December 10, 2018: Day 9 – Isaiah 5

Isaiah gives us a simile with the image of a vineyard.  He tells us about his vineyard and how he cared for it and planted it and did everything he needed to do in order for it to grow, but it only produced wild, bitter grapes.  He then says in vs. 7: “For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel and the people of Judah are his pleasant planting.”  The entire chapter is dedicated to the disappointment that the Lord must feel for the people that he had so carefully watched over and yet they did not return the favor.  

There is also an undercurrent of chastising against those who drink too much.  He warns the people that when wine overcomes them, then they are overcome by others in defeat.  It is a simple message, but one that is also good for the ages.  Anytime any substance finds itself in our body and runs our body, then we are no longer able to follow the pursuits  that the Lord would want us to do, rather, we are like a rudderless ship directed by the wind, which is the substance.  It makes the Lord angry, we read, when people do not follow him.  

In this chapter we read  that hell has a special place for them as well.  Look at vs.14 and we read: “Sheol (hell) has enlarged her appetite and opened its mouth beyond measure, the nobility of Jerusalem (those who thought they were safe) and her multitude go down.”  This is a real warning for any of us who think we are safe by coasting through our life and not really paying attention to our faith or the relationship that we have with God.  God is always paying attention and wants to be in relationship with us, even when we disregard him.  This chapter states that there might come a day when God has to simply tear down and replant.