The Care of the Vineyard!

Whether Isaiah literally sings this parable to his listeners or not, it surely captures their attention.  Most are probably familiar with the work of planting a vineyard, and Isaiah's description is vivid and realistic.  Like vine growers today, the vineyard owner plants, not grape seeds, but a "choice," or  rich, "red vine"-a cutting or shoot from another vine.  Appropriately, he plants this vineyard "on a fruitful hillside," a place where a vineyard will thrive.

It takes hard work to make a vineyard produce.  Isaiah describes the owner's 'digging the land and ridding it of stones'-tedious, exhausting work!  He likely uses the large stones "to build a tower."  In ancient times such towers served as stations for watchmen  who guarded the crops against thieves and animals.  Also, he builds a stone wall to line the vineyard terraces.  (Isaiah 5:5) This was commonly done to prevent the washing away of vital topsoil.

Having worked so hard to protect his vineyard, the owner has every right to expect that it will bear fruit.  In anticipation of this, he hews out a winepress.  But does the hoped-for-harvest materialize? No, the vineyard produces wild grapes.

Next time: The Vineyard and Its Owner

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind