Topical Bible: Brier: Figurative

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In biblical literature, the term "brier" is often used figuratively to convey themes of desolation, judgment, and the consequences of sin. Briers, or thorny plants, are frequently mentioned in the Bible as symbols of obstruction and difficulty, reflecting the spiritual and moral challenges faced by individuals and nations.

Symbol of Judgment and Desolation

Briers are commonly associated with divine judgment and the desolation that follows disobedience to God. In Isaiah 5:6, the prophet Isaiah speaks of God's judgment on Israel, saying, "I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and briers and thorns will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it." Here, briers symbolize the abandonment and ruin that result from Israel's unfaithfulness.

Similarly, in Isaiah 7:23-25, the land is described as being overrun with briers and thorns due to the people's rejection of God: "In that day, every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels of silver will become briers and thorns. Men will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers and thorns." The imagery of briers overtaking the land underscores the severity of divine retribution.

Representation of Sin and Its Consequences

Briers also serve as a metaphor for sin and its entangling effects on human life. In Proverbs 22:5, the path of the wicked is likened to a field of briers: "Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse; he who guards his soul stays far from them." This verse highlights the dangers and spiritual pitfalls that accompany a life of sin, urging believers to remain vigilant and avoid the entrapments of wickedness.

Obstacles to Spiritual Growth

In the New Testament, briers are used to illustrate the hindrances to spiritual growth and fruitfulness. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus describes seed sown among thorns, which are akin to briers, as representing those who hear the word but are choked by life's worries, riches, and pleasures (Luke 8:14). The presence of briers in this parable emphasizes the challenges that worldly distractions pose to spiritual maturity and the bearing of good fruit.

Contrast with Blessing and Restoration

The imagery of briers is often contrasted with scenes of blessing and restoration, where briers are replaced by fruitful and flourishing plants. In Isaiah 55:13, the transformation from briers to more desirable vegetation symbolizes the renewal and redemption that God promises: "Instead of the thornbush, a cypress will grow, and instead of the brier, a myrtle will spring up. This will be a memorial to the LORD, an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed."

Conclusion

Throughout Scripture, briers serve as a powerful figurative tool to communicate themes of judgment, sin, and spiritual obstruction. They remind believers of the consequences of turning away from God and the importance of remaining steadfast in faith to avoid the spiritual entanglements that briers represent.

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Isaiah 5:6
And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor dig; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain on it.
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Isaiah 55:13
Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
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Ezekiel 2:6
And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with you, and you do dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
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Ezekiel 28:24
And there shall be no more a pricking brier to the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
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