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Isaiah study & commentary

Isaiah 5

By Doug Ford
God's Disappointing Vineyard
Impending Judgment on Excesses
Isaiah 5:1-2

We could imagine Isaiah in a crowd, announcing he is going to sing this son.  As he began to sing, it would have got people's attention.  It was the song of a landowner who planted a vineyard.  This involved work and planning; he cleared it of rocks and made the soil good for growing.  He planted the best vines there and built a tower in the midst to guard and watch the crop.  In expectancy of much fruit, he even installed a winepress.  This is quite an investment of money, time and effort; for that there was an expectancy of a good crop, good fruit.  But the owner was disappointed when all it brought forth was wild grapes.  The term for 'wild grapes' means 'bad berries'; probably meaning sour or rotten.  These were good for nothing.

 

Isaiah 5:3-7

God asks the folks of Judah and Jerusalem to become the judges; to hear what they thought should be done with this fruitless vineyard.  Should the owner have done more?  If so, what could he have done to make sure this vineyard bore good fruit?  If nothing more could be done, then why did it bring forth bad fruit?  The owner chose good ground, the best vine, he protected it and provided for it.  Why did it bring forth wild grapes if the owner did his job?

 

Isaiah continues on in his story as the owner details what will be done with the vineyard. A vineyard bringing forth no fruit is a worthless vineyard.  Why keep bad vines in a good vineyard?  The owner says he will remove the protection and burn the vine.  The wall would be removed and the vine would be trampled down by whoever or whatever wandered by.  The owner would no longer invest any time in caring for it and the thorns and briers would grow up and overcome the former vineyard.  We get a hint that this owner is God when He commands the clouds not to rain on this land. 

 

This song, so far, is consistent with the thoughts and actions of an owner.  Work was done, decisions were made; all for the goal of fruit.  All those listening would agree, this bad vine should be removed, the vineyard was a waste.  Then Isaiah's song takes a turn that may have shocked some; revealing that the vineyard is Israel.  Isiah uses wordplay to contrast the fruit He was looking against the fruit he received; He desired justice & righteousness (mishpat & tsedaqah) but instead Israel brought forth oppression and a call for help (mispach & tse'aqah).

 

See Romans 11:1-26 and Matthew 21:33.  God sent his messengers to the vineyard and finally sent his son.  Se all Psalm 80.

 

Isaiah 5:8-10

Verses 8-22 highlight the various ways that injustice  and unrighteousness played out in Israel.  With each comes the declaration of 'woe'! 


This first Woe is against those who are gathering real estate; buying up land and houses for the sake of accumulation of wealth.  It was greed.  God gave the land to the people but at this time some rich men were buying up the land creating large estates.  This perpetuated poverty among the poor with no chance of recovery.  This was against God's plan for the Israelites (Lev 25; Numbers 26:55; 33:54.  God said that when he judges them (in His hearing) that the houses will be desolate.  The land they accumulate won't produce for them.  The measures in verse ten are very small compared to what would be expected from good land.  The ephah represents ten percent of the initial investment; meaning there was a ninety percent loss!  Good land should offer a tenfold increase. 

      

Isaiah 5:11-17

The second woe in a condemnation of this drunken lifestyle; those who live to party and get drunk.  They get up in the morning thinking about the next time they can drink and party.  They have made drunkenness and drinking their god and religion.  In doing so, they have removed God from their life. 

 

The conclusion drawn from this woe (therefore; v13) is that the people have gone into a life of captivity.  The wise and honorable have become thirsty for drink.  The 'fun' of living a life of party will become a woe that will lead to a barren and dried up life.  The pit of hell has enlarged itself.  It is wide open and those who live this lifestyle shall descend into it.  'He who is jubilant' will not even realize they are sinking toward the pit of hell. 

 

Those that are subject to this judgment won't believe it.  They not only fail to heed the warning, but they fail to see it coming and won't wake up until it is too late.  Sin clouds the mind and deceives; they believe that they have their lifestyle under control.  God said they would be brought down and humbled; it's personal in that He says 'each man'.  God will hold them accountable.  God will be exalted when judgment is decreed on those who separate themselves from Him.  The evil show themselves to be unrighteous; it is then the righteousness and holiness of God is evident.  Others will receive their blessings like the lambs grazing in their pasture.

 

Verse seventeen is a picture of the animals and strangers living large when the drunken and greedy have lost their land in judgment.  It reflects the vanity of human achievement.  This is what life comes to when verse 8 and 11 define a person.

 

Isaiah 5:18-19
The third woe is to those who openly celebrate their sin.  This is the picture of pulling it like a cart behind you.  Imagine a parade float with all your sins displayed on it.  Would you ride the float, smile and wave?  But these folks draw their 'cart' of sin like an animal pulling a wagon.  It's heavy and hard work.  Sin is a burden that is dragging us all down.

 

Then, as if parading their sin wasn't bad enough, they now taunt God and tell Him to hurry up and draw near so they can see Him.  They don't believe God can or will do anything to them.  This is a taunt to those who said judgment was coming.  Instead of severing the cords from their cart, they now vainly celebrate in their sin and mock God at the same time.

 

We see the same thing every day in our time.  People are becoming more brazen about parading their sin in the street.  They don't believe there is a God who will do anything.  Their life is tied up in their 'cart' and they drag it around.  Instead of severing the cords and finding freedom in the Lord, they take pride in their 'cart' and celebrate it and encourage others to do the same.  They claim their cart is an exercise of their freedom and they mock God. 

 

Isaiah 5:20      

The frequency and intensity of the 'woes' is picking up.  There is a clear line between good and evil and God is the one who establishes it.  His moral code and law is written on our heart.  We know when we've done evil in the sight of the Lord.  But over time, those who continue in sin have their conscience seared.  Suddenly there is no standard or set of rules to live by.  Each man does what is right in his own eyes.  Anything goes and if you can get enough to go with you then your group can determine that your sin is no longer sin.  This is moral relativism.  However, from the viewpoint of the Lord, it is calling evil good and good evil.  It is confusing darkness and light and bitter and sweet.  When we can no longer recognize there is a single truth we are trouble.  Instead we determine 'my truth' and 'your truth' as if they can be different.  See 1 Corinthians 1:20.

 

Isaiah 5:21
For some reason, movies stars, athletes and politicians come to mind when I read this.  Yet, we all fall prey to this one at some point.  We are easily blinded by our self interest and do what is right good for us.  This is the fifth woe.      

 

Isaiah 5:22-23
This woe goes to the drunken judges who will justify for a bribe.  They steal justice from the righteous man for a payment.  The Proverbs speak over and over about justice and honest scales.  The perversion of justice by a drunken judge gets God's woe (times two!).

 

Isaiah 5:24-30
Therefore, because of these woes, the judgment will consume them.  A fire will come and burn the stubble and chaff; it will come quickly and unexpectantly and consume completely.  God's word and law will keep us on the right path, but when it is rejected and despised we can expect judgment quickly, unexpectedly and it will be complete.     

 

The second 'therefore' is a continuation and application of this judgment against His people.  The 'stretching out His hand' is God moving in judgment for correction.  His hand strikes them and the hills tremble; this may be the big earthquake at that time. 

 

God will raise up the banner of another nation.  He is speaking of Assyria and Babylon.  He used these nations by making them the tools of His judgment.  Both nations had fierce armies and they laid hold of their prey like a lion.  God gave the Northern kingdom over to the Assyrians and declared no one would deliver them.  He later gave the Southern kingdom over to Babylon for their destruction.

 

©2018 Doug Ford