Ezekiel 15

Bible writers often quote God using the metaphor of a vine or vineyard to describe his people. The idea is that they will be fruitful and prosperous and well cared for. They didn’t live up to the metaphor (see Isaiah 5:1–7; Psalm 80:8–16). In Ezekiel 15, the vine symbolizes Judah’s spiritual crop failure and coming destruction. This also emphasizes that even vine wood is good for nothing once it’s burned.

That’s not quite “Turn the other cheek,” as Jesus later instructed (Matthew 5:39). Some Christians would argue that what God is expressing here is a matter of justice not a matter of petty anger. They would say this is a sacred response to sinful people who are hurting themselves and hurting others. They might say that God is resetting the nation and giving the people a painful and deadly do over. Another way to look at that is to think of God as a heartbroken parent after spending centuries trying to capture the devotion of his children.