Isaiah 5: The Vineyard and The Six Woes

On an extremely stormy Thursday night in mid-November we looked at the final chapter of the INTRODUCTORY SECTION of the book of Isaiah and saw how and why the Lord brings his righteous judgment on his people.

The Vineyard (vv1-7)

We noticed that our Bibles had different ways of describing the not-good fruit at the end of verse 2. From "wild" (ESV) or "bitter" (NLT) grapes to "bad fruit" (NIV) and "worthless ones" (NASB).

 We also saw that this passage divided into 4 sections:

  1. (vv1-2) The Vineyard is well-placed and protected; well-cared for, with good plants; and an expectation of good fruit.
  2. (vv3-4) Whose fault is it, then, that The Vineyard yielded bad fruit?
  3. (vv5-6) I will remove The Vineyard's protection and allow it to go to waste, even calling on the clouds to not rain on it.
  4. (v7) That Vineyard is the house of Israel and the planting, the men of Judah and it all belongs to the Lord of hosts.
We also noticed that the Lord expected justice and righteousness.

The Six Woes

We filled in a little flow-chart of sorts... 


We saw that the Woes come to those who are greedy (v8) and drunken (vv11-12); to those who hold onto sin and are eventually bound by it (vv18-19); to those who twist the truth (v20) and are proud (v21); who are corrupt and corrupting (vv22-23). 

We also saw that there are consequences to these behaviours - they are Woes because: they bring desolation and emptiness to the fruitless and wasteful (vv9-10); without exception, both the nobility and the crowds will be taken into exile and experience hunger and death because of their wilful ignorance (vv13-17); and they will be reduced to rot and dust because the Lord continues to stretch out his had against them (vv24-25).

In amongst all of this Woe, the severity of Israel/Judah's rejection of the Lord is the main concern. 
  • They do not regard the DEEDS of the Lord (v12)
  • They do not see the WORK of his hands (v12)
  • They mock the COUNSEL of the Lord (v19)
  • They have rejected the LAW of the Lord (v24)
  • They have despised the WORD of the Lord (v24)
Even though the Lord of hosts is exalted in justice and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness (v16).

And the Lord is not done. The promise of Exile by an invading nation (vv26-30) shows the scope of the Lord's power: 
  • Judgment from the Lord is coming at the hands of hostile, nations that are not the Lord's people
    • From nations far away (v26)
    • From the ends of the earth (v26)
  • And it will be comprehensive and overwhelming
    • NONE is weary or stumbles or slumbers or sleeps (v27) 
    • Not a waistband is loose or a sandal strap broken (v27)
    • ALL their arrows are sharp; their bows bent; their horses and wheels fast (v28)
    • They come like a roaring lion (v29) or a wild sea (v30)
    • NONE can rescue (29)
    • and there is DARKNESS (v30)
It's not the most cheerful passage, but it sets the tone of the Lord's Judgment on his unfaithful people and prepares us for next week's introduction of one who will speak for the Lord of hosts. 

In application we shared ways in which we were convicted by the sins related to the Woes and prayed for our needs and praised God for our blessings.

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