Tuesday after Septuagesima Sunday
Posted on February 15, 2022 by under
Scripture: Isaiah 5:1-7 (NKJV)
5:5 Now let me sing to my Well-beloved a song of my Beloved regarding His vineyard: My Well-beloved has a vineyard on a very fruitful hill.
2 He dug it up and cleared out its stones, and planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, and also made a winepress in it; So He expected it to bring forth good grapes, but it brought forth wild grapes.
3 “And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, Judge, please, between Me and My vineyard.
4 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?
5 And now, please 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, and it shall be trampled down.
6 I will lay it waste; It shall not be pruned or dug, but there shall come up briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain on it.”
7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are His pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help.
Devotion
The Church is often compared to a vineyard. Sunday’s Gospel reading was the parable of the landowner who went early to the marketplace to gather laborers to work in his vineyard. This was a picture of the Lord and His Church. Today’s reading from the prophet Isaiah also compares the Church to a vineyard. This vineyard is cared for by the “Well-Beloved One”. He works diligently for His vineyard. Our Lord works diligently for His Bride, the Church.
He dug a fence and encamps all around the ones who fear Him; who trust in Him (Ps. 34:7). He placed in the Church the tower of the teachings of the Prophets and Apostles. The Ministers of the Lord are ready to defend and protect the Church by continuing to preach and teach the truth of the Word of God against all false teachings. They remove the weeds and stones of false doctrine that prevent its growth and maturity.
Even with all of the Lord’s work, the vineyard is still plagued by sin and unbelief. This was a prophecy against Israel who had forsaken the Lord and His teachings. This serves today as a warning against those who would cling to the false idols of this world, and cling to false teachings in the Church. Such churches produce bad grapes. Our Lord desires that the Church produces good grapes, that His works would be taught in their truth and purity.
Prayer: O Lord, we beseech Thee favorably to hear the prayers of Thy people: that we, who are justly punished for our offenses, may be mercifully delivered by Thy goodness, for the glory of Thy Name; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
