Spring Cleaning

“I will restore your leaders as in days of old, your rulers as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.” Isaiah 1:26

It is time to do some “spring” cleaning in our Nation.

Our House needs some attention. It was built on a great foundation on the rock face but now lies in ruinous condition. Its gates have been burned with fire and its walls torn down. It is in danger of being deserted, inhabitants exiled. Trees have been cut down and its stumps remain. The people of the House had become very beautiful leaders, their fame spread throughout the nations, but they lavished their favors on anyone who passed by, you took the treasures of the House – the flour, olive oil and honey that belonged to the People of the House – and gave it to the highest bidders.

In the House, a Cornerstone remains that the builders put in place so that its walls would be straight and strong, but instead it is causing many to stumble. The House has had its walls breached, our enemies freely go in and out where they have broken in and steal. Many in the House have put out the lights, they have quenched the fire that keeps the place warm, they have made the sweet bitter and evil good. They force the eating of sour grapes, putting our children’s teeth on edge. The leaven has made the bread bitter, the old wine is sour, the salt has lost its saltiness. The very stones of the walls cry out.

Our vineyards, which had once been planted in good soil by abundant water so that it could produce branches, bear fruit and become a splendid vine, has been uprooted and stripped of its fruit. Right before our very eyes laid waste. It has become a wasteland neither pruned nor cultivated. It is altogether a useless vine. The sheep of our pastures have been scattered because the Shepherds only take care of themselves. Shepherds, is it not enough that you feed on good pasture? Must you trample the rest of your pasture? Is it not enough that you drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?

But Springtime is upon us, the weather is fair, It is time to Shake out the dirt and Spring Clean!

First let us rebuild the walls and fix the gates. There are people who will work to repair the broken walls with all their heart. Opposition to the building of the walls by our enemies will not intimidate us, they will tell us to stop. They may falsely say that we are plotting rebellion but they are only projecting what they themselves planned and carried out. And after the walls and gates are repaired the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves

The walls will be fixed and fortified in the House so that thieves can’t come and go, stealing the treasures of the Home. The doors of the House will be thrown open. It is time to shake the dust out of the rugs. The furniture will be overturned and a fresh cleaning will ensue. The old leaven of malice and bitterness will be thrown out, and new leaven will be put into 60 lbs of flour and it will work through the entire dough. The aroma of fresh bread will again permeate the House and surrounding area, providing nourishment and health to the Household. Not only will the outside of the cups be cleaned but the inside as well.

The salt that has lost its saltiness can’t be used for anything useful but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by the passers-by. The lamps which have been put under bowls or snuffed out will again be lit and put on a stand so that it gives light to everyone in the House. This lamp will bring light to the entire world. The new wine will be put in new wine-skins, the old sour wine will be thrown out so that it can not sour the new wine. A new unquenchable fire will be kindled in the hearth to burn the chaff.

The vineyard walls which were torn down will again be rebuilt, a wine-press will be dug, and a watchtower built. The Gardener will prune every branch that does not produce fruit so that the vine becomes more fruitful. The pruned branches will produce abundant fruit, and the cut off branches will be thrown into the fire and burned up. The vineyard will not be stolen and its walls broken down again, the builders will not reject the Stone which became the chief Cornerstone, for if they fall on that stone they will be broken to pieces and be crushed.

The good Shepherd, the King of kings, will come and call his sheep and they will follow his voice. He will lay down his life for his sheep and protect them when the grievous wolves come to attack the flock and scatter it. He will be a shepherd who searches for the scattered and lost sheep and finds them and carries them on his back. He will bring them back to the flock and bind up their wounds and heal them. He will not be like the hired hands of the House who will not protect the flock but will run when they see the wolves attacking. He will not be like the hired hands who only take care of themselves, yet some of the hired hands will joyfully join him in taking care of the flock.

Yes the House is in disrepair, one even wonders whether it can be cleaned and fixed. But the long dark winter will soon be over and Spring is arriving. Those who think that no one will notice what they have done to the House, those who don’t care for the Sheep of the pasture but only nourish themselves, those who are rebels, partners with thieves and enemies; they who love bribes and chase after gifts. Those who do not defend the cause of the fatherless (or even promote it); the widow’s case does not come before them, those who tolerate evil and overturn good, may find that they have also been removed from the House and new hired hands that partner with the good Shepherd put in their place.