Isaiah 5:1-30
Q.1. To what did God liken the house of Israel? Why was He disappointed? For what was God looking? How would He treat Israel? – (Isa.5:1-7)
God often spoke in parables. It was a way in which Jesus revealed truth to the righteous, while concealing truth from the ungodly (Mt.13:10-16). It was well known to Israel that – the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel and the men of Judah His delightful plant … (Isa.5:7). The prophet spoke on behalf of his ‘well-beloved’, Who is the owner of the vineyard – Let me sing now for my WELL-BELOVED A song of my BELOVED concerning His vineyard. My WELL-BELOVED had a vineyard on a fertile hill (Isa.5:1). However, despite His tending to the vineyard with the utmost care, and proving His love by giving her the best of everything, it had produced useless sour grapes – What more was there to do for My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why, when I expected it to produce good grapes did it produce worthless ones? (Isa.5:4). Isaiah sought to drive home his dilemma with a question. What more could God have done for His covenant people? (Isa.5:4). The Owner now would remove His protection, let the vineyard be trampled down, and withhold rain (Isa.5:5-6).
Q.2. Why were Israel’s pursuits worthless? What should their priority have been? Why would they go into exile? What would God’s judgment display? – (Isa.5:8-17)
Israel lived from party to party. – Woe to those who rise early in the morning that they may pursue strong drink, who stay up late in the evening that wine may inflame them. … Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine and valiant men in mixing strong drink (Isa.5:11 & 22). God was relegated to last place – Their banquets are accompanied by lyre and harp, by tambourine and flute, and by wine; But they do not pay attention to the deeds of the Lord, nor do they consider the work of His hands (Isa.5:12). God would judge them, and their vintage would fail (Isa.5:8-10). God would be exalted, while their chief men would be abased, because God’s people did not know the Lord – Therefore My people go into exile for their lack of knowledge … (Isa.5:13).
Q.3. How far had Israel strayed? What made God’s judgment inevitable? How were their conquerors described? Who directed them to execute judgment? – (Isa.5:18-30)
The people brazenly ignored God – 20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight! (Isa.5:20-21). Judgment was all but inevitable, because – … they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel (Isa.5:24 c.f. Isa.5:25). The prophet described the formidable conquering army as invincible (Isa.5:27-30). However, it was God Who had raised them up to execute judgment upon His erring people – He will also lift up a standard to the distant nation and will whistle for it from the ends of the earth; And behold, it will come with speed swiftly (Isa.5:26).