Psalm 80:15

Psalm 80:15

The root, the branch and the Son

When Moses first received instructions from the Lord to go and confront Pharaoh and ask for the release of the Hebrew slaves, the Lord gave him a specific command. “Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son, and I told you, “Let my son go, so he may worship me.” But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.’” Exodus 4:22-23. This is in an interesting concept in that just as Christ is described as the heavenly or spiritual “firstborn of the dead” and the “firstborn over all creation”, so Israel is given the earthly title of God’s firstborn – His son. Into that wonderful scenario we may now add those who are “born again” and who are also entitled to call themselves sons and daughters of the living God. 

Israel, as we have seen, are the planted vine, planted by the right hand of God. It’s fascinating to discover that the words “son” and “branch” are sometimes used interchangeably in Scripture in that a fruitful branch was an allegory for a fruitful son. So, here in this verse, God has planted a vine root and the fruitfulness of the plant is in its branches or the sons it produces. Let’s hear the words of the prophets on this matter. 

“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.” Jeremiah 23:5

“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD— and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.” Isaiah 11:1-3

Just as Jesus was a fruitful branch from the stump of Jesse, so Israel is the fruitful branch of the vine planted directly by the Lord God. In Romans 11, all believers in Christ are branches that have been grafted into the plant, this time an olive! Hallelujah.

 

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