because it carried truth. God still needs Jothams in families, churches, workplaces, communities, and nations — men and women willing to climb above the noise, expose the bramble, and call people back to righteousness. Dare to be a Jotham: dare to speak when silence would make you complicit, and dare to stand for truth even when you must stand alone.

Action Steps: Identify one place where fear, favoritism, corruption, or popular opinion is pressuring you to remain silent about what is wrong. Ask God for Jotham’s courage and wisdom. Do not speak recklessly or bitterly, but speak truthfully, prayerfully, and at the right time. Refuse the ambition of Abimelech, preserve the fruitfulness of the olive, fig, and vine, and trust God to bring righteous judgment where human systems fail.

Quote for the Day: “One voice standing on the mountain of truth is stronger than a multitude crowning a bramble; dare to be a Jotham.” — (Simon Olatunji #quotablequotes)

Let Us Pray: Heavenly Father, give me the courage of Jotham to stand for truth when others have chosen compromise. Deliver me from the fear of man, from the temptation to flatter evil, and from silence when You have called me to speak. Give me wisdom, humility, and holy boldness to expose wickedness without becoming bitter or reckless. Help me to remain fruitful in my calling and never exchange Your purpose for empty ambition. Let my life be a faithful voice for righteousness in my family, church, community, and generation — in Jesus’ most glorious name. Amen.

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Thank you for threshing the Word with me today. For further study on this topic, please read: Judges 8:33–35; Judges 9:1–57; Psalm 94:16; Proverbs 31:8–9; Isaiah 58:1; Ezekiel 33:7–9; Acts 4:19–20.

With all my love and prayers,

Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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