The Vineyard of God

"In that day sing ye unto [Israel], A vineyard of red wine. I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day." Isaiah 27:2, 3

We see the nature of two things here. First is the nature of God's beloved; this includes Israel (Isaiah 5:1, 7) and the Church, since Christ has made the Church Abraham's children (Galatians 3:29). We are as a vineyard, which means:

1. We are planted. We exist by the work of another, not our own strengths.
2. We are a plant. It is our nature to grow, but only if we receive nutrients from another. By ourselves we will fade.
3. We produce fruit. We are not meant to be lifeless and barren. We are meant to produce something, again only by the care of another. By ourselves we will produce nothing.
4. Our fruit makes wine. What we produce is not meant for show, i.e., for our glory. It is meant for use by others, including the one who keeps us (for surely the farmer enjoys the fruits of his crop as well). What we produce is to be poured out to others, and what we give is not water, but wine, something that gives joy and pleasure to men's souls and sweetness to their lips.

The second nature that we see is that of the One who planted us, keeps us, and cares for us. God is our husbandman. He waters us and feeds us so that we may grow and produce fruit. Everything He puts into us produces fruit, so it is the fruit of His labor, and He partakes of its pleasures too. Left to our own way, we are nothing; we would wither and die.
What He puts into us is His very Spirit, His very presence. The fruits we produce are the fruits of His presence. It is sweetness and intoxicating joy to us as we are filled with His presence, and that presence is to be released unto others. Remember: we are the plant that brings His sweetness to men, and He is the sweetness that gives us life.

"Your Love flows in
And brings me Life.
The Fruit it makes
Is full of the same
Delight..."
-Jon Vowell