2 Chronicles 35:15  - ”The musicians, the descendants of Asaph, were in the places prescribed by David, Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun the king’s seer. The gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their posts, because their fellow Levites made the preparations for them…”

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“No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God.” – Romans 2:29

Jeremiah 4:4 – “Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, circumcise your hearts, you men of Judah and people of Jerusalem.”

Why did God require the Israelites in the Old Testament to circumcise their baby boys?

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Judges 9:8-15  - One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’  “But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and men are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’

“Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’  “But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’

“Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’  “But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and men, to hold sway over the trees?’

“Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’

Jotham was the youngest son of Gideon (also called Jerub-Baal).  God used Gideon to deliver the people of Israel from the Midianite raiders (see Judges ch 7).  Afterward, the people asked Gideon to be their king out of gratitude (Judges 8:22), but Gideon declined the offer, because he knew that it was better for the Lord to rule over Israel – the people wanted a human leader because it is more convenient for the flesh than dealing with a holy God.

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