Isaiah 5:1-7 – My Beloved, My Well-Beloved
INTRODUCTION – I preached this message in 2004. Isaiah 5:1-7 is a matchless piece of Hebrew poetry. It is the only place in the Old Testament where the designation “my beloved, my well-beloved” is used for God. This is an intense term of endearment, an open avowal of affection in the midst of a poetic parable about a song, a vineyard, and a courtroom. Isaiah writes …
- A SONG TO GOD
Verse 1a – Isaiah had God on his mind and a song in his heart – what a blessed combination! Isaiah was following the perfect example of God Himself, for we read in Zephaniah 3:17 that God has us on His mind and a song in His huge heart. How much more should we sing since we have so much more to sing about! Isaiah preached for about sixty years. First, he preached to Israel, but that nation did not listen. Then, he preached to Judah, yet that kingdom did not respond. Through these decades of rejection, the prophet never became hardened, never became detached, never became a merely glib preacher. Not very many of us have Isaiah’s songwriting ability, but we have plenty of songs to sing. It is interesting how various songs minister to individuals. For example, I can think of the following songs that people have told me helped them when a loved one died: “Wonderful Peace,” “Jesus Is Walking with Me,” “I Don’t Know about Tomorrow,” “Heaven Came Down,” and “He Hideth My Soul” These are quite different songs, but each became a particular blessing. Moreover, each became a particular and personal song to God. Isaiah’s song is about…
- THE SAVIOR’S VINEYARD
Verses 1b-2 – God gave His people every advantage and opportunity, and He does the same for Christians today (the vineyard imagery is applied to Christians in John 15). The symbolism speaks of care, tender care; protection (“fenced”); the power of God (“watchtower,” right in the midst); and purpose (“bring forth grapes”). Certainly, believers today have great blessings (Ephesians1:3 – “blessed… with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ”).Isaiah’s song reflects God’s goodness to His people, but the glad song turns sad as the picture of the vineyard becomes …
- A SCENE IN THE COURTROOM
Verses 3-7 – This is a dramatic and unexpected shift: a love song and a pacific pastoral scene transforms into a verdict of guilty as charged. Isaiah changes from a focus on God and what He has done to a focus on man and what he has done with God’s great good blessings. The technique is much the same as the prophet Nathan used with King David, who had sinned grievously. Nathan employed the analogy of a poor man with just one sheep, which was seized and slaughtered by a rich man. David flared with “righteous” anger, until Nathan said in II Samuel 12:7a, “Thou art the man.” Similarly, Israel and Judah are called upon to examine the evidence against themselves – and find themselves