The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel
Ezekiel 15
Chapter XV · Vol. III, p. 1329
3 By the unfitness of the vine branch for any work, 6 is showed the rejection of Jerusalem.
1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, What is the avine-tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?
3 Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?
4 Behold,b it is cast into the fire for fuel; cthe fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet1 for any work?
5 Behold, when it was whole it was meet2 for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?
2 Heb. made fit.
6 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, dAs the vine-tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.3
* The force of the metaphor lies in the fact, that the only value of the vine is in its fruit. If it be fruitless it is absolutely worthless. Israel was a vine. The Lord had planted it. It had proved entirely fruitless, and it was consequently without value. The wood of other trees may be employed for some good purpose, but nothing can be made of the vine, branch or stock. It is only fit for the fire. 'The application is this:—A people to whom God makes himself known, and who turn his grace into lasciviousness, sink far beneath those who have not known God. A heathen nation may have still much good and a future; degenerate Israel, that dwells at present at Jerusalem (this limitation is given by ver. 6, and by the nature of the thing), is utterly miserable, and must perish without remedy,' He.6.4-8.—P.
d Is.5.1-7,24,25. Ps.80.8-10. Je.4.7; 12.9-13; 21.7; 24.8,10; 25.9-11,18. ch.20.47,48.
3 See note * in first column.
7 Ande I will set my face against them; gthey shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and hye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.
e ch.14.8. Je.44.11. Le.17.10; 20.3,6; 26.17. Ps.34.16; 50.21,22.
g 1 Ki.19.17. Is.24.18. Je.48.43,44. Am.5.18,19; 1.4,7,10,12,14. Je.7.20.
8 Andi I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass,4 saith the Lord GOD.
i ch.14.13,15,17,19,21; 6.14; 7.2-15; 12.20. Lu.13.6-9.
4 Heb. trespassed a trespass, ch.xvi.xxii.-xxiv. Is.i.-v. ix. lix. Je.ii.-xix. 2 Ki.17.7-23; xvi.xxi.; 24.3,4. 2 Ch.36.14-16. Je.29.16-19.
Notes
Ver. 2. Vine-tree. Israel is beautifully compared to a vine, spreading from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates, and covering the hills with its shadow, Ps. 80. 8; and our Lord takes it as an emblem of his body and his members, and of that godly discipline which, by his providence or by his church, he exercises for their purification and fruitfulness, Jn. 15. 1-8. C.
Ver. 7. They rejected the word of the prophet, and fled from Jerusalem into Egypt to escape the Chaldeans, but in Egypt they met the destruction they had vainly hoped to avoid, Je. 42. 7-22. C.
Reflections.—In great condescension, God often explains his providences for the satisfaction of his servants and people. But none are more unprofitable than degenerate professors of the true religion. They who will not be useful for the glory of God and his grace, must be made fuel for the fire of his wrath; and must pass from one trouble into another till they be consumed. And the complete ruin of his implacable adversaries will manifest his excellencies, as well as the perfect happiness of his obedient friends.