Immerse: Prophets - Flipbook - Page 348
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IMMERSE
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PROPHETS
15:1–16:14
Then this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, how does a
grapevine compare to a tree? Is a vine’s wood as useful as the wood of a
tree? Can its wood be used for making things, like pegs to hang up pots and
pans? No, it can only be used for fuel, and even as fuel, it burns too quickly.
Vines are useless both before and after being put into the fire!
“And this is what the Sovereign Lord says: The people of Jerusalem
are like grapevines growing among the trees of the forest. Since they are
useless, I have thrown them on the fire to be burned. And I will see to it
that if they escape from one fire, they will fall into another. When I turn
against them, you will know that I am the Lord. And I will make the land
desolate because my people have been unfaithful to me. I, the Sovereign
Lord, have spoken!”
Then another message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, confront
Jerusalem with her detestable sins. Give her this message from the Sover
eign Lord: You are nothing but a Canaanite! Your father was an Amorite
and your mother a Hitt ite. On the day you were born, no one cared about
you. Your umbilical cord was not cut, and you were never washed, rubbed
with salt, and wrapped in cloth. No one had the slightest interest in you;
no one pitied you or cared for you. On the day you were born, you were
unwanted, dumped in a field and left to die.
“But I came by and saw you there, helplessly kicking about in your own
blood. As you lay there, I said, ‘Live!’ And I helped you to thrive like a plant
in the field. You grew up and became a beautiful jewel. Your breasts became
full, and your body hair grew, but you were still naked. And when I passed
by again, I saw that you were old enough for love. So I wrapped my cloak
around you to cover your nakedness and declared my marriage vows. I
made a covenant with you, says the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine.
“Then I bathed you and washed off your blood, and I rubbed fragrant
oils into your skin. I gave you expensive clothing of fine linen and silk,
beautifully embroidered, and sandals made of fine goatskin leather. I gave
you lovely jewelry, bracelets, beautiful necklaces, a ring for your nose, ear
rings for your ears, and a lovely crown for your head. And so you were
adorned with gold and silver. Your clothes were made of fine linen and
costly fabric and were beautifully embroidered. You ate the finest foods—
choice flour, honey, and olive oil—and became more beautiful than ever.
You looked like a queen, and so you were! Your fame soon spread through
out the world because of your beauty. I dressed you in my splendor and
perfected your beauty, says the Sovereign Lord.
