Loss and restoration of the vineyard
by Pastor Matt Bishop
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Return to us, God Almighty! Look down from heaven and see! Watch over this vine (Psalm 80:14).
Read Psalm 80:7–15
About 18 months ago, the humble house next door was demolished to make room for a mansion. The western fence we shared with it had a lovely grapevine whose root was in the neighbour’s yard. The vine threw welcome shade onto our driveway, softened the outlook and brought lots of chirpy little birds into the area. We were really sad when it was torn out.
This sad experience has brought to life just a little how devastated God must have been by the destruction of his beautiful vine, Israel. It’s thought that Psalm 80 is written concerning refugees from the Northern Kingdom coming to seek solace in the Jerusalem temple after the siege and deportation by the Assyrians described in 2 Kings 17:1–6. The psalm uses vivid imagery to describe a once thriving and robust vine that could not be contained. Out of Egypt, this vine was transplanted into Canaan – the ground cleared for the children of Israel in which they could take root and prosper. But the walls of the vineyard have now been demolished, and the grapes plundered by passers-by and wild boar. The refugees plead with the Lord to return to them and to watch over their future, specifically ‘the root your right hand has planted, the son you have raised up for yourself’ – a reference to the Messiah.
Vineyards planted, loved and nurtured by the Lord but ruined by the unfaithfulness of their inhabitants are famous in the Scripture (see, for example, Isaiah 5:1–7 and Matthew 21:33–46). God is always planting his will in the world through the people who hear his word and act on it. God feels deep devastation when we don’t nurture this gift and open ourselves to attack. He’s also the great restorer.
‘Restore me, God Almighty; make your face shine on me, that I may be saved.’ Keep me on your vine. Guard me from your watchtower. In your wine press, process your fruit grown in me so it may be for the good of your world. In Messiah Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Matt Bishop serves the St Paul Lutheran Church and co-located primary school at Blair Athol in Adelaide. He delights in his wife Mel, three young adult daughters and, soon, a son-in-law. He would like to spend more time fishing but loves being a pastor and sharing the gospel with everyone God puts in his path, not least the nomads, prodigals, exiles and sceptics of the Christian faith.
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