In the Old Testament the vine was a rich symbol for national Israel (as opposed to individual believers). Yahweh planted, cultivated, and protected his people, and in return he expected fruit from them. Ps. 80:8–13 typically developed this metaphor, emphasizing how Israel was a transplanted vine rescued from Egypt and relocated in good soil:
You have brought a vine out of Egypt; You have cast out the nations, and planted it. 9 You prepared room for it, And caused it to take deep root, And it filled the land. 10 The hills were covered with its shadow, And the mighty cedars with its boughs. 11 She sent out her boughs to the Sea, And her branches to the River. 12 Why have You broken down her hedges, So that all who pass by the way pluck her fruit? 13 The boar out of the woods uproots it, And the wild beast of the field devours it.
According to Isa. 27:2–3, the Lord protects and rejoices over his vineyard, Israel.
2 In that day sing to her, “A vineyard of red wine! 3 I, the Lord, keep it, I water it every moment; Lest any hurt it, I keep it night and day.
But most often the vineyard metaphor depicts the shortcomings of Israel. Its vineyard walls have been broken and its crop ravaged (Ps. 80:12).
12 Why have You broken down her hedges, So that all who pass by the way pluck her fruit?
The prophets repeat the theme again and again. Jeremiah asks how the vine has become a “wild vine” (Jer. 2:21; cf. 5:10; 12:10–11).
21 Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality. How then have you turned before Me Into the degenerate plant of an alien vine? 10 “Go up on her walls and destroy, But do not make a complete end. Take away her branches, For they are not the Lord’s. 10 “Many rulers have destroyed My vineyard, They have trodden My portion underfoot; They have made My pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. 11 They have made it desolate; Desolate, it mourns to Me; The whole land is made desolate, Because no one takes it to heart.
Later in Isaiah, he speaks with utter dismay about the Lord’s disappointing harvest of wild grapes despite God’s care and nurture (Isa. 5:1–4; cf. Hos. 9:10).
1Now let me sing to my Well-beloved A song of my Beloved regarding His vineyard: My Well-beloved has a vineyard On a very fruitful hill. 2He dug it up and cleared out its stones, And planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, And also made a winepress in it; So He expected it to bring forth good grapes, But it brought forth wild grapes. 3 “And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, Judge, please, between Me and My vineyard. 4What more could have been done to My vineyard That I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, Did it bring forth wild grapes?
This means that the vineyard must be judged. Its wall will be broken, his protection removed, and its vines no longer weeded or hoed; even the rain upon it shall cease (Isa. 5:5–7).
5 And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; And break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. 6 I will lay it waste; It shall not be pruned or dug, But there shall come up briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds That they rain no rain on it.” 7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah are His pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help.
Its wood will be burned like useless timber (Ezek. 15; cf. Rev. 14:19–20).
We’ll continue with a further look at how it was used in the Intertestamental period next time…
No comments:
Post a Comment