Bible in a Year Series - Day #244 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible. Click here to learn more. You are most welcome to join along at any time.
Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Ezekiel 18-19.
Note: the post contains a question (found at the very bottom) to discuss in the comments section of this article.
When you see a wild vine, what is your likely response?
I have a few wild vines growing right now on a fence in my back yard. I have been putting up with them for a few days, but their future is certain. I will get my pruning shears, cut them off, and dispose of them forever.
"Your mother was like a vine in a vineyard
planted by the water,
fruitful and full of branches
by reason of abundant water.
11 Its strong stems became
rulers' scepters;
it towered aloft
among the thick boughs;
it was seen in its height
with the mass of its branches.
12 But the vine was plucked up in fury,
cast down to the ground;
the east wind dried up its fruit;
they were stripped off and withered.
As for its strong stem,
fire consumed it.
13 Now it is planted in the wilderness,
in a dry and thirsty land.
14 And fire has gone out from the stem of its shoots,
has consumed its fruit,
so that there remains in it no strong stem,
no scepter for ruling." (Ezekiel 19:10-14)
Ezekiel's lament recalls Israel's glory days (fruitful and full of branches) with the wild vines (strong stems towering aloft) representing the haughty, evil kings of Israel's last days.
There existed a national attitude in Israel that God would never act against them because they were God's chosen people, and were ruled by God's appointed kings under the covenant that he (God) made with King David.
Over, and over, and over God warned that he was about to prune the wild vine (Israel and their evil kings), but they rested in the comfort of their past glories and continued further and further down the path of iniquity.
Then, in 587 BC, God cut the wild vine and discarded it in the fire. Israel was no more, and no more was there a Davidic king (a scepter for ruling).
Further, as we have clearly seen in the oracles against foreign nations, God is also willing and able to prune foreign nations as well.
So, a few questions beg to be asked: Is America becoming a wild vine in the eyes of God? Will God continue to avert his eyes to our national sins (Abortion, Pride, Love of Money, Sexual Immorality)? Have some Americans developed a false sense of security in the founding of our "Christian nation"? Do we think that God is any more tolerant of America's sins than ancient Israels?
The answers to these questions are clear, and God's answer to all these questions is found in the same word he sent to Israel: Repent.
“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.” (Ezekiel 18:30-32)
Oh, how the post-modern mind hates the word repent.
Nonetheless, our desire to continue to live against God's ordinances, and our hatred of turning from our ways (repenting) does nothing to diminish God's pronouncements.
The question now is this: will we listen, or will we too be cut off and disposed of?
Something to think about.
What are your thoughts?
