Rejoicing Leaves the Land

The nation of Israel is an agricultural society.  From the time  that the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they have settled down to a life of cultivating crops and herding livestock. Thus, agriculture occupies an important place in the legislation given to Israel. A compulsory Sabbath rest is commanded for the  land every seventh year to allow fertility to be restored  to the soil.  (Exodus 23:10, 11; Leviticus 25:3-7)  The three annual festivals that the nation is commanded to celebrate are time to coincidence with agricultural seasons. -Exodus 23:14-16.

Vineyards are common throughout the land.  The Scriptures list wine, a product of the vine, as a gift from God that "makes the heart of mortal man rejoice."  (Psalm 104:15)  Each one 'sitting under his own vine and fig tree,' denotes prosperity, peace, and security under God's righteous rule.  (1 Kings 4:25; Micah 4:4)  A successful vintage season is considered a blessing and is a cause for singing and rejoicing.  (Judges 9:27; Jeremiah 25:30) The opposite is also true.  When the vines wither or produce no grapes and the vineyards become desolate wastes of thorns, it is evidence that Jehovah has withdrawn his blessing-a time of great sorrow.

Appropriately, then, Isaiah uses vineyards and their products to illustrate the conditions resulting from Jehovah's withdrawing his blessing from the land:  "The new wine has gone  to mourning, the vine has withered, all those glad at heart have gone to sighing.  The exultation of the tambourines has ceased, the noise of the highly elated ones has discontinued, the exultation of the harp has ceased.  It is with no song that they drink wine; the intoxicating liquor becomes bitter to those drinking it.  The deserted town has been broken down; every house has been shut up from entering.  There is an outcry in the streets for want of wine.  All rejoicing has passed away; the exultation of the land has departed.  In the city an astonishing condition has been left behind; the gate has been crushed to a mere rubble heap." -Isaiah 24:7-12.

The tambourine and the harp are pleasant instruments used to praise Jehovah and express joy.  (2 Chronicles 29:25; Psalm 81:2) Their music will not be heard at this time of divine punishment.  There will be no joyful grape harvests.  There will  be no happy sounds in the desolated ruins of Jerusalem, with its gate "crushed to a mere rubble heap" and its houses "shut up," so that no one can enter.  What grim prospects for inhabitants of a land that by nature has been so fertile!

Next time: A Remnant "Cry Out Joyfully"

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, 2000