Topical Bible: The Vine: God Made, Fruitful for his People when Obedient

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The imagery of the vine is a profound and recurring symbol throughout the Bible, representing God's provision, blessing, and the spiritual relationship between God and His people. The vine is often used to illustrate the covenant relationship between God and Israel, as well as the individual believer's connection to Christ.

Biblical Foundation

The concept of the vine is first introduced in the Old Testament, where Israel is frequently depicted as God's vineyard. In Isaiah 5:1-7, the prophet Isaiah presents a parable of a vineyard, where God is the owner who lovingly tends to His vineyard, expecting it to yield good grapes. However, it produces wild grapes, symbolizing Israel's disobedience and failure to live up to God's expectations. Isaiah 5:7 states, "For the vineyard of the LORD of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the plant of His delight. He looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, a cry of distress."

Similarly, in Psalm 80:8-16, the psalmist recounts how God brought a vine out of Egypt, cleared the ground for it, and planted it, allowing it to take deep root and fill the land. This vine, representing Israel, flourished under God's care but faced destruction due to the nation's disobedience.

The Vine and Obedience

The vine's fruitfulness is contingent upon the obedience of God's people. In Jeremiah 2:21 , God laments, "I had planted you as a choice vine from the very best seed. How then could you turn yourself before Me into a wild vine?" This highlights the expectation of faithfulness and the consequences of turning away from God's commandments.

The New Testament further develops the vine imagery, particularly in the teachings of Jesus. In John 15:1-8, Jesus declares Himself the "true vine," and His followers as the branches. John 15:5 states, "I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing." This passage emphasizes the necessity of abiding in Christ to bear spiritual fruit, underscoring the importance of obedience and dependence on Him.

Spiritual Fruitfulness

The vine metaphor extends to the concept of spiritual fruitfulness, which is a result of a life lived in obedience to God. Galatians 5:22-23 describes the "fruit of the Spirit" as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These virtues are the evidence of a life connected to the true vine, Jesus Christ.

In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus illustrates the principle of stewardship and fruitfulness. The faithful servants who wisely invest their master's resources are rewarded, while the unfaithful servant faces judgment. This parable reinforces the idea that God expects His people to be fruitful and obedient stewards of the gifts and opportunities He provides.

God's Sovereignty and Provision

The vine also symbolizes God's sovereignty and provision. In Ezekiel 17, God uses the allegory of two eagles and a vine to convey His control over nations and His ability to plant and uproot according to His divine purposes. Ezekiel 17:22-24 concludes with God's promise to take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and plant it on a high mountain, where it will bear branches and produce fruit, signifying the restoration and blessing of His people.

The vine imagery serves as a powerful reminder of God's desire for a fruitful relationship with His people, contingent upon their obedience and faithfulness. Through the vine, God illustrates His nurturing care, the consequences of disobedience, and the blessings of abiding in Him.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Joel 2:22
Be not afraid, you beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree bears her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Zechariah 8:12
For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The True vine.
... spread out, the branches and leaves of which were made of gold ... this blessed promise
is that we abide in the Vine, by having ... Do you ask whether God hears prayer? ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the true vine.htm

How Christ is to be Made Use Of, in Reference to Growing in Grace.
... spirits for action and motion; nor will a vine grudge to ... of the Lord towards him,
he is made to stoop ... sovereign and only wise disposing hand of God, and the ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter vii how christ is.htm

The Husbandmen
... the steady advance to rich maturity of the vine He has ... applied to such criminals,
we are made to feel ... The bystanders said, "God forbid!" and when the horrified ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 11 1-12 the husbandmen.htm

The Letter of the Church of Rome
... Take a vine: first it sheds its leaves, then comes a bud ... our kind and compassionate
Father, who has made us his ... of the nations to suit the number of God's angels ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/the letter of the church.htm

Travailing for Souls
... forth that God would visit Zion, and make the vine which he had ... Yes, teacher, God
means to bless your class, but not until first of all he has made you fit ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/travailing for souls.htm

"Thou Shalt Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother. "
... Commandment, since in it all our life is made subject to ... Thy wife shall be as a fruitful
vine in thine house, and ... first of all humbly to call upon God for help ...
/.../luther/a treatise on good works/thou shalt honor thy father.htm

Difficulties and Objections
... thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine and built ... the Gospel to the non-elect
is made an admirable ... their hearts are at enmity against God: it justifies ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter eleven difficulties and objections.htm

Faustus States his Objections to the Morality of the Law and the ...
... that it was good; and that He made a law ... insinuation, that the Old Testament
misrepresents God as threatening ... The great husbandman of the vine uses his pruning ...
/.../faustus states his objections to.htm

Effects of Messiah's Appearance
... because they had some serious thoughts, and made some profession ... that the branches
of the true vine should bear ... of this stamp will think they do God service by ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xii effects of messiahs.htm

Book ii.
... For many products, as the vine, the olive, and different ... but a sacrifice be offered
to God, because that at ... then, that spiritual things should be made known as ...
//christianbookshelf.org/ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/book ii.htm