“Now I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a rich and fertile hill. 2 He plowed the land, cleared its stones, and planted it with the best vines. In the middle he built a watchtower and carved a winepress in the nearby rocks. Then he waited for a harvest of sweet grapes, but the grapes that grew were bitter. 3 Now, you people of Jerusalem and Judah, you judge between me and my vineyard. 4 What more could I have done for my vineyard that I have not already done? When I expected sweet grapes, why did my vineyard give me bitter grapes? 5 Now let me tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will tear down its hedges and let it be destroyed. I will break down its walls and let the animals trample it. 6 I will make it a wild place where the vines are not pruned and the ground is not hoed, a place overgrown with briers and thorns. I will command the clouds to drop no rain on it. 7 The nation of Israel is the vineyard of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The people of Judah are his pleasant garden. He expected a crop of justice, but instead he found oppression. He expected to find righteousness, but instead he heard cries of violence.” Isaiah 5:1-7 NLT
Lord of Heavens Armies,
Hosea is busy telling Israel how they are like an unfaithful wife and Isaiah is telling Judah they are like a beautifully prepared, attended and loved vineyard that stubbornly, defiantly produced sour grapes. Isaiah tells them what will happen but they obstinately refuse to change.
In fact the first 39 chapters all seem to be Isaiah speaking judgement not just to Judah but to Assyria, Babylon and Persis and even Israel. Even though he used other nations to judge Judah and Jerusalem they were warned and judged too. Isaiah possibly started his message of judgement in 740 BC. We read in history and further in the Bible that Assyria conquered Northern Kingdom of Israel 18 years later in 722 BC. Babylon conquered Judah much later in 586 BC and took captives to Babylon. Persia 47 years after that conquered Babylon in 539 BC and sent the Israelites home. Isaiah spoke the truth even if it was after his lifetime.
Perhaps we need the many chapters of judgement to realise how dark the world was before the light broke in through Jesus. But we see how dark our world still is. To quote Isaiah seeing into the future, the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.(Isaiah 9:2) The darkness can never put it out (John 1:5). We need to hold firm and pray that Your light, Lord Jesus will light the way to Heaven or Your Your return. Then we we will see Your face, and Your name will be written on our foreheads. And there will be no night —no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on us (Revelation 22:4,5).
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Monday 21st July 2025
Great is the darkness that covers the earth,
Oppression, injustice and pain.
Nations are slipping in hopeless despair,
Though many have come in Your name.
Watching while sanity dies,
Touched by the madness and lies.
Come, Lord Jesus, come, Lord Jesus,
Pour out Your Spirit we pray.
Come, Lord Jesus, come, Lord Jesus,
Pour out Your Spirit on us today.
May now Your church rise with power and love,
This glorious gospel proclaim.
In every nation salvation will come
To those who believe in Your name.
Help us bring light to this world
That we might speed Your return.
Great celebrations on that final day
When out of the heavens You come.
Darkness will vanish, all sorrow will end,
And rulers will bow at Your throne.
Our great commission complete,
Then face to face we shall meet.
Lyrics: Noel Richards, Gerald Coates