QT 7/5/2023 Ezek 15:1-8, It is important to abide to produce fruit

Ezekiel 15:1–8 (ESV) —

1 And the word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest? 3 Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do people take a peg from it to hang any vessel on it? 4 Behold, it is given to the fire for fuel. When the fire has consumed both ends of it, and the middle of it is charred, is it useful for anything? 5 Behold, when it was whole, it was used for nothing. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it ever be used for anything! 6 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 7 And I will set my face against them. Though they escape from the fire, the fire shall yet consume them, and you will know that I am the Lord, when I set my face against them. 8 And I will make the land desolate, because they have acted faithlessly, declares the Lord God.”

 

NOTE: Israel is often referred to as a vine in scripture. The sole purpose of a vine is to produce fruit, grapes. The wood is useless except for a fire. Why is the vine here if it produces no fruit? Why does it exist if it has no use? The answer is that the vine exists to produce fruit and when it does not produce fruit, it is pruned until it does produce fruit. And ultimately if it doesn't produce fruit after pruning, it is thrown into the fire.

 

This is the argument against Israel. They have produced no fruit and they are being thrown into the fire. And ultimately they cannot escape the fire.

 

As believers we may not think this applies to us, but it does. At a group-level, nations that transform because of the gospel are vines grafted in, but when they cease to represent Christ, they are cut-off and thrown into the fire.

 

John 15:5–6 (ESV) — 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I abiding in the vine?
2. Or am I to be pruned?
3. Or am I to be thrown away? (not losing salvation but losing the opportunity to be a good witness)
4. And are the gathered branches about to be burned?

 

PRAYER: Father, I don't know what this means for our nation, but the gathered branches which represent dead Christianity are enough for a huge fire. As we finish our celebration of our nation's birth, may all remaining believers beseech you for our nation.