Sour Grapes
One Year Bible: November 8
Ezekiel 18:1-19:14
SOUR GRAPES
Recently, I bought a large container of unfiltered cherry juice in a glass container. It looked so pretty, and I had heard it lowers blood pressure. I poured myself a nice large cup and took my first large gulp. It has been a week now and my eyes are still crossed and my cheeks are wrinkled and puckered! I threw away the juice but washed and kept the nice glass bottle.
Now, when I partook of this puckering punch of a drink, my daughter’s mouth did not pucker. She was smarter than me and makes her own blended potions with vitamins and tasty fruits.
This, however, was a proverb that the Jewish people had come to believe. Probably because of what they had observed in punishment during Old Testament times… But God is telling them that he hands out judgment according to each person’s deeds.
“Why do you quote this proverb concerning the land of Israel: ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste’? As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, you will not quote this proverb anymore in Israel. For all people are mine to judge--both parents and children alike. And this is my rule: The person who sins is the one who will die.”
Yet, the people persisted in saying, “The Lord isn’t doing what’s right! O people of Israel, it is you who are not doing what’s right, not I.” (18:29)
How will God judge each person?
“Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions… Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you! Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn back and live!” (18:30 F)
Here is the part that is brand new to them as it is a peek at the new covenant that God will be bringing their way. God is going to give them a NEW HEART and a NEW SPIRIT in the right relationship with HIM.
This passage ends with a funeral song for the kings of Israel. God had given his people Judges to rule over them, and God, himself, was to have been their king.
But, oh no, that was not what they wanted and so they cried out for a king. How well did that work for them?
Most of the kings over Judah and Israel had unlimited power, wealth, and self-reliance. They turned out to be evil rulers. Their time has ended with the judgment of the LORD.
God will bring about a holy righteous king through the lineage of the Davidic Dynasty and a new reign of peace will be born, but this lament puts the Kings of Israel and Judah in the past.
Zedekiah was the very last king from the Davidic dynasty until Jesus the Messiah came just as the prophets foretold. (Gen. 49:10, Dn 9:26, Luke 1: 30-33)
It will not be until Jesus returns that a son of David will again sit on a throne in Jerusalem to reign as Israel’s king.
(Dan. 2:44, Is. 52: 1-10, Jer. 23: 3-8).
“The Sour Grapes” Proverb is being replaced by the “Fruit of the Vine”.
Isn’t it interesting that each LORD’s DAY as Christians gather together we partake of the bread and the cup of juice from the vine?
The one-time sacrifice of Christ as God’s Passover Lamb established a brand new covenant with God’s people. They were not able to have that NEW HEART and NEW SPIRIT that was spoken of in this passage. They would need someone perfect to pay the price for their death warrant and that was Jesus.
What does this passage mean to us today?
It is such a powerful reminder that we don’t pay for our parents’ sins and our children don’t pay for our sins either. God will judge each and every man according to their actions.
The bad news is that each and every one of us is guilty of sin. Our actions are not perfect in thought or manner. However, God has made a way to bridge that uncrossable gap that the Israelites faced in the Old Testament.
“The Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the NEW COVENANT in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” ( I Cor. 11: 23-28)
Jesus, the perfect son of God, took the SOUR GRAPES and gave us the bread (his body), and the cup, (his precious lifegiving blood) as our reminder that “Whosoever will may come” through Him and His perfect sacrifice.
The New Covenant seals the deal! No more SOUR GRAPES!
