Ezekiel Series: Chapter 15 (Written Version)

 

The Useless Vine

Ezekiel 15

“The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, how is the wood of a vine different from that of a branch from any of the trees in the forest? Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful? Do they make pegs from it to hang things on? And after it is thrown on the fire as fuel and the fire burns both ends and chars the middle, is it then useful for anything? If it was not useful for anything when it was whole, how much less can it be made into something useful when the fire has burned it and it is charred?” (Ezekiel 15:1-5).

            Ezekiel finds himself in another vision as he receives a Word from the Lord. By this time, Ezekiel had become accustomed to getting messages from the Lord through visions and direct communication. Therefore, as in previous encounters, the Lord addresses him as Son of man and poses a question of distinction between a vine tree or wood and an ordinary tree in the forest. In this parable, the Lord uses the vine to symbolize Israel and how she had become useless, thus serving no other purpose than for burning. A vine having been cast into a fire can be used for nothing as it is unfit and cannot contribute to anything of value. Unfortunately, Israel had been deemed just as useless as their idols. Both were worthless and futile regarding the holy things of God. The Bible says:  “The people of Israel feed on the wind; they chase after the east wind all day long. They pile up lies and violence; they are making an alliance with Assyria while sending olive oil to buy support from Egypt. Now the Lord is bringing charges against Judah. He is about to punish Jacob for all his deceitful ways, and pay him back for all he has done” (Hosea 12:1-2). Israel and Judah had become good-for-nothing to God because they treated Him as if He were worthless to them. Therefore, the fire metaphor used in the parable to burn the vine’s wood would become their reality as they would see all they had known to be burnt to the ground by the Babylonians.

Unlike the charred vine tree, the forest tree was useful for many things and could be productive under the hands of a good carpenter. When talking to Jeremiah, The Lord described Himself as the Potter and Israel as the clay in His hands to do with them as He desired. Also, Isaiah had written about the Lord being Israel’s Potter long before their captivity, for the Lord desired to use them for His glory. The Bible says: “Yet you, Lord, are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isaiah 64:8). Israel and Judah, however, refused to bend to God’s will. Therefore, they had to be tried in the fires of judgment before any change would occur to humble them. Sadly, it will be too late for many within this nation and the nation itself. The Bible says: “

            It is the same way today with nations worldwide, including the United States. We act as if we do not need the Lord, but we are nothing without Him. Our sovereignty as a nation will cease to exist without the Lord’s hands of protection to cover us. Unfortunately, just like Judah, this nation will have to go through the fires of judgment before recognizing the Lord. The Bible says: “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: “‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon! In one hour your doom has come!’” Revelation 18:9-10). So sad will be the day when America, just like other nations, will have its final blow.

“Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: As I have given the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest as fuel for the fire, so will I treat the people living in Jerusalem. I will set my face against them. Although they have come out of the fire, the fire will yet consume them. And when I set my face against them, you will know that I am the Lord. ⁸ I will make the land desolate because they have been unfaithful, declares the Sovereign Lord” (Ezekiel 15:6-8).

            Jesus called himself the True Vine, and we are nothing apart from being connected to Him. Just like the leaves that fall off the trees during the Fall, neither tape nor glue can re-mend them together once they fall, so they will never produce again. Similarly, anything apart from Christ will not repair or restore us to our original condition in Him. The Bible says: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (John 15:1-4). To be apart from God is to be left to the enemy’s devices. Unfortunately, Judah desired this, so the Lord would give them what they wanted.

            The Lord’s face was no longer going to shine in their direction. Remember the priestly blessing that Lord gave for Moses and Aaron to say for the people of Israel? The Bible says: “The Lord said to Moses, ^‘Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;  the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.’ ‘So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them’” (Numbers 6:22-27). Sadly, the Lord was going to do the opposite of what He had once desired to be a blessing for Israel. His face would turn against them with wrath instead of favor. The Lord would no longer bless them but curse them. They would no longer live in a land of plenty, but struggle for their bare essentials. Their homes would become plunder for their enemies, and their idols would have proven to be worthless on the day of the Lord’s wrath. Babylon was God’s instrument of judgment against His people, not because they were righteous, but because His people failed to live righteously before Him. Therefore, all that they had known, land, family, friends, houses, and even the Lord’s house would lie in ruins.