Last week we discussed how Jesus would redeem mankind as the Branch of the Lord. This chapter tells the story of Israel’s need for a savior. It can be divided into three separate sections:
– Section 1 – vs 1-7: The disappointing state of the Jewish nation
– Section 2 – vs 8-23: Judgments on specific sins of the Jewish nation
– Section 3 – vs 24-30: Description of consequences
Section 1 describes God’s disappointment in His people. The metaphor used is that God made a vineyard and expected it to yield good grapes. Instead, it yields wild grapes. Because of this, God will stop protecting and caring for the vineyard. It will be overcome with thorns and will have no rain. It is somewhat simple to see the meaning here: God will stop blessing the nation of Israel and will allow other people to conquer and rule them. Because of their disobedience, God gives them up to their fate.
Their fate is not unlike that of the people referenced in the first chapter of Romans: “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” Romans 1:21-25
Section 2 instructs us on the futility of valuing the wrong things in life. The people are proud and far from humble, far from following God and recognizing His precedence. Because of their idle and empty interests, which are taking God’s place of reverence in their lives, the people will be brought low. And through this judgment, God will be exalted: “But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, And God who is holy shall be hallowed in righteousness.” Isaiah 5:16
Section 3 leaves us with a description of the Israelites’ consequences. It describes the people that God will allow to take over and kill the Israelites. They are described as lions, invincible and deadly. These enemies would come and defeat the nation of Israel, leaving them crying for help. But as we see in the final verse: God will not heed their call: “In that day they will roar against them like the roaring of the sea. And if one looks to the land, Behold, darkness and sorrow; And the light is darkened by the clouds.” Isaiah 5:30
The application for this chapter is to not forget or ignore God. By forgetting God, we take His blessings for granted and we forget the origin of all the good things in life. The Israelites forgot God and not long after had put all sorts of absurd things in His place.
Tonight, I encourage you to remember your Creator. Not only did He create you, but He created everything and everyone you know in this life.
Monday Night Bible Study 
Even though Isaiah is an old testament book, we can see many lessons for our lives today. Putting the Lord first opens us to His love and His many gifts. Our consequences for making the wrong decisions can bring us back to God, but how much better to learn it the first time around?
Thank you, Cory for your Monday lessons, and pointing out applications to our daily lives. I look foward to it each week.
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