阅读经文 

今天的经文包括一个众树寻找君王的比喻，这个比喻是在以色列动荡不安的士师时代出现的，它强烈地批评那些以不正确的理由去寻找君王的人；寻找君王时，他们不去寻求神的帮助和认可，反而只顾促进自己的权力和自私的野心。

在这个比喻中，众树最初打算从它们的树之中找寻一个王，它们便找橄榄树，可是橄榄树太满足于出产橄榄和油了，而无花果树和葡萄树也同样有自己有价值和有目标的生活，它们看不到有什么理由要放弃这些来管理其他的树木。

在绝望中，众树只好去找荆棘说：“请你来作我们的王。”荆棘简直不能相信自己的运气，其他的傻子既然不愿意接受这职务，它是乐于接受的！它的刺和钩向来都被众树鄙视，现在它可以向它们显颜色了！

荆棘君王要求绝对的忠诚，它恐吓那些不忠于它的树木。讲这个比喻的约坦，最后所说的话的基本意思是：“愿你们得到你们配得的领导者。”

我们得到的往往只是我们配得的领导者，而不是我们真正需要的贤士。然而，因着神的慈爱，我们有基督作我们的君王和我们极为需要的救主。凡投在祂荫庇下的人，都是有福的。

Today's reading includes a parable in which the trees search for a king. The parable emerges from a time of turmoil in the period of the judges in Israel. It comes as a stinging critique of people who seek a king for all the wrong reasons. Rather than seeking God's help and approval in finding a king, they sought to advance their own power and selfish ambitions.

In the parable, the trees seek a king first from one of their own, an olive tree. But the olive tree is too content producing olives and oil. The fig tree and grapevine similarly have productive lives serving a purpose. They see no reason to give this up in order to rule over others.

In desperation, the trees turn to the thornbush and say, "Be our king." The thornbush can't believe his luck. If these other fools don't want the job, he'll take it! His thorns and brambles have always been despised. But now he'll show them!

The thornbush king demands absolute loyalty and makes threats to those who are disloyal. Jotham, the parable-teller, finishes by essentially saying, "May you get the leadership you deserve."

Often we get the leadership we deserve rather than the good leadership we truly need. But through God's goodness we have Christ as our King—our needed Savior. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.