There are several songs in the Bible. Miriam and Deborah lifted their voices in victory and praise; Mary lifted her voice in prophetic truth, and the saints of God learned a new song in Revelation 5. Solomon wrote many songs, but none better known that his "Song of Songs," which captured the intimate love that a man and a woman share. I've read these songs and preached on them from time to time, but the song that fascinates me most is a song about a one-sided love affair. It can be found in Isaiah 5 and it goes like this, beginning with verse 1: "I will sing a song for the one I love- a song about his vineyard. My beloved had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug it up and he cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes (anabim) but it yielded only wild grapes (beusim). Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. What more could I have done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad? Now... I will take away its hedge... break down its wall... and command the clouds not to rain on it. The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel, and the people of Judah are the vines he delights in. He looked for justice (mishpat), but saw bloodshed (mispah); for righteousness (tsedeqah), but heard cries of distress (tse a qah)."
The song only rhymes in a couple of places, but its a poignant song about our God... who chose, out of grace alone, to plant and nourish a beautiful vineyard on the best of his hills. He selected the site with care and cleared away the stones with love. He fortified the site, watered it, and built a watchtower in its midst... so that his vineyard would thrive and be a blessing to many. Real love involves work and a lot of patience. He knew that. Real love requires boundaries and trust. He knew that too and He trusted. He had made every effort to bring His plantings to fruition... but when he checked to see what his love had produced, he found wild grapes! The vineyard was filled with wild grapes... and it blew His mind. He was sure that he and the world itself would be blessed with a bountiful and glorious vineyard because of all the love he had bestowed upon it. He was sure that his chosen people... would be a people who loved him with all of their hearts... and that his vineyard would be a place where mishpat (justice) and tsedeqah (righteousness) would prevail. He created people in his own image; he met their every need; he provided for them; and he had gave them every opportunity to enjoy his world. But now... he saw nothing... but wild grapes... and he heard nothing ... but cries of distress! What happened? What went wrong? That was his question! He expected to find people who honored Him and His name, who respected their neighbors and their neighbors' possessions, who took care of the needy in their midst, who were priests to one another. He expected to hear sounds of laughter and joy... but He heard a cry instead... and His disappointment was so great that it broke his heart, just as it would break his heart at a later date when he cried over Jerusalem because they had not seen him walking in their midst.
Unfaithfulness is always a sad song... and the wages of sin is death. No doubt, and Isaiah's song describes the consequences that God's people brought on themselves. It was their own fault. Their sins were the cause and becoming bad fruit is something they brought on themselves. All of this is true and we could talk about God's wrath and judgement, but unlike the anger that God displayed at Mt. Sinai when his people worshiped a golden calf, Isaiah's song captures disappointment and sadness borne of frustration. Indeed, rather than creating a sense of God's righteous judgment (which it could), Isaiah's song leads me to embrace: 1) how much God loves us, 2) how much God has done for us, and 3) how grateful I (we) ought to be. Isaiah's song reminds me of 4) how much God is rooting for us (for me and for you), and 5) how He has prepared us to shine for Him.
Yes, it's true- God is on our side. He created us, called us, taught us, forgave us through His Son's atoning death, and empowered us to live joy-filled and fruitful lives! Never let anyone tell you that God is uninvolved in your life or that God doesn't care about you. Never believe that... whether you are young or old... because God has showered you (and me) with love and opportunity! According to the Bible, God created us in His own image, provided us with a community of faith in which we could love and serve, taught us the way in which we should go through His word, empowered us with His own Spirit so that we can seize the moment and stay the course... and died for us on Calvary's cross... so that we might live forever as forgiven and liberated people. Even now, God stands at the door and knocks, seeking to come into your heart. Luke suggests that heaven stands and applauds when a single sinner stumbles home and Paul reminds us that we are being cheered on by a heavenly throng as we run our earthly race. Friends, please believe that God is "for you," that He delights in your service and salvation, and that He doesn't wish for anyone to perish.
Believe this... and live like you believe it. Live like you believe it and you will bear fruit. You will bear and be fruit for God... and you will discover His joy in return. Amen.
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