It is easy for us at times to miss the weight of what is being said in a New Testament passage simply because we are unaware of the Old Testament background. For example, when Jesus asks the Father in the garden to ‘remove this cup from me’ (Luke 22:42), unless we know the background the cup imagery in the Old Testament, we may simply wonder to what cup is Jesus referring. Yet, when we look at Isaiah 51 and read of the cup of God’s wrath, it is then we realize the true weight of Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane.

Another example of this involves our text this morning. In John 15, which Jon read just a minute ago, Christ makes the claim of being the true vine and His Father the vinedresser. At first glance we might simply conclude that Jesus is using an analogy to help his followers understand his teaching about bearing fruit as believers. Yet, when we consider Jesus’ claim to be the true vine and His Father the vinedresser in light of Isaiah 5 (and other Old Testament passages that refer to Israel as God’s vineyard or branch) we see then that the claim takes on a greater weight. This is more than just an analogy, it is a messianic claim, indeed, a divine claim that Jesus is making.

Thus, again we see the importance of understanding the whole of Scriptures as Christian Scriptures. This morning we need to hear Isaiah’s song of the vineyard. We need to understand what he is saying to Israel. As he is bringing his introductory messages to a close, we need to be reminded of the stinging judgment that awaits Judah. Only then can we as believers in Christ truly rejoice in the fact that Jesus is indeed the true vine and His Father the vinedresser.

In order to help us better understand the chapter, I want to break it up into two sections. The first section, verses 1-7, deal with Isaiah’s actual song and the initial judgment. The second section, being verses 8-30, then deal with two sections of woe’s and continual pronouncement of judgment. After this we will look at what we can learn and how this text applies to our own lives.

The song of Isaiah and initial judgment (v. 1-7)

Isaiah begins this chapter with a brief song concerning God, whom he refers to as ‘my beloved.’ Isaiah teaches his listeners of the great provision of God in taking care of the vineyard. We see that the vineyard was planted on a very fertile hill. The Lord cleared the land of stones, which in considering the soil of Israel is a tough job. Next the Lord planted the vineyard with choice vines. We see that he went on to build a watchtower and a wine vat for the vineyard. Isaiah points out all these activities because his listeners understand what it takes to have a successful vineyard in Israel. The whole process would take years before actually yielding fruit. Isaiah does this to point out to his hearers that God has provided everything needed for a healthy crop of grapes. He is emphasizing God’s grace toward the vineyard (and ultimately toward Israel.) Since grapes are so vital to the farmers of Israel, they would understand what Isaiah is saying. Thus, when they hear that the vine yielded wild grapes, they are astonished and possibly even angered at such a result.

At this point, Isaiah gets pointed in his message. In verses 3-6 the Lord now speaks and addresses the people of Israel. He points out that He has been faithful in His provision for the vineyard and yet it still produced wild grapes. In verses 5-6 He pronounces judgment: “And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its walls, and it shall be trampled down. I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and briers and thorns shall grow up; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.” This is terrible judgment that the Lord is pronouncing over His vineyard. All of His protection He will withdraw. All of His provision He will withhold. Indeed the judgment is severe. Again, to us the announcement of withholding rain might not be that big of a deal, but to a people who were completely dependent upon rain for there very survival, it is a severe statement.

Of course, those listening still might not be making the connection between themselves and the vineyard. Thus, Isaiah makes it very plain in verse 7 who the vineyard of the Lord is. The end of the verse is actually a play on words in Hebrew. The word for ‘justice’ and ‘bloodshed’ are very similar as well as the words for ‘righteousness’ and ‘outcry.’ Isaiah is here emphasizing the point that what was expected did not occur. Rather, the exact opposite was taking place in Israel. In order to flesh out what exactly was going on in Israel, Isaiah now moves to two sections of woes accompanied with a further pronouncement of judgment.

Woes and Further Judgment: a description of the bitter crop (v. 8-30)

The first section of woes, consisting of verses 8-17, begins with Isaiah’s woe concerning the hording of riches and the misuse of materials (v. 8-10). Apparently there are those in Israel who are hording up wealth for themselves at the expense of the poor. It is a sense in which the wealthy are becoming wealthier and the poor are becoming poorer. This is in direct violation of the Law and the teachings of the covenant. The poor were not to be un-provided for because of the massing of wealth of certain individuals. Isaiah is again pointing out a societal sin, that of not looking after the poor. Yet, the Lord speaks here and tells them that the land that they are amassing will only yield a tenth of what it should. Simply put, they will labor in vain as they labor in rebellion against the Lord.

In verses 11-12 Isaiah speaks a woe against those who are being consumed by wine. They get up early to drink it and stay up late to keep drinking it. As they are obsessed with wine and drinking they completely ignore the deeds of the Lord. They have no time to think of the Lord’s deeds for they are consumed with their own pleasure.

For this disregarding of the Lord, judgment will fall on Israel. In verse 13 we see that the judgment will fit the crime, for as they forget the work of the Lord, they will be taken into exile, and as they strive for consumption they will go hungry and thirsty. Instead of the men having their fill, Isaiah says that Sheol, or death, will be the one who opens its mouth and is filled. This fits in with Isaiah’s use of the word ‘woe.’ It is language of death and is appropriate for speaking of Israel’s sins. The men who have exalted themselves will be humbled and the Lord will be exalted in His justice and His holy righteousness. In the end, the animals and the nomads will eat among the ruins of those who have gone after such selfish gain in Israel.

The second section of woes and judgment is found in verses 18-30. Here we see that the people are not only sinning and rebelling against the Lord, but they are even arrogant in their iniquity. Look at what they say in verse 19: “Let him (the Lord) be quick, let him speed his work that we may see it; let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near, and let it come that we may know it.” We see their pride and disbelief in the judgment that Isaiah is pronouncing. Yet, these arrogant ones are simply slaves to their iniquity as Isaiah makes plain in the preceding verse. They think they are free but they are deceived. They simply do not see what a terrible taskmaster sin really is.

In verses 20-23, Isaiah then speaks three woes against their perversion of truth and their injustice. Verse 20 speaks of their deception and their calling evil good and good evil. The people are wise in their own eyes, again pointing to their arrogance and their deception, even of their deception of themselves. Isaiah again speaks against their consumption of wine. Instead of being heroes of battle, or heroes of justice, they are heroes of drinking and strong in holding their liquor. We see here a clear abnegation of their responsibilities to be men. Just an aside, there is still this idea of men sitting around trying to be heroes at holding their liquor. Our society is full of men whose only claim to valor is who they can drink under the table. Yet, we must see that this is all deception. The strength of a man is not to be measured in how much alcohol he can hold, but in how much he fears and obeys the Lord. May we indeed labor as men to be strong in the Lord by being obedient to His commands. Isaiah concludes by speaking against their injustice, another societal sin, and echoing the words of Proverbs 17:15.

Isaiah then moves again to the judgment of the Lord. In response to their cry for a swift reply, Isaiah says that they will be burned up as quick as stubble and grass. Isaiah points out that even as the Lord has judged the people in the past, he will continue to punish their rebellion and iniquity. In verses 26-30, we see that the Lord will use the nations to bring His judgment against Israel, possibly referring to the coming Assyrian invasion. The chapter ends on a very gloomy note: “And if one looks to the land, behold, darkness and distress; and the light is darkened by its clouds.”

What then can we learn from this text?

First, we must be reminded of the seriousness of sin and judgment. This is theme that we have already noted and one that will continue to come up in the book of Isaiah. In fact it is one of the central themes of all the Old Testament prophets. Particularly noteworthy here is the fact that the Lord will be strict in his judgment of Israel, His own people. Notice the language that Isaiah uses in verse 7: “For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting.” It is not as if the Lord just does not like Israel any more. No, they are his pleasant planting, His chosen nation, His people. Yet, this does not lessen His judgment. Why? Because the Lord takes sin seriously. He will not let sin go unpunished.

I think the error is often made of excusing sin because of God’s kindness. People fall into the trap of thinking, ‘Surely God will not judge my sin for He is a kind and loving God.’ Kind and loving He indeed is, yet, it would do us good to hear Paul’s words in Romans 2:4-5: “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.” The kindness of the Lord was never meant to lead us to a lax view of sin. Rather, God’s kindness was meant to lead to our repentance. We must be weary of joining ourselves with those in Israel who would taunt the Lord with their sin. We must realize that the day of wrath is coming and that we cannot presume on the kindness of the Lord. Thus, we come to the critical question: If the Lord will judge even his own people Israel and will be exalted in justice and righteousness, then what is our hope?

Our hope is in the true vine, Christ. Thus the second lesson we can learn from this text is our need for, and our hope in, the true vine, Christ. This is where the weight of Jesus’ claim in John 15 comes to bear on the believer. The Lord had set aside Israel to be His vineyard, but they had rebelled and rejected the Lord. Thus, the question is who now will be the people of the Lord. Even in Isaiah we are told that the Lord will raise up a remnant of Israel, that a branch will spring up from the root of Jesse, and that the nations will be blessed through Him. Thus, when Jesus calls Himself the true vine, we cannot help but be amazed at such a claim. He is the promised One to come. He is the One who will rescue the people of God and ransom captive Israel. Christ is indeed the vine and His Father the vinedresser.

Of course then, our primary concern is whether or not we are abiding in the true vine as believers. Christ goes on in John 15 to teach us that the way we measure whether or not we are apart of the true vine is by our fruit, by our continual abiding in Him. As the New Testament teaches the glorious doctrine of being united with Christ, we understand that by faith in Him, we too are a part of the vineyard of God. Church this calls for much rejoicing. We have been united to the true vine of the Lord’s. Thus, may we not presume on the kindness of the Lord, but may we continue to abide in Christ that we might produce fruit in keeping with the true vine of the Lord. As we come to the table this morning, may we proclaim together that we have heard the message of the gospel, the message of the true vine, and we believe and are united with Christ! May we examine ourselves that we might ensure ourselves that we are indeed abiding in the true vine of Christ. May we rejoice in the fact that He is returning to reap the harvest which He has sown to His great glory and our great good! Amen!

THE SONG OF THE VINEYARD