1. _Care._ "I the Lord do keep it." With regard to a vineyard, there
is a special meaning in the word "keep." The vine requires great
care. There is much work for the knife. From the pruning of the vine
by the vine-dresser, there is much valuable instruction to be gained.
We learn that what appear to be grievous losses may secure great
gains (H. E. I. 63, 104, 126). Oh, this pruning how painful it often
is! But it is not done because the Owner of the vineyard delights in
it; it proves His love. See Jochebed taking an ark of bulrushes,
putting the child Moses in it, and then laying it amidst the perils
of the Nile: not because she hated him! No; love was at the bottom of
it all, though it appeared otherwise. It behoves the pulpit still to
assure God's people of His care for them.
2. _Provision._ "I will water it." There was necessity for watering
the vineyard constantly. This was done by means of trenches conveying
the water to the roots of the plants. For this purpose rain-water was
carefully stored in cisterns; dew was also of great service. The
means of grace are somewhat like watercourses. We are dry enough and
withered in appearance, but what would we be without the means of
grace? What is the dew? The noiseless influences of the Holy Spirit.
We will compare revivals to showers; they are not with us, like the
watercourses, always. I do not know whether the natural vineyards
must have water without intermission; but the vineyard of the Lord of
hosts requires it "every moment," and here is His promise to supply
the need.
3. _Safety._ "Lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day." It
shall be protected from the blighting frost, from thieves and
spoilers, from "the boar out of the wood," from "the little foxes
that spoil the vines." "I the Lord do keep it." He will not only give
His angels charge concerning it, though He will do that. "The angel
of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him." That shall be
done and more! "For _I,_ saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of
fire round about her, and will be the glory in the midst of her." All
things are in the hand of God, and under His control they shall
co-operate for her safety. It is not surprising that Moses, as he
surveyed Israel from the top of Mount Nebo, should say, "Happy art
thou, O Israel! who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord,
the shield of thy help? The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath
are the everlasting arms." "He that dwelleth in the secret place of
the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." In
dwelling near God there is safety. Israel was always flourishing when
with God. The safety of God's people means more than being kept
together and saved from destruction: "Lest any _hurt_ it!" How
excellent are the promises of God!--_Gweithiau Rhyddieithol,_ pp.
48-51, _by the late William Ambrose of Portmadoc, translated from the
Welsh by the Rev. T. Johns, of Llanelly._