Isaiah - Verse By Verse | Isaiah

Isaiah - Day 87

versebyverse | August 30, 2008 22:09

Scripture: Isaiah 5:7 (NIV): "The vineyard of the LORD Almighty is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the garden of his delight. And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress."

Thought: To me, it is justice and righteousness, or what we today might call equity and morality, that are indeed lacking in our culture.

Here God clearly explains the analogy, so that no one can say they do not understand. Israel is the vineyard, and the Jews are the people to whom this is primarily directed. God will "destroy" them because they have gone "bad." This applies to Christians as well though, because, as stated in Romans, we Gentiles have been "grafted into" the vine that is Jewish ( Romans 11:17 - 24: "If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, 'Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.' Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!").

God joyfully plants His vineyard, "the garden of His delight," looking to see qualities come forth that please Him. Instead, He is very much displeased, finding only "bloodshed" and "distress." War, killing and oppression have filled the land. "Justice" and "righteousness" are not found. God has every reason to harshly judge His people!

Prayer: Lord, cause me to become more pleasing and delightful to You! May You become The One to Whom I bow for accountability. Amen.