Prophecy Interpretation

Isaiah 5:1-9

Isaiah said, "Now let me sing to my Well-beloved," confirming what is said in the Bible, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

"A song of my Beloved regarding His vineyard" refers to the two glories described by Christ,

"Father, glorify Your name.

"

Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again."

Isaiah refers to the Son as the vineyard just as the Son had referred to Himself in the Holy Bible as "I am the true vine," and

"I am the vine, you are the branches." Isaiah's prophecy preceded the Lord's description of Himself.

Isaiah says, "My Well-beloved has a vineyard on a very fruitful hill." The vine is the Israelination and the hill is where they abided because they lived not in all the earth but in part of it which he described as "very fruitful" referring to the

promised land of milk and honey which God gave them as their inheritance.

"He dug it up and cleared out its stones" refers to the Old Testament which God had given them as a special message. It was like a hedge around them, like a city with high walls surrounded by its enemies; those who leave the city walls, lose their lives.

The same applies to those who violate the Word of God. The devils, their adversaries, destroy them with their evil deeds.

He says, "And planted it with the choicest vine" showing how God elevated them over their enemies who were inferior to them. The non-Jews fought but God was not with them, unlike the Israelites who were supported by God.

"He built a tower in its midst" referring to the altar built in Jerusalem according to God's instructions.

"And also made a winepress in it," referring to the sacrifices offered by the people for atonement of sins. If a man committed a sin and no one knew about it, he offered an animal and confessed his sin.

The priest slaughtered this animal as a sacrifice for the soul of the sinner.

Longsuffering and patient, God devised the sacrifice as an act of mercy; although they disobeyed Him many times - despite His many wonders: when He

released them from the hands of their enemies, the Egyptians, who were drowned in the sea while the Jews were safe on dry ground in its midst.

"He expected it to bring forth good grapes, but it brought forth wild grapes." The good grapes refer to good deeds while the wild grapes to the evil ones.

"And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, please, between Me and My vineyard." The men of Judah are the prophets. He sent them to warn the people and plead with them to change their ways but they heeded them not and therefore will be punished on Judgment

Day

for their

disobedience.

He provided for them for forty years in the desert feeding them Manna, covering them with clouds and lighting their way with a flame of fire. Yet, they rebelled and turned away from Him in their hearts.

"What more could have been done to My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes? And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard"

Isaiah describes God as a man regretting what he did because the Lord wanted obedience and perseverance in faith and when they refused, He rebuked them in the Holy Bible, saying, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!

How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!" showing pity because he wished they would be sons of light and not sons of darkness, "He expected it to bring forth good grapes, but it brought forth wild grapes.

He said, "let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; and break down its wall,"

which means that if they do not repent He will destroy the hedge and breakdown the walls of the tower. God will replace their covenant with

another of

perfection to be given to all the nations who believe in His name.

"And it shall be trampled down" referring to the remnants of the Israeli nation who would not believe in Christ. They will be hated and rejected by all nations.

"I will lay it waste; It shall not be pruned or dug,

" unlike His

former anger with them when they became captive to the Chaldeans, then God showed them mercy, released them from captivity, restored them to their inheritance and renewed their covenant. The coming of Christ is the end after which there will be no more chances.

"But there shall come up briers and thorns." Those who remain and believe not in Christ will be abandoned to the devils who will implant in their heads evil deadly thoughts, closing their minds to deny them faith and deliverance.

"I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain on it." After the coming of Christ, they will receive no inheritance and no prophets.

"Woe to those who join house to house; they add field to field, till there is no place where they may dwell alone in the midst of the land!" The love of the world had overcome them and Satan enticed them by making them believe that all things are allowable, so they prosecuted each other and took what is not theirs.

"Where they may dwell alone in the midst of the land" which means that a God-fearing man who is seeking God's grace is satisfied with what God gave him in this world. He loves his brethren and seeks for them what he seeks for himself. He does not give himself any privileges in terms of worldly possessions neither in lands nor any other. Also scholars who do not share their knowledge with the ignorant are equally mistaken.

"In my hearing the Lord of hosts said," which means that everything is revealed in front of the Lord. He knows all sins hidden and manifest and listens to the prayers of those who truly repent in their hearts. To Him be the glory forever.