Verses 6-7
The Lord compared the inhabitants of Jerusalem to a piece of vine wood that He had used for fuel. Vine wood is not even good for fuel since it is so soft and burns so quickly. The vine was one of the most common symbols of Israel (Genesis 49:22; Deuteronomy 32:32; Psalms 80:8-16; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21; Hosea 10:1; Matthew 21:33-41; John 15:1-6). Clusters of grapes decorated Herod’s temple as national symbols. [Note: Flavius Josephus, Wars of the Jews, 15:11:3.] Israel’s purpose was to bless the nations with fruitfulness; she was to be a source of blessing to the world (Genesis 12:1-3). If she failed to do that, she was of very little value.
"John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist church, prayed, ’Lord, let me not live to be useless!’" [Note: Wiersbe, p. 190.]
The Lord had set His face against His people in judgment twice already (cf. Psalms 66:12). They had experienced two invasions and deportations, in 605 and 597 B.C. Even though some of them had escaped complete destruction, they were still not bearing fruit and would end up completely burned (cf. John 15:6; Hebrews 12:28-29). This would happen when the Chaldeans destroyed the city and deported the rest of the Judahites in 586 B.C. (2 Chronicles 36:10; cf. Joshua 6:24; Joshua 8:19; Joshua 11:11). It will happen again in the Tribulation (Revelation 14:18).
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