Beloved, our Father often uses horticultural terms to express ideas in the bible. In this study, we are going to study how God uses throns to convey His message to us. In the Book of Judges, as the name implies, Israel was governed by a series of judges. Israel wanted a king to rule over them. The problem was that, God was willing to be their king.

Let's see what God's word has to say in the book of Judges

Judges 9:8 The tree went forth on atime to anoint a knig over them; and said unto the olive tree, reign thou over us.

Beloved, don't miss the symbology. From the beginning, God has utilized trees to smybloize different people or entities.

9. But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour Godand man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

10. And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.

11. But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

What is the significance of the fig tree? As Christ said in Matthew 24 and Mark 13, "New learn a parable of the fig tree".

12. Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

13. And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

The vine provides the wine which is symbolic of our Lord and Savior's blood. He willingly gave His blood so that we might have a chance to repent our sins and have eternal life.

Note: the olive, fig and the vine all had a purpose. Their purposre was something other than being king only Jesus Christ is suited to be our King, and He is King of Kings.

Judgs 9:14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.

Bramble may also be translated Thorn Tree. What purpose could thorn tree possibly serve? Let's see what God's word says.

Judges 9:15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

The cedars of Labanon are always symbolic of Israel. What has been said here? The Thorn Tree is willing to be knig and promines refuge in his shade. Beloved, there is only one problem, The thorn tree provides no shade. The Thorn Tree is willing to be a false king and is symbolic of Satan.

Unfortunately, many of the cedare of Labanon will be ready to accept the false king's lies rather than await the retun of the true king, Jesus Christ.

Let's see what the New Testament tells us about thorns. Paul humbly teaches us about an experience he had by speaking in the third person.

2 Corinthians 12:1-2 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

Were is the third heaven? 2 Peter Chapter 3 teaches us there are three earth ages and three heavenly ages. Paul was taken ti the third heavenly age.

2 Corinthians 12:3-5 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

4. How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

5. Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

Paul chose to glory in his weaknesses rather than the fact he was taken to the third heaven. Why would he do that? There was a thorn involved. Let's read on.

2 Corinthians 12:6-7 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

7. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

Paul was given a thorn to keep him from coming back on ab ego trip. It would have been easy for most men to return boasting, "Yes I have walked the streets of heaven. List to what I have to say.

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

When Paul was at hes weakest, he became strong with power of Christ. God allows His chrildren to be tested with problems from time to time. Why? It is healthy You may be called upon in the near future to fight a spiritual war.

If you are not tempered for battle, what help would you be? This is the difference between a "poor me baby" and a "can do Christian". A "can do Christian" knows that when he isn't able to get the job done, Christ is. You can't lose.

If you have faith, the thorns of life in the flesh won't bother you all that much. In fact, God sometimes utilizes thorns to wake His children up or get their attention.

Let's turn to the book of Hosea which means Salvation. In Chapter 1 of this great Book, God divorces Israel for harlotry. Our Father refers to Israel as His wife so we might better understand His emotions.

Hosea 2:1 Say ye unto your brethren, Ammi; and to your sisters, Ruhamah.

Ammi means My People and Ruhamah may be translated loved or pitied one. These are the chrildren that resulted from Israel playing the harlot.

Hosea 2:2 Plead with your mother, plead: for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts;

There mother of course, is Israel. God is telling the chrildren to plead with their mother not to embrace Satan.

Hosea 3:3-4 Lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst.

4. And I will not have mercy upon her children; for they be the children of whoredoms.

I want you to see the emotion God is communicating here. When His children are decived and wander off following other gods, Father became very angry.

Hosea 2:5-6 For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.

6. Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths.

God bulids a wall of thorns between His wife and sin, therefore, she in unable to sin. He is utilizing thorns to drive this woman back to him. Remember there is no gender implies. The woman is Israel.

Hosea 2:7-8 And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.

2. For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal.

She did not realize God created the riches the woman was receivivbg from her lovers back in verse 5. Father will use throns to correct His chrildren. We are going to turn to Ezekiel 28 at this point. Satan has been condemned to ashes in verse 18. We are going to pick it up with verse 20 and what is promised to Satan's allies.

Ezekiel 28:20-21 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

21. Son of man, set thy face against Zidon, and prophesy against it,

Zidon is a city on the mainland near the small island of Tyrus. Satan's followers conducted a great dealm of trad and commerce from this island. The people of Zidon, no doubt, were quite involved.

Ezekiel 28:22-23 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her.

23. For I will send into her pestilence, and blood into her streets; and the wounded shall

be judged in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

The sword is the truth of God's word. There are many today that say, "There is no God. We all evolved from an amoeba". Let me tell you something, Beloved, Every knee will bow, when they come to know He is the Lord.

Ezekiel 28:24 And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

After Satan is turned to ashes and his followers straigtened out or allowed to join him, there will be no need for thorns or briers. It will be a wonderful time.

Ezekiel 28: 25-26 Thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in

the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob.

26. And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the LORD their God.

Don't miss the fact God stared. He will execute judgements upon those that persecute His children. I would't want to be in their shoes. In conclusion, let's turn to Exekiel Chapter 2. In the first part of this Chapter God tells us He will always send a teacher to teach the Word to Israel, Read the 10 verses.

Eze 1. And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I

will speak unto thee.

Eze 2. And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.

Eze 3. And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.

Eze 4. For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.

Eze 5. And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.

Eze 6. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

Eze 7. And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.

Eze 8. But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.

Eze 9. And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;

Eze 10. And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

Now beloved, those of you that teach pay close attention. Did God say study real hard and then speak your words? No, Father said, in verse 7 "thou shalt speak My words unto them". You see beloved, It is not your responsibility to make the rebellious children understand God's word; beloved, your responsibility is only to speak His word.

God utilizes thorns to correct His chrildren. He also uses thorns to protect His children. You might think of thorns as every day problems in your life. Do your best to handle these problems, but don't ever forget you may turn the problems you aren't able to handle over to your Father.