Wednesday: The Parable of the Lord’s Vine
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 6th of March 2024
Read Psalms 80:1-19. How are God’s people portrayed in this psalm, and what great hope do they plead for?
Israel is portrayed as a vineyard that God uprooted from Egypt, the land of oppression, and transported to the Promised Land of abundance. The image of a vineyard conveys God’s election of Israel and His providential care (read also Genesis 49:11-12,22; and Deuteronomy 7:7-11).
Image © The Classic Bible Art Collection – Formerly Standard Publishing at Goodsalt.com
However, in Psalms 80:1-19, God’s vineyard is under His wrath (Psalms 80:12). The prophets announce the vineyard’s destruction as the sign of God’s judgment because the vine has turned bad (Isaiah 5:1-7, Jeremiah 2:21).
However, Psalms 80:1-19 does not ponder over the reasons for divine judgment. Given the depths of God’s grace, the psalmist is perplexed that God can withhold His presence from His people for such an extended time. The tension between God’s wrath and judgment, on the one hand, and God’s grace and forgiveness, on the other, causes the psalmist to fear that divine wrath may prevail and consume the people completely (Psalms 80:16).
Read Numbers 6:22-27. How is this blessing used by Psalms 80:1-19?
The psalm’s refrain evokes Aaron’s promise of God’s perpetual blessing of His people (Numbers 6:22-27) and highlights the hope that God’s grace will triumph over the causes of the people’s misery: “Restore us, O God; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved!” (Psalms 80:3, NKJV; see also Psalms 80:7,19, NKJV).
The Hebrew word for “restore” here comes from a common word that means to “return,” and it is used again and again in the Bible with God calling His people, who have wandered away, to return to Him. It is closely linked to the idea of repentance, of turning away from sin and back to God. “ ‘ “Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart” ’ ” (Jeremiah 24:7, NKJV).
How have you experienced for yourself repentance as a return to God?
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Living next to The Hunter Valley, a renowned wine region in Australia, offers a visual treat, even for non-wine drinkers. In the coming months, the rolling hills transform into a stunning patchwork of green and gold foliage, painted by autumn. However, a unique challenge becomes evident as you enter the valley: moving grapevines is strictly prohibited.
Large signs warn against transporting grapevines, their soil, or anything that has been in contact with them. This restriction is due to Phylloxera, a tiny insect similar to an aphid, that poses a significant threat to vineyards. Phylloxera infests roots and sometimes leaves, and eradication is incredibly difficult. The standard practice upon discovery is to destroy the entire vineyard through controlled burning and soil sterilization.
Therefore, if you wish to bring grapevines into the area, a specific process ensures your plants are completely free of Phylloxera, safeguarding the health of the region's renowned vineyards.
When the children of Israel moved from Egypt to Canaan they were like moving a grapevine - they had to have the Phylloxera of idolatry removed from their root system. Unfortunately, history reveals that one treatment was not enough and evil is persistent enough to require continued vigilance.
How have you experienced for yourself repentance as a return to God?
A repentance such as on (Psalms 51:1-14), is beyond the reach of our own power to accomplish; it is obtained only from Christ, who ascended up on high and has given gifts unto men. (SC25. 3)
Many accept an intellectual religion, a form of godliness, when the heart is not cleansed. It is my prayer to God that he may, "Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10). Sometimes I associate myself with the multitudes that sorrow they have sinned and even make an outward reformation because we fear that our wrongdoing will bring suffering upon us. But this is not repentance in the Bible sense. This is to lament the suffering rather than the sin. (SC25.) Repentance includes sorrow for sin and a turning away from it. We shall not renounce sin unless we see its sinfulness; until we turn away from it in heart, there will be no real change in the life. SC 23.2
My prayer is to ask God to help me to be as earnest, as persistent, as I would be if my mortal life were at stake. This is a matter to be settled between God and my own soul, settled for eternity. A supposed hope, and nothing more, will prove my ruin.
He who would build up a strong, symmetrical character, he who would be a well-balanced Christian, must give all and do all for Christ; for the Redeemer will not accept divided service. Daily he must learn the meaning of self-surrender. He must study the word of God, learning its meaning and obeying its precepts. Thus he may reach the standard of Christian excellence. Day by day God works with him, perfecting the character that is to stand in the time of final test. And day by day the believer is working out before men and angels a sublime experiment, showing what the gospel can do for fallen human beings.{Acts of Apostle 483.1}
Paul, may I add, hold on keep a good grip of Christ. He has extended His hand to us that we may grasp and hold onto for dear life. 1 Timothy 12,19.
You have said well.
Psalm 80:1-19 –
V. 3 – “Restore us, O God; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved!”
V. 18 – “… Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.”
V. 19 – “” Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved.”
It seems clear that the reviving of man can only take place within and through the Vine - Jesus Christ, God’s Son; He is the Vine, we are its branches. If the branch does not show the fruit expected to be produced by its Vine, this branch will eventually be removed. It is as simple as that.
As long as we remain a fruitful branch of the Vine, it shows that God's presence abides and continuous to nourish and provide life in us - always for the 'better' though it might at times seem difficult to understand as the branch itself is being pruned; but not cut or removed.
And as the owner of the vineyard diligently and carefully prunes his vines to produce a more abundant and healthier harvest, so it is with our God – His pruning always strengthens and contributes to His long-standing plan of creating a new earth and a new heaven where only righteousness dwells. John 15:4-11; 2 Peter 3:13.
Repentance is about returning to God and finding true purpose in life. It's easy to lose sight of this purpose and focus only on myself, but I must remember that my life gets whole meaning to serve God's will. I pray that I don't forget the talents that God has given me and that I use them to serve Him and His kingdom.
I do believe that David learned much of his faithfulness to God and willingness to be forgiven and forgive not only from God, but others also. David learned from the Prophets of his time with prayer and a humble contrite spirit, sometimes in due time, as the Holy Spirit worked on His heart. He learned from his officers, in due time, much is the case with us today.
True repentance is complete cut off from sin..
The things we desire and the things we fear are the idols that control us. It is only as I understand the height and depth and breadth of God’s love that the power of these idols can be broken in my life. God did not bring the children of Israel to sinless perfection before they left Egypt. All he asked was that they would follow him to his promised land. On that journey, he worked to change their hearts to free them from idols that controlled them.
Jesus’ apostles and his disciples did not walk in sinless perfection before he called them. All he asked was that they follow him to the Kingdom of God. On that journey, he worked to change their hearts to free them from idols that controlled them.
Repentance is getting a glimpse of who and what I am and who and what God is, and then making decisions step by step as I answer his call to “Follow me.” In this way, “Love is made perfect in us in order that we may have courage on the Judgment Day; and we will have it because our life in this world is the same as Christ's. There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear. So then, love has not been made perfect in anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do with punishment. We love because God first loved us.” (1 John 4:17-19 GNB.)
This is the experience of repentance that I have experienced.