Scripture

Now the vine is transplanted to the wilderness, where the ground is hard and dry.

Observation

This chapter is in the form of a funeral song for the leaders of Israel,

Two lion cubs are described, referring to two of the kings towards the end of the dynasty ruling over Judah.

The first cub grows to be a strong young lion who hunts prey but becomes a man-eater. He is trapped in a pit and taken to Egypt.

The lioness takes another cub who also grows strong. He also becomes a man-eater, demolishing fortresses and destroying towns. The nations attack him and take him in a cage to Babylon,

Judah was a strong and fruitful vine growing tall. But it was uprooted in fury and transplanted to the desert where the ground is hard and dry. Its remaining limbs are not strong enough to be a ruler’s sceptre.

Application.

Judah had been a strong and fruitful vine planted in a fertile place. But its people had failed to obey God. They rebelled against him over and over. So he uprooted them and planted them in a foreign land where they would struggle to maintain their identity.

The discipline of the Lord never feels good at the time, but it is always positive. God leads us away from places and relationships that are bad for us. It feels like we have been uprooted and transplanted to hard, dry ground. But it is always for our good. He protects us from sins or a lifestyle that is leading to death.

A vine must be pruned to bear better fruit and more fruit. The Lord will prune us to see us bear more fruit for His kingdom.

Listen

Lord, is there more you would say to me about this chapter?.

Keith, leaders are like lions. If they do their job properly and take their calling seriously, they will protect my people from other predators,

Sometimes they themselves become the man eaters who pray on the flock, whether that is a nation or a church. They will face even greater punishment than others, because they know what they have done is wrong, but they use people for their own indulgence. I hate all who do this.