Proper 22: Old Testament, Isaiah 5:1-7                           

Isaiah 5:1-7

Things seem fine at the outset of today’s reading. Isaiah 5 begins as a pleasant parable. Oh how the Lord crafts his Word through his prophets and apostles. God is a great writer and he knows how to use a “hook.” Boy, does he. A story of a vineyard planted with care and with the highest expectations on a “very fertile hill.” It’s a word unique to the OT in this spot and it denotes the best of the best soil. Whatever God ends up planting here is going to grow. Enter the seed, the vine if you will.

God’s expectation is that the vine (Israel) will grow and flourish. God says in verse 2, that “he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.” Wild grapes. Those that grow uncontrolled and outside the tending of the vinedresser. It’s not what was expected. The sin and sins of the nation caused God to send waves of judgement and chastising. Multiple waves because the people of Israel were so very slow to learn.

Verses five and six include the correction of the Vinedresser in four distinct statements: First, “I will remove its hedge.” Protection? Gone. Next, “I will break down its wall.” Security? Gone. More: “I will make it a waste.” Sustainable soils? Gone. And finally “I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.” Future fruitfulness? Gone.

Yes God uses the hook luring the reader/hearer in by painting a pleasant and pastoral landscape. He continues by describing the foolishness of the planting when absolutely everything had been secured for its success. Similar to the tale spun by the prophet Nathan to expose the corruption of King David, the real culprits are exposed in this parable and their blatant disobedience brought forward for all to see: “he looked for justice, but behold bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry” (Isaiah 5:7)! 

 

The power of our choices. The costliness of our rebellion. It was deadly in Isaiah’s day. It is no less so today. Listen well to the parable and give thanks that all has been accomplished for us to thrive. May we be the good yield desired by the faithful Vinedresser. Amen.