It wasn’t really an ‘assignment’ I left you with at the close of yesterday’s message, but I did suggest for anyone who wanted to ‘read ahead’, Isaiah chapter 5 would be where we would be headed today. And while I’m thinking of it, let me get this out of the way for anyone who wants to ‘go there’ – I am not trying to suggest or to twist scriptures to suggest that this chapter, or book even…is directed at ‘America’.

We have been talking about ‘judgement’ though, and I asked yesterday if we even know what God’s judgement looks like? Would we recognize it if/when it showed up at our door? Many in the church today would probably agree that ‘judgment is coming’, and for ‘all the reasons’. Many sincere believers would point to the Book of Revelation and say there is no denying that God’s wrath and judgment are ‘on the way’; but they would also be quick to say that God’s people won’t be around for ‘any of that’ because they will be long gone, thanks to the ‘rapture’ that many believe will carry them out of here before all that judgement begins to be unleashed.

But before we launch off into Isaiah 5, would you take a moment and mark two passages in your Bible, both found in Jeremiah. The first reference is where God laments how various birds of feather have an awareness of their ‘appointed times’…but that “His people do not know the judgement of the Lord.” (Jer. 8:7). The other passage is found in 5:4-5 where we read that those in the ‘streets of Jerusalem have been stricken, but not grieved, nor have received correction’ (1-3)…and God calls them ‘foolish…for they do not know the way of the Lord, the judgment of their God’ (4-5).

Do you not find that fascinating to read…that God’s people could actually be blinded to His judgments? Were you aware that when Jesus talked about the ‘end of time’ and how it would be ‘like the days of Noah’… He mentions a flood coming to ‘take them away’ to destruction (Luke 17:26-30)…and that they didn’t even see it coming…’until the flood came and took them away’ (Matt. 24:39). That’s when Jesus added “so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”

So why Isaiah 5 today? Because in it, we see a rather detailed ‘game plan’ as to how God’s judgments play out oftentimes, and the usual reasons why: His people either forget or reject His ‘law’ (24).

Chapter 5 starts out as a ‘song’ referring to God’s ‘vineyard’. I would hope we see where this is going via the use of this metaphor; but in case you don’t, that gets quickly cleared up in vs. 7. Jesus would often make use of vineyards and vines and such as illustrations in His teachings. In fact, make a quick note found in Matt. 21:33, where a vineyard was planted; and what did the landowner erect around it? A ‘hedge’. We’ll come back to this soon.

Now we read in Isaiah how God’s ‘Well beloved’ was expecting some good grapes/fruit to come forth from this vineyard. But, much to His dismay, it produced just the opposite’ in that wild, or sour grapes came forth.

How often are we reminded in scripture that ‘good fruit’ matters? Jesus addressed this frequently in His teachings, even taking the time to point out how a tree will only produce ‘good fruit’ or ‘bad fruit’…and that the same tree cannot produce both good and bad fruit. (Matt. 7:17-18). James would make use of this same theme later on, in his letter (James 3:8-12).

But it’s what happens to these trees, or vines that produce ‘bad fruit’ …that often escapes our much needed attention. We see other lessons taught by Jesus that drives this point home, like in John 15:6 and Luke 13:6-9. Jesus also told us plainly there in Matt. 7…”every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire’ (19). The parable of the wheat and tares also sends a similar message in Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43, with special emphasis on vs. 40-41.

Do you remember who first mentions this idea or practice, of burning down trees without good fruit, in the NT? It was John the Baptist, and he pointed this out early on in his ministry to those who were looked upon to be the religious leaders of that day, ‘experts in the law’. Let’s revisit that again, found in Matt. 3:7-12. John got off to a great start, calling them a ‘brood of vipers’ (7). Why do you suppose that was? Then, he ask a rather profound question, wanting to know who ‘warned them to flee the coming wrath’? I really don’t think he was referring to some ‘far off future event’ that the Book of Revelation would draw out for us some 2000 years later, do you?

John continues on: “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance” {8}, or as we might say ‘fruits of repentance’. This should be something that is ‘recognizable’. Then, he brings another interesting statement into the mix by alluding to some ‘ax’ that is ‘now laid to the root of the trees’ (10)…and that every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” This ‘ax thing’ is interesting, especially since he seems to be suggesting that it is here already…and not coming at some future point in time. You might also jot down Romans 1:18 as a reference next to that as well.

So now, God lays a question at the feet of the ‘inhabitants of Jerusalem and the men of Judah’, asking: “What more could have been done to My vineyard that I have not done in it?” (3-4)

He’s telling them that He did all He could to ensure a production of ‘good fruit’, but the vineyard produced only ‘bad fruit’. I cannot underscore enough what a significant question this is that was asked by God of His people, and we will circle back tomorrow, Lord willing to examine it more closely and to see how it relates to us today; especially when it comes to this area of His people continuing to practice sin. What do you think Jesus came to ‘set us free from’, based on His words found in John 8:32-36?

Time was up, for the people of God back then in this passage, and God announces what He is about to do: “I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; and I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. I will lay it waste; and it shall not be pruned or dug, but there shall come up briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds that they rain no more on it.” (5-6)

“For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel…” (7).

You are certainly free to disagree with this, call it ‘replacement theology’, or reject it outright; but this is a prophetic word to a fallen away church, which ‘Israel’ has always been a ‘type’ or ‘foreshadowing’ of (the church) going all the way back when God first established covenant with Abraham. And when God ‘removes the hedge’…what follows is not a good thing.