My sermon notes for Sunday morning, Feb 2nd as we continue our study through the Book of Isaiah. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided to help follow as we walk through the Word each week. To see the sermon each week or subscribe to the weekly sermon podcast please visit http://www.fbcap.net
Isaiah 5:1-30 – The Lord’s Vineyard
Isaiah is speaking in the form of a parable. Demonstrating to Judah where they were in relationship with God and the warning they needed to heed.
Vineyards are to do one thing. Produce fruit. At a particular time for a particular reason. The people of God are called to one thing… acknowledge and worship Him. At a particular time for a particular reason. They failed and Isaiah is bringing touch words of woe and judgement.
Isaiah’s Song: vv. 1-2 – The unproductive vineyard
God’s Purchase – v. 1
- His vineyard (It was HIS)
God’s Provision – v. 2
- Fertile hill. Choice vines. Watchtower
Vineyard’s Production
- Wild (sour) grapes
The Lord asks… What more could I do? – vv. 3- 4
Asking for a verdict
And now Judah… What more was there to do.
- Based on the evidence. I looked for a yield of grapes, yet yielded wild grapes
The Lord gives His own decision – vv. 5-7
Remove its hedge. Break down wall. Not prune
- Left alone. No presence. No protection.
- Lost His favor and blessing.
Isaiah’s Clarification– v. 7 (It is YOU!)
The vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is Judah
- They look for justice but behold bloodshed
- For righteousness but behold an outcry.
- In Hebrew the words rhyme. Play on words.
- Sour Fruit… Rather than thankfulness, trust, obedience, worship, and praise.
The Woes and Judgement – vv 8-23
- The sins and the judgement upon Judah. THEY WERE JUDGED BY THEIR FRUITS. NOT WHAT THEY SAID, BUT HOW THEY LIVED.
- Matthew 7:15–23 – [15] “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. [16] You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? [17] So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. [18] A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. [19] Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [20] Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. [21] “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ [23] And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (ESV)
The woe/sin 1 – Covetousness – v. 8
- Materialism, greed, WANT. WANT. WANT.
- Yet, year of Jubilee Lev. 25. The Land belonged to God.
The judgement – vv. 9-10
- Many houses shall be desolate. Without inhabitant
- Little Lack of fruit. All their work was for nothing.
- Matthew 6:19–21 – [19] “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, [20] but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. [21] For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (ESV)
Woe 2 – No self-control – vv. 11-12
- Run after strong drink. Picture of a drunk.
- Inflames them! Controls them. Heart and Mind.
- Pleasure seeking. Neglecting the service of the Lord.
- Waste their time in the things of the world.
- Do not regard the deeds of God
The judgement Therefore – vv. 13-14
- Eaters will be eaten
- Drunkards are thirsty
- Man is humbled and brought low
- But the Lord of Hosts is exalted
- Lambs will graze where they once lived
Woe 3 – Defiance – vv. 18-19
- They are bound by sin (rope)
- Yet speak of the Lord’s Words.
- Let the counsel draw near
- Using God’s dictionary, but not His vocabulary! (Derek Thomas)
Woe 4 – Immorality – 20
- Call evil good and good evil
- Darkness is light. Light for Darkness
Woe 5 – Arrogance
- Wise in their own eyes
- Proverbs 16:18 – Pride before destruction.
Woe 6 – Injustice
- Acquit the guilty of a bride
- Deprive the innocent
Therefore – v. 24 (becoming more intense)
- Fire, devours the stubble
- Root, as rottenness
- Blossom, up like dust
- FOR, they rejected the WORD OF THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.
Therefore – v. 25
- Anger of the Lord kindled up against His people
- Stretched out His hand
- Mountains quaked
- His anger has not turned away
- Hand is stretched out still.
The ultimate destruction – vv. 26-30
- It is to late. The Lord Whistles – v. 26
- It is obvious – v. 27
- It is Quickly, Speedily – v. 28
- It is Total – vv. 29-20
Putting Things Into Perspective: WHAT ABOUT US!!!
The woes are the sins of the WILD GRAPES. You produce what you produce because of THE HEART THAT IS WITHIN YOU.
- Psalm 51 – “Create in me a clean heart.”
- Yet, In Christ we know that we can bear fruit worthy of repentance” Luke 3:8
In the NT we see this perfectly spelled out in Christ.
- Matthew 21:33-34 – we see God as the Landowner with the vineyard representing HIS KINGDOM.
- John 15:1-11 – We see Jesus specifically as the vine and God as the vine dresser.
Scripture References:
Matthew 21:33–44 – [33] “Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. [34] When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. [35] And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. [36] Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. [37] Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ [38] But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ [39] And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. [40] When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” [41] They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”
[42] Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
“‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
[43] Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. [44] And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” (ESV)
John 15:1–11 – [1] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. [2] Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. [3] Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. [5] I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. [6] If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. [7] If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. [8] By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. [9] As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. [10] If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. [11] These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (ESV)