Eze 15:6 | KingComments | STEP | The value of the vine to the LORD lies in bearing fruit for Him, and Israel has guiltily failed to do that. Therefore, He gives up the inhabitants of Jerusalem as fuel to the fire ( ). He has already given up “both of its ends” ( ) to the fire. Here we can think of the carrying away of the ten tribes in 722 BC and a transport of some distinguished people from the two tribes around 606 BC. The charred middle part ( ) are the inhabitants who remained in the middle of Jerusalem. They escaped the one fire, but the LORD turns His face against them and will also burn that middle part with fire ( ). By this they will know that He is the LORD. This will happen when Nebuchadnezzar takes the city and completely destroys it ( ). The cause of this fire is that they have “acted unfaithfully”. They have trampled on the faithfulness they solemnly promised by saying they will do all that the LORD has commanded. Marital unfaithfulness is one of the most shocking things that can happen to a person. Israel has not been unfaithful just once, but their entire history is one of unfaithfulness and deceit. We are also unfaithful when our interest is in the world and worldly things. That is a spiritual marital unfaithfulness. We then do not answer the purpose, that we are here to bear fruit for God. We are not in this world to live after our own desires and ideas. The Son created all things for Himself ( ), including us. Therefore, we might no longer live for ourselves, but for Him Who died and rose again on our behalf ( ). The Lord Jesus says to us: “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and [that] your fruit would remain” ( ).

‏ Ezekiel 15:6

The Application of the Parable

The value of the vine to the LORD lies in bearing fruit for Him, and Israel has guiltily failed to do that. Therefore, He gives up the inhabitants of Jerusalem as fuel to the fire (Eze 15:6). He has already given up “both of its ends” (Eze 15:4) to the fire. Here we can think of the carrying away of the ten tribes in 722 BC and a transport of some distinguished people from the two tribes around 606 BC.

The charred middle part (Eze 15:3) are the inhabitants who remained in the middle of Jerusalem. They escaped the one fire, but the LORD turns His face against them and will also burn that middle part with fire (Eze 15:7). By this they will know that He is the LORD.

This will happen when Nebuchadnezzar takes the city and completely destroys it (Eze 15:8). The cause of this fire is that they have “acted unfaithfully”. They have trampled on the faithfulness they solemnly promised by saying they will do all that the LORD has commanded. Marital unfaithfulness is one of the most shocking things that can happen to a person. Israel has not been unfaithful just once, but their entire history is one of unfaithfulness and deceit.

We are also unfaithful when our interest is in the world and worldly things. That is a spiritual marital unfaithfulness. We then do not answer the purpose, that we are here to bear fruit for God. We are not in this world to live after our own desires and ideas. The Son created all things for Himself (Col 1:16), including us. Therefore, we might no longer live for ourselves, but for Him Who died and rose again on our behalf (2Cor 5:15). The Lord Jesus says to us: “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and [that] your fruit would remain” (Jn 15:16a).