: Frank J. Popper, I was thinking of you and the metaphor of the Buffalo Commons that you and Deborah SAW before any one else as I worked this out, in response to Psalm 80:7-15 and Isaiah 5:1-7: xxxxx Vineyard is a metaphor for the community of faith, for ancient Israel, for the earliest Jesus people, and for us in the churches now. It’s a great metaphor. You know, a great metaphor doesn’t just fall out of the sky. A great metaphor is born in a community of people before anyone ever says the word. I think a metaphor is noticed, or discovered, not coined or made up. The connection between the image of the metaphor, and the reality of the thing it refers to, just becomes obvious. That’s why vineyard is such a great metaphor for the community of God’s people. As far back as anyone can tell, vineyards were critical to the well-being of ancient Israel and first-century Palestine, in New Testament times. Grapevines thrive in dry climates. The fruit was eaten fresh or dried and stored for later; it was used to make sugar, and to make wine. What was the first thing – the very first thing – Noah did after the flood? He planted a vineyard. That tells you how important vineyards were. Vineyards provided food for widows, orphans and travelers, who could pick behind harvesters, under the law. … At grape harvest time, extended family and friends descended on households to help pick and tread grapes. Otherwise, fruit would rot on the vines. … Vine tending was considered to be more important than military service in defense of the community – because a vineyard was part of a family’s inheritance, passing from generation to generation. To maintain a vineyard was to maintain peace, and prosperity, and social order, and God’s blessing – and life. To lose it, or to lose production from it, was to lose the very promise of God, the inheritance of God. ... Thats why the metaphor of the vineyard for the community of Gods people is so prominent in Scripture. ... xxxxx Peace, FJP. And heres the sermon, if you are ever so inclined to lend an ear: https://youtube/watch?v=8nudCWLHVdU --rm
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 02:14:28 +0000
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