The Vinegar Bible

My daughter took me on a private tour of her college campus, now that she has had some time to adjust. It is a lovely small campus, and the people are super friendly. In the library, we saw a most unusual Bible in a display case. It was turned to the book of Luke 20. The heading for the section said, "The Parable of the Vinegar."  This is actually supposed to be "The Parable of the Vineyard." No one is certain how many Bibles were printed with this typo, but my daughter's college has one of them!

I found this to be a most revealing mistake, and one that has a lesson for all of us. A vineyard produces wine, which used in moderation gladdens the heart and soothes the ragged edges of life. However, wine, if left unused and open to the air turns to vinegar. No one wants to drink vinegar. It is acidic and harsh, and the last thing it promotes is gladness.

Which would we rather be? A vineyard, bearing juicy fruit that is sweet and craved by all...or vinegar that is sour, acidic, and harsh? Will we beckon others to the sweetness of knowing our Lord, or drive them away by the bitter acid of a spirit that lies dormant and unused?

I know it was considered a typo, but it brought God's message to me in  a very unusual and powerful new way.
********************

Psalm 104:15 

And wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart.

Proverbs 10:26 

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.