Have You Come Into His Vineyard?
Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:
And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. Isaiah 5:1-2
As I read these verses, I can see a classic representation of a very beautiful vineyard on a green hill. I can also feel the warmth and love in the way it has been written. This makes me think - how careful the Lord would have been while planting us in His vineyard. We are His property! He is mindful of you and me.
On one part, the vineyard refers to the spiritual blessings we received when we got saved. Remember: The adversary devil targets 🎯 these blessings solely, to steal them away from us. He does not want us to remain blessed. Whatever God has blessed you with — be careful in preserving them. On the other hand, the vineyard also refers to the Church and the fellowship God has placed you and me into; My wellbeloved refers to Jesus.
HOW DID THE BELOVED PREPARE THIS VINEYARD?
1. He made a fence round about - Fencing an area means making a hedge around it. As I said earlier, the Lord brought us safely into His household, among His people. The fellowship, prayers, praises, become a fence around us. Every child of God, who remains within this boundary is safe and protected.
Now, if someone breaks the hedge by doing his own will and walks out, Scripture says the serpent will bite him. (Ecclesiastes 10:8) Jonah wanted to do his own will, disobedience was working in him. He disobeyed God’s command and ended up being a trouble for himself and others. So, be within the boundary the Lord has placed you.
2. He gathered out the stones thereof - Stones refers to the hardened evil natures in us — speaking ill of others, pride, bitterness etc. It also refers to doubting the Word of God/a heart of unbelief.
When we don’t confess and forsake them, these natures becomes stony and hard — the heart becomes hard. By removing the stones from the soil, there is enough air and space for the plant to grow. The root is able to penetrate deeper. Confessing our sins to God isn’t only a day’s affair. It needs to be done everyday. The Lord promises to remove the stony heart and give a heart of flesh when we humble ourselves (Ezekiel 36:26)
(... to be continued)