The Song of the Vineyard

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

The Song of the Vineyard

Date: Oct. 1, 2017

Passage

Isaiah 5:1-7 (ESV)

1   Let me sing for my beloved
    my love song concerning his vineyard:
  My beloved had a vineyard
    on a very fertile hill.
2   He dug it and cleared it of stones,
    and planted it with choice vines;
  he built a watchtower in the midst of it,
    and hewed out a wine vat in it;
  and he looked for it to yield grapes,
    but it yielded wild grapes.
3   And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem
    and men of Judah,
  judge between me and my vineyard.
4   What more was there to do for my vineyard,
    that I have not done in it?
  When I looked for it to yield grapes,
    why did it yield wild grapes?
5   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 wall,
    and it shall be trampled down.
6   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.
7   For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts
    is the house of Israel,
  and the men of Judah
    are his pleasant planting;
  and he looked for justice,
    but behold, bloodshed;
  for righteousness,
    but behold, an outcry!

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

For information on how the ESV can be quoted, please visit our permission site.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 5:1

1   Let me sing for my beloved
    my love song concerning his vineyard:
  My beloved had a vineyard
    on a very fertile hill.

1. A song of love (1-2a)

God is the gardener. His lovely vineyard could be Adam and Eve, the house of Israel or all humankind. God had done all he wanted till no more could have been done: He found a fertile hillside, dug it up, cleared it, planted the choicest vines, built a watchtower and cut out a winepress. We are God's new Vineyard, the new Israel. God had done amazing things for us to bear good fruits: The forgiveness of sins through the cross of Jesus, eternal life by his resurrection, his commission to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation with his world mission command.

2. He looked for a crop (2b-7)

The good fruits God wanted for Israel was justice and righteousness. But he saw bloodshed and heard cries of distress. They failed to be a holy nation and a kingdom of priests for the entire world. Now what should be done? Here are some lists: God will take away its hedge, break down its wall, make it a wasteland and command the clouds not to rain.

Prayer: Lord, you loved us as your lovely vineyard. But we only produced bad fruits. We broke your heart. We deserve destruction. But thanks to God, for in Jesus we can begin a fruit bearing new life.

One Word: Produce good fruit

God’s Wrath and Justice

Revelation 6:1-17

Key Verse: 6:17

for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Today's Question

What does God require from us to escape His anger and curse, which we deserve for our sin?

See answer and references