Isaiah 5: Growing Darkness

"The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel" (vs. 7).  With this ominous parable, Isaiah speaks of a terrible judgment coming upon the nation of Judah that will sweep them away.

Verses 1-6 introduces the story of a vineyard.  Isaiah describes how it was cleared and planted and invested in with great hopes by its owner.  Everything that could be done to produce a choice vineyard was done, but the end result was only a yield of wild grapes rather than the desired fruit!  Isaiah explains that the failed vineyard has reached the end of its life and that its hedges and walls will be torn down and the land will become desolate.

Verses 7-23 reveal how the Israelites(!) are symbolized by this doomed vineyard and their sinful actions by its wild grapes.  "[God] expected justice; but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry!" (vs. 7)  The wrongs done by the people include greed at the expense of their neighbors, living it up in drunkenness and carousing in parties, and wickedly inflaming sin and lies.  Whereas the Israelites had once gone to great lengths to pursue wealth and store up riches for themselves, now they will face empty houses and unproductive fields (vs. 8-10).  Just as the inhabitants of Jerusalem have gorged themselves on food and wine, now they shall go hungry and thirsty (vs. 13), and they shall be gorged upon by Sheol (vs. 14).  In a famous passage that could be thundered against the people of God today as well as back then, the prophet proclaims woe upon those who "call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter" (vs. 20).

Their punishment is detailed in verses 24 through 30.  The vineyard will be overthrown and ruined.  A people from far away will come against Judah with a mighty army.  They will come with speed and fierceness, and "carry off" their pray (vs. 29).  In a foreshadowing of the exile to Babylon, the prophet predicts that a great devastation for the people is coming.  Even now the seeds of their own destruction are being planted.  Isaiah's vineyard grew only worthless wild grapes; currently darkness grows in the land of Israel.  "The light grows dark with clouds" (vs. 30).

P.S. This powerful image of "the vineyard as Israel" is a metaphor that will be revisited in the Bible, chiefly by Jesus who further expounds upon it in some of His parables and teachings.