ISAIAH
Isaiah 5:1-7

quote:

"Let me sing now for my well-beloved a song of my beloved concerning His vineyard. My well-beloved had a vineyard on a fertile hill. 2 He dug it all around, removed its stones, and planted it with the choicest vine. And He built a tower in the middle of it and also hewed out a wine vat in it; then He expected it to produce good grapes, but it produced only worthless ones. 3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between Me and My vineyard. 4 What more was there to do for My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why, when I expected it to produce good grapes did it produce worthless ones? 5 So now let Me tell you what I am going to do to My vineyard: I will remove its hedge and it will be consumed; I will break down its wall and it will become trampled ground. 6 I will lay it waste; It will not be pruned or hoed, but briars and thorns will come up. I will also charge the clouds to rain no rain on it. 7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel and the men of Judah His delightful plant. Thus He looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, a cry of distress."

Here in chapter 5 is prose, poetry and parable. Isaiah used song to present his parable and to get a hearing. The theme is of a vineyard that had been lovingly cared for. It had been planted in a choice place. The ground was carefully prepared by removing its stones. Anyone who has been to Israel knows the work that would entail! It was planted with good vines and was well-protected. Provision was even made for the grapes to be processed. Isaiah identifies the owner of this vineyard to be the Lord Himself and the vineyard as His covenant-people, who were separated from the nations for His glory and as the object of His attention and care. With all of the advantages given, the result was remarkably poor. What would have been expected to produce superb grapes, produced grapes unfit to be eaten.

In verse 7 we find a play upon Hebrew words. What the Lord saw in Israel is expressed in the words, "He looked for justice (mishpat), but behold, bloodshed (mispat); for righteousness (tsedaqua), but behold, a cry of distress (tseaqua)."

This is a true picture of God's graciousness in choosing Israel. He had showered them with blessings including the law and the prophets. The sad result was that Israel had gone their own way, refusing to receive the instruction and discipline of their God. There was nothing God had left undone in caring for Israel. He had given His grace to take away their hearts of stone. He planted it with the choicest vine, setting up a pure religion among them and giving them excellent instructions for living. He provided a tower, the Temple, where God promised to meet His people and give them the tokens of His Presence. And finally He made a wine-press, set up His altar, to which the sacrifices as the fruits of the vineyard would be brought for maintaining their relationship with Him.

Therefore, Israel is faced with passing judgment upon themselves in admitting God had dealt with them in abundant grace and mercy and that they themselves were responsible for their rebellion. Verse 5 announces that judgment has come. God would remove His protection and Israel would become an easy prey to their enemies for desolation from the surrounding nations.

It could be asked of us as well, "What more is there for God to do for us that He has not already done?" It is a lesson to us that we, who have been given the Bible containing God's righteous instructions for living and know of the ultimate display of His grace in the atoning death of His beloved Son, examine our own hearts that no hypocrisy be found in us. He has given the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in following in His footsteps. Rather than going our own way, may our lives bring forth the fruit of the Spirit and righteousness which comes only from Him.