A vineyard of red wine
The Church a vineyard of red wine
The Church of God is here compared to a vineyard.
The vine is a tender plant, needing continual care; and if the vineyard is not well fenced and guarded, the enemies of the vine are sure to get in and destroy it. The Church is called “a vineyard of red wine,” because the red grape happened to be the best kind grown in Palestine; and, in like manner, God’s Church is to Him the best of the best, the excellent of the earth, in whom is all His delight. But what is true of the whole Church is also true of every member; the same God who keeps the vineyard also protects every vine, nay, not only so, but His care extends to every little branch, to every-spreading leaf, and to every clinging tendril of that vine which He undertakes to keep night and day. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
The vineyard of red wine
In what day? The day of threatening and punishment of the wicked. The Church needs encouragement amid danger and darkness. And God gives it when required.
I. WHAT SHE IS. A vineyard of red wine. A common figure of the Church. It is to intimate--
1. That members are separate from the world and enclosed around.
2. That they are cultivated and eared for. They differ from the world as flowers from weeds, a garden from a wilderness.
3. That they are owned. Believers are God’s people, His chosen inheritance, His private property.
4. That they are profitable. A vineyard yields fruit, and so adds to the advantage of its owner. It is a vineyard of “red wine.” A vineyard from which is extracted the richest juice. Everything of God’s doing is not only perfect, but superior. Everything with which He supplies His people is the best. “Their peace passeth understanding.” Their joy is “full of glory.”
II. WHAT SHE IS TO POSSESS. “I, the Lord, do keep it,” etc. Here is--
1. Guardianship. The Keeper gives His whole attention to Its protection. How wise a guardian is God! “Lest any hurt it.” His whole army of angels act as a guard with their flaming swords.
2. Provisions. “I will water it.” The act of watering means all the necessary provision required for the nourishment of the vines and the production of fruit. The Holy Spirit is likened to the water of life, which Christ has promised to give freely to all who ask Him. There are also His ordinances and sacraments.
3. Vigilance. “Keep it constantly”--night and day. The great God slumbers not nor sleeps. His eye is ever on His people. No foe can elude His guardianship. (Homilist.)
The Church as God’s vineyard
What a contrast between the vineyard here spoken of and that whose history was given in the fifth chapter of this prophet. That was a favoured vineyard. Everything was done for it to promote its fruitfulness; but what sort of fruit did it produce? “God looked that it should bring forth grapes: and it brought forth wild grapes.” What happened then? His indignation fell upon it. By that unfruitful vineyard was represented the Jewish people. But now turn and behold the other vineyard
- that which is brought before us by my text. This vineyard is the real,spiritual Church of the Redeemer.
I. THE DESCRIPTION GIVEN OF THIS VINEYARD. The spiritual Church of Jesus is “a vineyard of red wine.”
1. By this “red wine” may be intended, perhaps in part, the faith of Christ’s elect people. “Red wine” was in great esteem amongst ancient Jews, as appears in Proverbs 23:31.
2. The Lord may call His Church “a vineyard of red wine,” in reference to the love she bears to Him.
3. Christ’s Church is a “vineyard of red wine,” because she “abounds in all the fruits of righteousness.”
II. THE PRIVILEGE WHICH IT IS REPRESENTED AS ENJOYING. The vineyards of the Jews were carefully kept and cultivated. The vines in the country of the Jews appear to have needed constant watering. The Lord’s spiritual vineyard needs perpetual watering from above. These natural vineyards in which the Jewish land abounded required, however, something more than cultivation. A chief part of the duty of the “keepers of the vineyard” was to protect the vines from depredation. And is the spiritual vineyard less exposed? (A. Roberts, M. A.)
God’s care for His vineyard a subject for song
To them who are ready to conclude that God hath forgotten to be gracious these words may prove a source of encouragement. They--
I. REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF GOD AS A VINEYARD. As God values His vineyard for the same reasons that men value their vineyards (because of its fruit), it behoves us to inquire what sort of fruit it is which makes His vineyard valuable to Him. All the asperities of disposition and all the want of spiritual excellence, which we may suppose are designed by wild grapes, must give place to “whatsoever things are true; whatsoever things are honest; whatsoever things are just; whatsoever things are pure; whatsoever things are lovely, and whatsoever things are of good report.” “Love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,” must adorn and beautify your character.
II. DESCRIBE GOD’S CARE FOR HIS VINEYARD. The care of God for His vineyard is manifested in two ways: by His unceasing attention to the culture and growth of these heavenly fruits, and by His unremitting vigilance in preserving it. The soil is not congenial with a plant of heavenly origin. For the heart of man is hard and unfruitful. The clime of this world is cold and variable: the atmosphere tainted with sin; and every wind of passion blights and withers the vine. If the sun of persecution and trouble smites it too often it is scorched. He, therefore, who has planted it for His own glory, and who is always glorified when it brings forth much fruit, watches over it, tends it with solicitude. There is not one moment when you who love and serve God cease to be the objects of His care, and of His renovating influence.
III. A SUBJECT FOR SONG. This song implies, that the people of God have the knowledge and enjoyment of His care and protection. It is not the will of God that you who have repented, and are doing works meet for repentance; who have believed in Christ, and have a faith which worketh by love, should continue in doubt and uncertainty respecting your state. As the song should be appropriate to the occasion and suitable to the subject, the song which we are to sing is--
1. A song of adoring admiration.
2. Of joyful gratitude.
3. Of holy confidence.
4. Of deep humility.
You are called upon to be humble because you have nothing that you have not received, but also because, after having received so much, and after being laid under obligations so many and so distinguishing, you make returns so inadequate and so unsuitable. (M. Jackson.)