7I will set my face against them. Although they have come out of the fire, the fire will yet consume them. And when I set my face against them, you will know that I am the Lord.
8I will make the land desolate because they have been unfaithful, declares the Sovereign Lord."
- P57
The Lord compares Jerusalem to a useless vine. Unlike other trees, its woodcannot be used to make tools, and when burned, it is worth nothing. The Lorddeclares He will treat Jerusalem as a useless vine. They will know He is the Lordwhen He sets His face against them. - P57
He then declares that He will make theland desolate because of their unfaithfulness. - P57
God’s message through Ezekiel elaborates on the uselessness of vines. Strong, thick wood from a tree can be used to build things; it serves a valuable purpose. However a grapevine does not provide enough wood to build useful things like tools or furniture. God explains that such wood is only good for fueling a fire, and it is poorly suited even for that purpose. In this illustration, we see that the people of Israel have become like a useless vine. - P58
Rather than being selfish and sinful, God’s people should have fulfilled the purpose for which He created them: to faithfully love and serve Him, to love and serve others, and to work diligently for His kingdom so that He may receive all the glory He deserves. - P58
God‘s people have turned away from their Lord. He has saved, protected,
and provided for them, but they have remained unfaithful and become likeuseless vines. They have become useless, not because they are unproductiveor without any talent but because their lives are spiritually futile. They donot represent the words or actions of God because they have forsaken Him.
This warning should awaken us to examine our own lives. - P58
We should reflecton our faithfulness to God by considering what He would deem most im-portant rather than what the world would value. Let us not become uselessvines but remain diligent in our faithfulness to the Lord and encourageothers to do the same. - P58
Dear Lord, I confess that I sometimes allow worries and distractions to keep me from fulfilling Your purposes. I want to be faithful to bring You glory and honor through my words and actions. In Your name I pray, amen. - P58
God converses with us primarily through His words in Scripture.
We can also use His words to respond to Him.
Use the following guide to pray through this week‘s memory verse.
"Therefore say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Repent!
Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!" - Ezekiel 14:6 - P59
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