Ezekiel 15

Jerusalem, a Useless Vine

15 And the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest? Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do people take a peg from it to hang any vessel on it? Behold, it is given to the fire for fuel. When the fire has consumed both ends of it, and the middle of it is charred, is it useful for anything? Behold, when it was whole, it was used for nothing. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it ever be used for anything! Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And I will set my face against them. Though they escape from the fire, the fire shall yet consume them, and you will know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them. And I will make the land desolate, because they have acted faithlessly, declares the Lord GOD.”

(ESV)

Ezekiel 15 Commentary

by Brad Boyles

The grapevine was of utmost importance to the agriculture of ancient Israel. Coming off the heels of Chapter 14 (which was about false prophets), it’s interesting to consider that Jesus makes a direct correlation between fruitless and false in Matthew 7.

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.

Matthew 7:15-17 NASB

Notice here in Ezekiel that God does not refer to them as worthless. They have not been useful in the roles they were created for, however, God still finds value in His people. This is clearly seen at the cross. You are not worthless to God – but you can be useless.

This is precisely why Jesus came to show us our value and become the vine. Here in Ezekiel, Israel is referred to as the useless vine. Fast-forward to the NT and we find Jesus proclaiming in John 15, “I am the vine and you are the branches.” In this way, Jesus has stepped in to assist us by first showing us our worth and then providing us a means to be useful in the role God designed us for!

Through the forgiveness of sin, the Holy Spirit, the Word, and the church, God has given us everything we need to be fruitful. Yet, today some are still functioning as thorn bushes and thistles in their life. What about your life? Is there fruit? Are you connected to the vine, or have you become useless like Israel?