Isaiah 5. Israel is portrayed as a vineyard, and the prophet decries the fact that the vineyard produced the wrong crop: wild grapes. They rebelled against the master’s intentions. He “looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!” (7). The results of this rebellion are identified by the word “therefore” which appears four times:
- Therefore the people will go into exile (13)
- Therefore Sheol (the place where the dead go) will enlarge its appetite and swallow both the nobility and the masses (14).
- Therefore the vineyard will be devoured by fire, rot, and dryness (24).
- Therefore sudden disaster will leave corpses in the streets,with no relenting or the LORD’s anger (25).
Rebellion is a serious thing. It has serious consequences.
LORD, may we produce the fruit that you expect of your vineyard. May your people be fair to others,and always committed to you.
Devotions 