After fencing His vineyard, Jehovah did everything necessary to ensure good fruit, including planting the fertile soil with “the choicest vine.”
The word sorek, used to describe the plant, is the name of an especially fruitful species. The rest of the world had not been cultivated by divine revelation. Only Israel received the pure religion, the excellent law. Ordinances that would help the Israelites keep up their acquaintance with God had been carefully and prayerfully instituted. But God’s chosen ones became a wild vine unto Him (see Jer. 2:21), and because Israel would not listen to reason, the Lord took away “the hedge,” rained no rain upon them (see Jer. 3:3) and the land was trampled underfoot by their enemies. But Jehovah promised that He would preserve the few who believed and that from the stock would come the very choicest of vines - Jesus Christ. Our Savior used this vineyard metaphor in the Gospels, saying, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser” (John 15:1).
And planted it with the choicest vine. ~ Isaiah 5:2
Did you realize you have been planted with the choicest vine? His Father is your Father and mine - the Husbandman. The fruits of Christ’s spirit - love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness (see Gal. 5:22) will grow within us and show without us when the branch abides quietly in the vine, is pruned into usefulness, and is nourished by faith. Fruit hangs on the outside of the tree - displaying the tree’s nature, enhancing the tree’s beauty, and refreshing those who partake of it.
When we are inwardly submissive, we are outwardly obedient - and a hungry world is glad!
In Christ,
Jill Briscoe
Without even thinking about it our lives can very quickly become overloaded. The Lord has created each of us with different carrying capacities. As we learn to understand and accept the way He’s wired us, we’ll be able to better balance what we can and can’t do. He knows who we are and how much He wants us to carry. Fulfillment lies in listening to His voice and being obedient.
As you read these devotions on obedience to God, we pray you will find the encouragement you need to live your life for Him.