The People of God--God's Kingdom--I

A fourth metaphor the Bible uses to describe the people of God is God's kingdom. In this metaphor, God is compared with a king, and his people are compared with the kingdom he rules. This is a very difficult metaphor for people in the contemporary world really to comprehend and appreciate, because modern peoples tend to have democratic political systems rather than absolute monarchies, as was quite common in the ancient world.

In God's kingdom, God alone is king. All people in his kingdom are subject to his absolute rule. God's kingship is multifaceted.

1. God is king of the world and of the nations.
Psalm 47:1-9
"Clap your hands, all you nations;
shout to God with cries of joy.
How awesome is the Lord Most High,
THE GREAT KING OVER ALL THE EARTH!
He subdued nations under us,
peoples under our feet.
He chose our inheritance for us,
the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.
God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.
Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to OUR KING, sing praises.
FOR GOD IS THE KING OF ALL THE EARTH;
sing to him a psalm of praise.
GOD REIGNS OVER THE NATIONS;
GOD IS SEATED ON HIS HOLY THRONE.
The nobles of the nations assemble
as the people of the God of Abraham,
FOR THE KINGS OF THE EARTH BELONG TO GOD;
he is greatly exalted."

The nations of the world may never recognize or acknowledge that Yahweh is in control of the world and of their rulers and peoples, but the fact remains that Yahweh is indeed in control of all he has created, and thus he uses nations and peoples as he wills to carry out his purposes. To tiny human beings on earth, it may appear that another human being or a nation is in control, but this is never the case.

Isaiah 40:15, 17-18, 21-25:
"Surely the nations are like a drop [hanging] from a bucket;
they are regarded as dust on the scales;
he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. . . .
Before him all the nations are as nothing;
they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.
To whom, then will you compare God?
To what image will you compare him? . . .
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
HE SITS ENTHRONED ABOVE THE CIRCLE OF THE EARTH,
AND ITS PEOPLE ARE LIKE GRASSHOPPERS.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
HE BRINGS PRINCES TO NAUGHT
AND REDUCES THE RULERS OF THIS WORLD TO NOTHING.
No sooner are they planted,
no sooner are they sown,
no sooner do they take root in the ground,
than he blows on them and they wither,
and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.
'To whom will you compare me?
Or who is my equal?' says the Holy One."

Yahweh is the incomparable creator and sustainer of all that exists in heaven and on earth. Before him, the nations are like a drop of water hanging from a bucket, like a speck of dust on the scales, like grasshoppers; they are nothing--no--they are "less than nothing." God's rule is absolute, eternal, and universe-wide. He alone is king. There is no other.

John Willis

The People of God--God's Field or Vineyard--III

Hosea also compares God's people with a vineyard which Yahweh transplants from Egypt to Canaan, expects to bear good fruit, is disappointed because it bears corrupt fruit, prunes it back by sending Israel into Assyrian exile, but still cares for the vineyard and anticipates cultivating it again for productive growth. One can follow the story in Hosea by noting the following passages:

Hosea 9:10:
"When I found Israel,
it was like finding grapes in the desert;
when I saw your fathers,
it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree.
But when they came to Baal Peor,
they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol
and became as vile as the thing they loved" [see Numbers 25:1-3].

Hosea 9:16:
"Ephraim [=Israel] is blighted,
their root is withered,
they yield no fruit.
Even if they bear children,
I will slay their cherished offspring."

Hosea 10:1:
"Israel was a spreading vine;
he brought forth fruit for himself.
As his fruit increased,
he built more altars;
as his land prospered,
he adorned his sacred stones."

Hosea 14:5-7:
"I [Yahweh] will be like dew to Israel;
he will blossom as a lily.
Like a cedar of Lebanon
he will send down his roots;
his young shoots will grow.
His splendor will be like an olive tree,
his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.
People will dwell again in his shade.
He will flourish like the grain.
He will blossom like a vine,
and his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon."

In addition, Hosea 10:12-13c uses agricultural language to describe God's relationship to and expectations of his people Israel:

"Sow for yourselves righteousness,
reap the fruit of steadfast love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes
and showers righteousness on you.
But you have planted wickedness,
you have reaped evil,
you have eaten the fruit of deception."

As a farmer or vinegrower cultivates and waters and weeds soil to produce a good crop, so God cultivates and waters and weeds the human heart to produce a life of service to him and to others. The fields or vineyards must submit to the vinegrower's care and respond to his work; otherwise, they will produce no crops. May God help us respond to his love care, so he can work in our hearts and produce healthy fruit.

John Willis