Oh, how very much the Bible says about vineyards, grapes and the “fruit of the vine!”

But Isaiah the Prophet may be at the vanguard of that great “agricultural metaphor,” applying it especially (and originally) to Israel.

And the Book’s “classic” Passage in this respect is found in Isaiah 5:1-7, today’s Text.

“Now will I (Isaiah the Prophet) sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill. And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: and I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.”

Verse 7 identifies the “focus,” the “identity” of God’s vineyard here. “For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant.”

Wow!

But even earlier in his Corpus (Book) … Isaiah has indirectly labeled God’s people (Israel) as a “vineyard.”

Read this please. “The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the VINEYARD; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.” Isaiah 3:14, Jews abusing (cannibalizing) Jews, figuratively (not literally) of course.

Now I know today’s Text is lengthy. But it (in some detail) describes a process, up to three years’ duration in fact, a farmer preparing his “vineyard” to bring forth that sweet tasting product, pure “grape juice.”

(By the way, notice that Isaiah is “singing” this Analogy/this Sermon! “Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard.” He is now a troubadour! (A “poet” who both “writes his lyrics, and then sings/performs them!” Folks, Isaiah indeed is a multi-faceted Man of God!)

(Another quick “aside,” see what our little hero (Isaiah) calls “God,” His “Lord” in this Passage!  “Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard.” God as his “Well-Beloved!” And as one would suspect, “Beloved” is merely a synonym, from the same root verb. (“Dod” in Hebrew, meaning “to boil.” In the sense of red-hot love, fervent adoration, zealous worship!)

The scholars tell us its takes a vine-grower a year to prepare the ground, removing all those stones! This “clearing” enough fruitful earth (using the larger of those rocks to build the walls) … is much more time consuming that I ever thought!

Then it takes yet another year to build the winepress and tower! Finally (at season’s end) planting the vines! Twenty-fours months, and not a swallow of grape juice yet!

Then, in year three … the “harvest” (ideally) would be reaped!

God sure has a lot invested in His Vineyard, in His people, in Israel!

And … the moral of the Poem/Song … when the grapes finally came … they were not enjoyable (sweet) at all, but “wild” a Hebrew word (“beushiym”) meaning both “stinking” and “worthless.”

Wow!

So … what’s God to do with this “disappointment?” He (anthropomorphically) wonders out loud … “What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?” Isaiah 5:4

So, get ready … judgment is coming!

“And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: and I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.” Verses 5 and 6, referring to the coming Assyrian nd Babylonians invasions of Israel and Judah. Through the hands of kings like Nebuchadnezzar … God is chastening His “people.” Breaking up His “vineyard!” (“I WILL TELL YOU WHAT I WILL DO…” Staggering when spoken by the Almighty!)

Wow!

But why?

God wanted pure righteousness, yet Israel gave Him smart-talk, an outcry! Sheer stubbornness and disobedience!

Serious business!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Christian friend, what kind of “fruit” are you bearing … to the Glory of God?