Previously in chapter 5 Israel is likened to an unfruitful vineyard that experiences God’s wrath, here the picture is of Israel as a fruitful vineyard. God’s wrath is not against the vineyard but against the briers and thorns that would spoil it (v4-5). God loves His people but He makes no treaty with sin and evil and He wants these things driven from our lives.

The Lord’s desire is for His people to blossom and to be fruitful (v6). This fruitfulness cannot happen where sin abounds in the lives of God’s people.

This brings us to God’s purpose for the exiles which is to deal with the sin that the people had (v6-7). The Asherim that would be removed from Israel, was used to worship a false goddess. In the Old Testament the greatest sin that God deplored was idolatry. This was spiritual adultery and showed a people whose hearts had gone astray. The Lord above everything else, wants from us hearts that are filled with love and faithfulness.

The exile would not end in disaster, but there is the promise of the restoration of a people who will return to worship (v12-13). God’s actions and particularly His great plan of salvation is all about creating worshippers.