Vines & Vineyards
Clearing a field
INVITATION.
Begin with silence
Quiet settling in
A deep breath, slowly let it out
Meditation.
“Now I will sing for the one I love
a song about his vineyard:
My beloved had a vineyard
on a rich and fertile hill.” [Isaiah 5:1]
Devotional.
God invites us where we are.
A song, a parable, a looking, and a disappointing moment. Does this sound like a normal day?
We awake in the morning after a good night of sleep with a song. Then a few hours of moving about our day we hit a lesson (parable), right? At some point, we hopefully pause for lunch and look back over our morning to see how we're doing and then forward to see how much more is to come in our day. We notice moments of disappointment. Again, doesn’t this sound like a normal day?
As God invites us where we are may these rhythms bring comfort to us for His eyes are on us!
God is part of our ordinary day whether we acknowledge Him or not!
As His children, He sees us this way:
“Beloved”
“Well-loved”
“the one I love”
Pause. Be still for a moment.
When you’re ready, listen to the way God sees His People (you and I)
from Isaiah 5:1
The Song of the Vineyard sounds like this:
“I will sing for the one I love
a song about his vineyard” [NIV]
The Parable of the Vineyard calls out:
“Now let me sing for my greatly Beloved [Lord]
A song of my Beloved about His vineyard (His chosen people).
My greatly Beloved had a vineyard…” [AMP]
Looking for a Crop of Justice brings these lyrics:
“I’ll sing a ballad to the one I love,
a love ballad about his vineyard:
The one I love had a vineyard,
a fine, well-placed vineyard. [MSG]
The ways of hearing this song seem endless, here’s one more from Isaiah 5:1
“God’s Disappointing Vineyard”
Now let me sing to my Well-beloved
A song of my Beloved regarding His vineyard:
My Well-beloved has a vineyard
On a very fruitful hill. [NKJV]
Pause. Take a moment to be still and hear God’s voice say to you– “Beloved” “Well-loved” “the one I love” in the midst of your ordinary day.
How do these resonate or invite exploration for you?
Let us not be discouraged but be encouraged by His song, parable, looking, and even disappointing, for these opening lines give attention to the way God views His children.
Hopefully, we are drawn to God by His voice, like that of a loving parent quietly spoken. And yes, offering correction for our waywardness, yet heart-loving disappointment but NOT One to give up on us or throw us out. In fact, He is the Vinedresser (Father), creator of the Vine (Jesus), with Branches (you and I) that grow tethered to the vine, then trellis their ways outward and cling to one another.
A little reflection seeping-in:
I have been fascinated by the work of vineyards since a young teen and even more so as I’ve enjoyed some beautiful familial wine experiences.
My mother’s Portuguese family owns a large nursery in the central valley of California where they graft vines for prominent vineyards in California and along the West Coast.
My father’s side of the family of cousins have lived and worked for years in the northern California wine country of Mendocino County.
Every family gathering (especially during Thanksgiving) as a child, I’d watch the “creative-workers” of these vines and vineyards bring the fruits of their labors to share with all who gathered for a meal. I was bummed that for so long I was only able to savor the taste of their labors by “watching” and hoping one day I would be able to touch the fermented juice to my tongue. Eventually I did!
The joy and laughter of celebrations always came alive during these relished familial gatherings. They have always been a gift of love for life with music, dancing, storytelling, listening, watching, joining in where all were welcomed.
Thank you to my familial wine-makers and festive lovers.
Reflect. Take a moment to reflect upon your own Vine(s) & Vineyard(s) experiences. What place or people appear in your memory? What senses are you attentive to or have lingered with you? Journal your own “reflection seeping in.”
Continue listening to God’s caring ways.
“He plowed the land, cleared its stones,” [NLT]
“He dug it all around and cleared away its stones,” [AMP]
“He hoed the soil and pulled the weeds,” [MSG]
What does it mean to clear the field?
In practical and literal terms, we hear and see the verbs of hard work, time and great efforts of digging, pulling, moving great and small stones, plowing rows upon rows where seed or that of grafted vines anticipate being placed into the soil.
Beyond the literal labors, we know God uses Vines & Vineyards as metaphor [symbolic] for us to understand how He cares for us. [see Bible Places.com for more]
Read the full passages of Isaiah 5 from one translation or of each if you’d like. Imagine what God is in the midst of with His people.
Slow down and be still with the phrases of clearing the field imagery listed below. Sit with each verb and notice:
What might God be speaking to you about caring for your life?
How might He be preparing you for something fruitful or waiting to be planted?
What other verses or stories in Scripture come to mind?
How is He caring for you, in the way of
Clearing
Plowing
Pulling weeds
Moving or removing stones
Digging all around
Remember our heavenly Father is the Vinedresser [John 15]. Our invitation is to spend time with Him, giving ourselves to His work as branches attached to the Vine (Jesus) and Vinedresser (the Father).
We are invited to participate in a life of intimate relationship where He cares for us through loving work, and for bearing fruit(s) so we may gather together as family’s have for years in celebration of their Vines & Vineyards.
For God has brought us together to enjoy wine, labor, love, fellowship–communion
with Him and one another.
