Daily Reading: Isaiah chapters 5 thru 8

Key Verse: Isaiah 5:1-2

This poem is a picture of God's nurturing nature, God as the Father.  He did everything He could possible due to provide an atmosphere for the vineyard to produce good fruit.  He removed stones or stumbling blocks and planted it on a fertile hill.  He built a tower in the middle of it to demonstrate how He would always keep watch over this vineyard.  He hewed out a wine vat to receive the good fruit that the vine should produce.

However, even with all God's efforts and expectations, the vineyard yielded wild fruit.  Why did that happen and what does that mean for His people?  God's expectation was fruits of righteousness (obedience, thanksgiving, love, worship and service), but He received fruits of rebellion (disobedience, idolatry, selfishness). 

The poem is given by Isaiah to Israel.  In the poem, the keeper of the vineyard abandons the vineyard.  This abandonment refers to the exile and the complete abandonment of the city of Jerusalem by God.  The imagery of the vineyard and the vine keeper is also used in John 15.  In both accounts, the same point is made: the vine is completely dependent upon the vine tree (Jesus Christ), and that the vine must bear fruit.  Fortunately, in John 15, the vine keeper did not completely abandon the vineyard.  In fact, He did certain things such as pruning in order that the vine could bear much fruit.  Isn't it a beautiful picture of how much God loves us?  Even in our condition of rebellion and disobedience, He will come and prune away that which is not like Him.  I pray that we may bear much fruit.