Isaiah: Man Humbled. God Exalted.

Isaiah 5

Along with writing prophecies, Isaiah loved to write songs. One of them is recorded in Isaiah 5. This song is about God planting a vineyard. The lyrics describe God working the soil, clearing the stones, and planting the best vines. God hewed out a wine vat and prepared for a first-rate product. However, the vineyard produced “wild grapes” (Isa. 5:1-2). God said, “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?” (Isa. 5:4). Therefore, God removed the protective hedge and walls, allowed the vineyard to be overtaken by briers and thorns, and commanded “the clouds that they rain no rain upon it” (Isa. 5:6).

The song was not about a vineyard but God and his people.

Isaiah 5:7
For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry! 

As a result of Israel’s and Judah’s rebellion, God delivered six “woes.” We also see Jesus delivering woes in the New Testament (e.g., Matt. 23:13-39; Luke 11:37-54). So, let’s first understand the purpose of a woe.

“Woe” is the translation of the Hebrew word hoy. The word means “grief, affliction, judgment, or trouble.” It serves as a divine exclamation of impending judgment. A woe highlights a warning that can avert the forthcoming consequences through repentance and God’s forgiveness. Isaiah contains twenty-two occurrences of the word “woe,” more than any other prophetic book. 

Here are the six “woes” in today’s passage:

Woe to the greedy (Isa. 5:8-10).
God desired Israel and Judah to be communities that cared for one another. He has the same desire for his people today. Check out all the “one another” passages in the New Testament. During the Old Testament period, laws protected the weak and vulnerable (Lev. 25:23-28; 1 Kgs. 21:1-3). However, the wealthy exploited the poor and seized their lands to build large homes and extensive farms. God, in effect, is saying, “That’s not how we do things here. Because of your rebellion, your houses will be destroyed, and your harvests will be small.” The greedy may have much land, but God declares, “ten acres of vineyard shall yield but one bath (six gallons)…” (Isa. 5:10). 

Woe to those who abuse God’s provisions (Isa. 5:11-17).
God provided vineyards that produced grapes for wine. However, some in Judah and Israel partied all day long (Isa. 5:11-12). Rather than acknowledging God, they focused on satisfying their sinful appetites. “Therefore,” God says, “Sheol has enlarged its appetite and opened its mouth beyond measure, and the nobility of Jerusalem and her multitude will go down, her revelers and he who exults in her” (Isa. 5:14).

Woe to the hypocrites (Isa. 5:18-19).
The Hebrew text reads, “Woe to those who pull evil with ropes of emptiness.” The idea is that sinners are so attached to their evil ways that it is as if they drag their sin behind them. Yet, the ones burdened with sin are the very ones who demand, “Let [God] be quick, let him speed his work that we may see it; let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near, and let it come, that we may know it!” (Isa. 5:19). The NET Bible notes this “emphasizes the folly of the Israelites who hold on to their sin (and its punishment) even while they hope for divine intervention.” ^[1]

Woe to relativists (Isa. 5:20).
Relativism is the philosophy that there is no absolute truth, so I make up the rules as I go. This is not a new philosophy. Isaiah issued a judgment on those who adopted such error. They called “evil good and good evil,” put “darkness for light and light for darkness,” and exchanged “bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” This type of individual lives without a moral anchor, leading others astray with their warped values. Such people “by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,” exchange the truth of God for lies, and “though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them” (Rom. 1:18-32).

Woe to the proud (Isa. 5:21).
The judgment here is on “those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!” Pride always goes before destruction (Prov. 16:18). And as Isaiah earlier proclaimed, “the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low” (Isa. 2:11-12 NIV). Ultimately, God alone will be exalted.

Woe to those who distort justice (Isa. 5:22-23).
In this woe, judgment is placed upon those who rule unjustly against the innocent and acquit the guilty by accepting a bribe. This occurs today when the wealthy evade consequences by paying off those in charge.

Because of the sins committed by Israel and Judah, “the anger of the Lord was kindled against his people” (Isa. 5:25). God would “raise a signal for nations far away” to dispense judgment on his people for their unrepentant rebellion. The Assyrians would attack the northern kingdom and take them into captivity. The southern kingdom would be devastated but survive for another hundred years until the Babylonians conquered it. God takes sin seriously. He will bring the proud low. He alone will be exalted.

Our Anchor Point for today’s passage is Isaiah 5:15-16. I believe it serves as a summary statement for this chapter.

Isaiah 5:15-16
Man is humbled, and each one is brought low, and the eyes of the haughty are brought low. But the Lord of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness. 

Our sin and injustices will humble us. The Holy God alone will be exalted in perfect justice and righteousness.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Time in the Word: Read and reflect on Isaiah 5. Focus on our Anchor Point: Isaiah 5:15-16.

Talking to God: Are there areas in your life where God would “woe” you? Ask God to help you sincerely examine your heart. Then confess and repent so that you can experience his forgiveness and renewal. 

Job Zoom Call Today
This evening at 7:00 pm, we will meet on a Zoom call to review what we learned in Job and answer questions. Information and a link to join the call is included at the top of today’s email.

Have Questions?
Please send your questions to our team. We are happy to assist you as you explore God's Word. Submit your question below, and we will respond soon. Let us know if you want to learn more about having a relationship with Jesus or if you desire spiritual counsel. 

Every day is a day of spiritual renewal and refreshment.