What does Judges 9:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Men must have leadership. The reason lies deep in human nature. The French Revolutionaries destroyed the royal family, but Robespierre, Danton and Marat were practically enthroned in the position from which Louis was hurled. In Oliver Cromwell's commonwealth, he exercised the royal prerogative. Some of us enthrone the fatness of the olive, some the sweetness of the fig, and some the good cheer of the vine. In other words, the guiding ideal of some souls is Prosperity, of others Love, of others Pleasure. And yet others choose the bramble-with its prickly thorns-which, when scorched by the summer-heat, is near unto burning, Hebrews 6:8. It stands, therefore, for the useless and perilous life, which is doomed to the scrap-heap. See 1 Corinthians 9:27.

In the meanwhile Jesus waits to become the crowned King of each soul. He adventured his life and delivered us from the hand of the enemy, to whom we had sold ourselves. Do we deal truly and uprightly with Him, in allowing other lords to rule over us while we crown Him with thorns? See Judges 9:17; Judges 19:1-30. [source]

Chapter Summary: Judges 9

¹  Abimelech by conspiracy with the Shechemites, and murder of his brothers, is made king
⁷  Jotham by a parable rebukes them, and foretells their ruin
²²  Gaal conspires with the Shechemites against him
³⁰  Zebul reveals it
³⁴  Abimelech overcomes them, and sows the city with salt
⁴⁶  He burns the hold of the god Berith
⁵⁰  At Thebez he is slain by a piece of a millstone
⁵⁶  Jotham's curse is fulfilled