Devotion 9.30.26
Isaiah 5
The Vineyard of the Lord Destroyed
1 Let me sing for my beloved
my love song concerning his vineyard:
My beloved had a vineyard
on a very fertile hill.
2 He dug it and cleared it of stones,
and planted it with choice vines;
he built a watchtower in the midst of it,
and hewed out a wine vat in it;
and he looked for it to yield grapes,
but it yielded wild grapes.
3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem
and men of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard.
4 What more was there to do for my vineyard,
that I have not done in it?
When I looked for it to yield grapes,
why did it yield wild grapes?
5 And now I will tell you
what I will do to my vineyard.
I will remove its hedge,
and it shall be devoured;
I will break down its wall,
and it shall be trampled down.
Europe is filled with beautiful cathedrals, built at a time to give honor to God through music like Bach, Beethoven, or Mozart, and through worship. Today, these sit mostly empty with the exception of the thousands of tourists who walk through them and marvel at their beauty.
God's vine, brought out of Egypt (Israel) was planted and flourished until it became a shadow of its past self (Psalm 80 from Monday's devotion) where boars came and devoured the vineyard.
In John 15, Christ reminds us that he is the true vine: "“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 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. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
There are times when it seems bleak. The worst thing we can do is sit in our homes, our "upper rooms," and shrink in fear of the hostilities we may face in a hostile world.
Without Christ, our vineyards do not grow. They produce no fruit. Wild vines come in, take over, and beasts trample and birds destroy the vineyard. Is God giving us a warning for today? Given the current societal conversation politically and culturally, I'd think yes...maybe, but given Peter's warning early in the life of Christianity, I'd say we should always remain alert and on-guard: "8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world." (1 Peter 5)
What can I do? I might ask. I can wait for the Lord, like Joseph, Jacob's son in Genesis. I can pray for strength, like we hear in Isaiah,
"30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint." (40:31)
As Christ's church, as his vine, we will be pruned to produce fruit. In order to see if we are fruitful, we must be active, in prayer, in being in his Word, and by sharing his Word. In all we do, we should seek God's Will daily in our lives and not fear, remembering what God told Joshua: "9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
Even when it appears bleak, we know God is with us, his steadfast love shown through Christ's sacrificial act and the grace from God. His mercy endures forever. Amen.
Hope Men's Ministry is a ministry in service to Hope Lutheran Church and School. Our purpose is to grow, unite, and share God's Word to all men through meaningful activities. These activities center on fellowship, service, conversation, prayer, study and devotion as we seek to become men of God as He created us to be.