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July 10th

Our bible reading is in Isaiah chapters 5,6,7,&8. God blessed me today from the reading of His Word.

God used the prophet Isaiah in skillful, poetic verse to remind His people of His love and just what that looks like in these days. Who knows, perhaps the song was entitled...“A Love Song About God’s Vineyard”...And like other love songs that God wrote, this one will have some bitter and some sweet it seems.

“Let me sing for my beloved”...Isaiah writes. I want to sing, and I want to sing for the One who loves me the most...for My Savior God, Elohim...we would say Jesus.

Let me sing for my beloved my love-song concerning his vineyard: “My beloved had a vineyard”...His prized possession...Judah who believed and you and me.

And what did His love look like? “Gave his best to his vineyard...Jesus...on a very fertile hill”...the perfect place to produce life...Golgatha comes to mind...the hill outside of town where Jesus was put to death...that from that death, life would spring eternal for all who believed Him.

“God dug it and cleared it of stones”...hard work just for the love of His vineyard...that’s love...and planted it with choice vines...” chosen” ones...like you and me who believe him...he built a watchtower in the midst of it...The Holy Spirit...for around the clock protection from the little foxes that spoil the vines...and hewed out a wine vat in it...to crush the grapes and for storing of the sweet wine...reminding me that God’s love for me will always include a crushing...”If any man will come after me let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” and he looked for it to yield grapes...the luscious kind...

Reminds me of the words of Jesus in John 15...“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.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15:4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

We, who believe Jesus, are His vineyard. He is the vine and we are the branches. He wants to produce much spiritual fruit in and through us.

Reminds me of Paul’s message to the church in Galatia...“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law. If we live by the Spirit, then let us also keep in step with the Spirit...responding eagerly to the Spirit’s promptings.

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:19-23, 25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

So God planted His vineyard Judah and expected fruit...“but” (instead) it yielded wild grapes...(those that were putrid to the smell, bitter to the taste, and poisonous to the stomach)...of no use at all.

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭5:1-2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

As I read the text, Judah had every advantage and opportunity to abide in the Lord. God delivered/saved His covenant people for the purpose of doing life with them...for His glory and the benefit of His children. Yet, time and again these believers in Judah fell to the temptation of “doing life without God”.

Could have been talking about me

And therefore the fruit of their lives did not make their vinedresser / their Lord famous.

Yes, the story in the song was about a vineyard that was well-loved by its owner. That vineyard was God’s treasured ones...His people of faith and promise...Judah...the lineage of the Messiah...and all those who believed Him.

Judah was that vineyard and so are we in Christ.

Let us listen...John Calvin wrote, “No possession was dearer to a man than his vineyard. And there was nothing that demanded more constant and persevering toil. Not only, therefore, does the Lord declare that we are His beloved inheritance, but at the same time points out His own care and anxiety about us.”

I agree with you, bro Calvin. God does give constant, persevering toil towards me...toward us...(His vineyard)...that we may bear much fruit. Thanks Lord, very much. We are humbled by Your gracious and faithful care...”

And what about the vineyard that produced the wild grapes? Well, that’s the rest of the story. Let me end with Pastor Spurgeon's thoughts about this love song.

“I have been thinking of the advantages of my own position in the Lord, and lamenting with great shamefacedness that I, His vineyard, am not bringing forth fruit as my position demands.” Lord forgive me....

Have a great day