Day 4: The vineyard of the Lord
When he’s not consulting with the king, Isaiah the prophet stands on the same street corner, close to the market in Jerusalem, every day. His voice is familiar to passers-by who generally tune him out as he proclaims the prophetic words God has given him. Some think, “Who needs a prophet? They just bring bad news.” Others stop and listen, trying to understand. Very few comprehend the sadness and anger of God, who made a covenant with Israel who quickly and repeatedly broke it. Isaiah surveys the small cluster of people gathered in front of him, mostly widows, orphans, and foreigners, and he wonders, “How can Israel flourish when there is no justice or compassion for these vulnerable people?” He sighs and repeats his poetic prophecy, again, this time a little louder and slower. Maybe the imagery and metaphor will make a difference.
1 I will sing for the one I love
a song about his vineyard:
My loved one had a vineyard
on a fertile hillside.
2 He dug it up and 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,
but it yielded only bad fruit….
7 The vineyard of the Lord Almighty
is the nation of Israel,
and the people of Judah
are the vines he delighted in.
And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed;
for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.
8 Woe to you who add house to house
and join field to field
till no space is left
and you live alone in the land.
Isaiah 7:1-2, 7-8 NIV
Vineyard Metaphor
Human influence — the “work of human hands” — cannot be underestimated in the overall success of a vineyard and its subsequent wine.
Soil, topography, and climate are the three environmental elements of terroir that influence the flourishing of the vine and the taste of the wine. One more factor, and arguably the most critical influence, is that of the person who is tasked with making decisions about which varietal to plant, where to plant it, and how to plant it. Knowing what the gardener (or vineyard manager) knows about the soil, the topography, and the climate, they will choose a clone (a specific type of varietal) that will thrive in the specific conditions of a particular vineyard. The gardener will then decide which direction to plant the rows by considering the grade of the hill or the level of the field and the movement of the sun. The varietal and harvesting practices will largely determine the system of the trellis if there is to be one.
All this happens before any vines are planted. Then, of course, once the vines are planted, the gardener will continue to add nutrients to the soil and protect the vine, as much as possible, from any damage that could be caused by icy weather in spring or unwanted predators in the summer.
God, as the Gardener in Isaiah’s poem, planted the vine in the appropriate soil and gave it everything it needed to flourish. But the vine, or Israel, (notice verse 7) produced bad grapes. Before they entered the Promised Land, the nation of Israel entered into a covenant relationship with God. If they had followed the stipulations of the covenant, which included justice for everyone and leaving enough food in the fields for the widow, the orphan, and the foreigner, then they would have flourished. But Israel got greedy and, instead of justice and generosity for those with less, the rich got richer, “joining field to field,” causing distress among the poor.
Reflection and Meditation
Ponder for a moment that God, like a loving Gardener, has carefully planted you in a particular “vineyard” and is looking for beautiful fruit in your life.
Reflect on all the ways God has provided everything you need to flourish spiritually.
Take a minute to thank God for his provision. Maybe you would even like to write a few things down.
Now, consider, without judgment, how or if your vine bears the fruit of justice and generosity.
Humbly ask God to increase your capacity to care for those on the margins of life. Who comes to mind? In what ways could God use you?
Where in your life could you live more generously? Get specific. This is a prayer that God will answer!
Take a deep breath and rest in God’s love.
“Sing about a fruitful vineyard:
I, the Lord, watch over it;
I water it continually.
I guard it day and night
so that no one may harm it.”