Vineyard of the Lord
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seat. In their behalf He constantly manifested the riches of His love
and patience.
Through Moses the purpose of God was set before them and the
terms of their prosperity made plain. “Thou art an holy people unto
the Lord thy God,” he said; “the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be
a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face
of the earth.”
“Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God, and to walk
in His ways, and to keep His statutes, and His commandments, and His
judgments, and to hearken unto His voice: and the Lord hath avouched
thee this day to be His peculiar people, as He hath promised thee, and
that thou shouldest keep all His commandments; and to make thee
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high above all nations which He hath made, in praise, and in name,
and in honor; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the Lord
thy God, as He hath spoken.”
Deuteronomy 7:6
;
26:17-19
.
The children of Israel were to occupy all the territory which God
appointed them. Those nations that rejected the worship and service
of the true God were to be dispossessed. But it was God’s purpose
that by the revelation of His character through Israel men should be
drawn unto Him. To all the world the gospel invitation was to be given.
Through the teaching of the sacrificial service, Christ was to be uplifted
before the nations, and all who would look unto Him should live. All
who, like Rahab the Canaanite and Ruth the Moabitess, turned from
idolatry to the worship of the true God were to unite themselves with
His chosen people. As the numbers of Israel increased, they were to
enlarge their borders until their kingdom should embrace the world.
But ancient Israel did not fulfill God’s purpose. The Lord declared,
“I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art
thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto Me?”
“Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself.” “And
now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you,
betwixt Me and My vineyard. What could have been done more to My
vineyard, that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that
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it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now
go to; I will tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away
the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall
thereof, and it shall be trodden down: and I will lay it waste: it shall
not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: