Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?
The vine is Israel, brought out of Egypt and planted after the heathen were cast out, given room to take deep root and spread until it filled the land from sea to river with its shadow covering the hills. It was carefully tended and lovingly cared for, transplanted and planted in Canaan, and its prosperity was also figured by the vine decoration of the temple.
The breaking down of her hedges is the withdrawal of divine protection, leaving the vine exposed so that all who pass by the way pluck her. The boar out of the wood wastes her and the wild beast of the field devours her, and she is burned with fire and cut down, perishing under rebuke in ruinous judgment.
The exposure came because the carefully planted vine became unfruitful through rebellion and ingratitude. Though prophets were sent and sacrifices were established pointing to the one great Sacrifice, and Christ himself worked to save His people by offering mercy and healing, Israel resisted grace, rejected Christ, and persecuted the messengers sent to warn her.
In Hezekiah's crisis over Judah the verse pleads for the God of hosts who dwells between the cherubims to return, look down from heaven, and visit the vine and the branch made strong for Himself. It asks Him to cause His face to shine so His people are saved and quickened to call upon His name and not go back from Him. This is that the honor of Israel's Supreme Ruler may be maintained and all kingdoms of the earth may know that the Lord is God and there is none else.
The verse is also a cry over Judah exposed to enemies and made a strife unto neighbors while enemies laugh among themselves. It pleads for the Shepherd of Israel who dwells between the cherubims to return, look down from heaven, and visit the vine and the vineyard His right hand planted. It asks Him to quicken His people, cause His face to shine, and save them, so that all kingdoms of the earth may know that the God of the Hebrews still lives and reigns and that the Lord is God alone.
The vine is Israel, brought out of Egypt and planted after the heathen were cast out, given room to take deep root and spread until it filled the land from sea to river with its shadow covering the hills. It was carefully tended and lovingly cared for, transplanted and planted in Canaan, and its prosperity was also figured by the vine decoration of the temple.
The breaking down of her hedges is the withdrawal of divine protection, leaving the vine exposed so that all who pass by the way pluck her. The boar out of the wood wastes her and the wild beast of the field devours her, and she is burned with fire and cut down, perishing under rebuke in ruinous judgment.
The exposure came because the carefully planted vine became unfruitful through rebellion and ingratitude. Though prophets were sent and sacrifices were established pointing to the one great Sacrifice, and Christ himself worked to save His people by offering mercy and healing, Israel resisted grace, rejected Christ, and persecuted the messengers sent to warn her.
In Hezekiah's crisis over Judah the verse pleads for the God of hosts who dwells between the cherubims to return, look down from heaven, and visit the vine and the branch made strong for Himself. It asks Him to cause His face to shine so His people are saved and quickened to call upon His name and not go back from Him. This is that the honor of Israel's Supreme Ruler may be maintained and all kingdoms of the earth may know that the Lord is God and there is none else.
The verse is also a cry over Judah exposed to enemies and made a strife unto neighbors while enemies laugh among themselves. It pleads for the Shepherd of Israel who dwells between the cherubims to return, look down from heaven, and visit the vine and the vineyard His right hand planted. It asks Him to quicken His people, cause His face to shine, and save them, so that all kingdoms of the earth may know that the God of the Hebrews still lives and reigns and that the Lord is God alone.