Editorial October 30, 1948 Issue

THE WATCHTOWER IN THE VINEYARD

Robert Ellis Key

When Christ Jesus spoke of himself as the true vine and his Father as the husbandman, he was using a vividly descriptive metaphor familiar in the East. The vine of the Father's planting is the Christ, or Truth, the Messiah, Immanuel, or "God with us." The fruits of the Spirit are those characterized by the Apostle Paul as "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance" (Gal. 5:22, 23). How carefully we must guard these precious fruits!

Isaiah writes: "My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: and he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it" (Isa. 5:1, 2). In these exquisite words the prophet-poet has described a scene familiar to many travelers in Palestine. One may notice the round tower constructed of rough stones collected from the surrounding land. In this watchtower sits the owner of the vineyard or one of his family. Day and night he watches over the ripening vines until the grapes are gathered and the wine press is filled. Around the vineyard is a fence, first defense against would-be robbers and four-footed marauders. No wonder the vineyard is watched over with meticulous care!

The poet-author of the Song of Solomon sang, "Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish" (S. of Sol. 7:12). A Christian Scientist in his early morning prayer surveys his vineyard to see if the fruits of the Spirit still flourish in his consciousness. These morning moments of self-examination form a precious prelude to his prayers. Surely sour grapes will be the harvest instead of sweet fruit if the vine is not tended, if the Christ is not cherished. We have seen the dangers of neglect. We know, for instance, how love may seem to be perverted; how spiritual joy may appear to be counterfeited in sensuous conviviality; spiritual peace be lost in stagnation, or gentleness submerged in a silly sentimentality. We look for grapes, but behold wild grapes, useless, worthless, and sour. And why should this be? Surely it is because God has been ignored, the watchtower of spiritual observation has been deserted, the vines neglected, and the fence allowed to fall into decay; or perhaps because the watchman was busy with worldly affairs—forgetful of God— the little foxes have leaped over the protective fence and run in amongst the vines.

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