A lament for Israel the vine
Your mother was like a vine in a vineyard
transplanted by the water,
fruitful and full of branches
from abundant water.
Its strongest stem became
a ruler's scepter;
it towered aloft
among the thick boughs;
it stood out in its height
with its mass of branches.
But it was plucked up in fury,
cast down to the ground;
the east wind dried it up;
its fruit was stripped off,
its strong stem was withered;
the fire consumed it.
Now it is transplanted into the wilderness,
into a dry and thirsty land.
And fire has gone out from its stem,
has consumed its branches and fruit,
so that there remains in it no strong stem,
no scepter for ruling.
This is a lamentation, and it is used as a lamentation.
Reflection
What would have happened if Zedekiah had submitted to the Babylonians? Would he have been spared? But as we see, Israel was sent into exile. A people and nation uprooted and taken to a different land.
If we lose the fire that is from the stem, that passion, that love for Christ, won't we be uprooted also? Won't we be lost in a different land? I think so. If I fail to take care of my relationship with God and ignore God's efforts to restore that relationship with me, I will be uprooted and lost.
Lord, I turn back to you. I have abandoned you at times and I seek your forgiveness. Fill me with that awesome and passionate fire that I may be filled with your love... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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