Working in every situation to produce the best fruit

I will sing for the one I love
a song about his vineyard:
my loved one had a vineyard
on a fertile hillside.
He dug it up and cleared it of stones
and planted it with the choicest vines.
He built a watchtower in it
and cut out a winepress as well.
Then he looked for a crop of good grapes,
but it yielded only bad fruit.
‘Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and people of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard.
What more could have been done for my vineyard
than I have done for it?
When I looked for good grapes,
why did it yield only bad?
Now I will tell you
what I am going to do to my vineyard:
I will take away its hedge,
and it will be destroyed;
I will break down its wall,
and it will be trampled.
I will make it a wasteland,
neither pruned nor cultivated,
and briers and thorns will grow there.
I will command the clouds
not to rain on it.’
The vineyard of the Lord Almighty
is the nation of Israel,
and the people of Judah
are the vines he delighted in.
And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed;
for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.  Isaiah 5:1-7

This is the story of a vineyard. A vineyard in just the right place at just the right time. A vineyard that had been lovingly prepared and nurtured in just the right way. A vineyard planted with the very best vines. A vineyard protected from intruders. A vineyard ready to deal with a wonderful crop of the finest grapes.

What could possibly go wrong? This vineyard had everything going for it. Everything was in its favour.

And yet this vineyard produced bad grapes. What more could the owner of the vineyard have done?

And what use is a vineyard that produces bad grapes? The owner might as well take down the hedge and let the vines be trampled on. He might as well break down the wall and let the vineyard be destroyed. He might as well let the weeds grow up and not send the rains any more.

This story is an allegory. A very clear allegory. A very relevant allegory. The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel, and the people of Judah are the vines he delighted in. God had rescued these people and prepared a land for them. A good land. A promised land. He’d provided for them and nurtured them and protected them. He’d shown them how to produce good fruit, shown them exactly what producing good fruit looked like. What more could God have done for His people? What could possibly go wrong?

And yet it did. We know the story. The people refused to do it God’s way and produced bad fruit. The good fruit of justice and righteousness never materialised. Instead there was bloodshed and distress.

And now God has come to a point where he cannot keep preparing his beloved people from the consequences of their actions.

Woe to you who keep building bigger and better houses.

Woe to you who drink too much.

Woe to you who deceive yourselves and others.

Woe to you who call evil good.

Woe to you who think you’re so clever.

Woe to you who are corrupt.

Woe to you who have no regard for the deeds of the Lord, no respect for the work of his hands. (Isaiah 5:12)

Maybe those of you reading this who have children have some understanding of this from your own experience. You have done everything you can for your children. You’ve cared for them and provided everything they need. You’ve protected them and given them the best opportunities. You’ve encouraged them and taught them to make the most of life. You’ve stood with them and guided them and always been there for them. You’ve taught them right from wrong. You have loved them with your whole heart.

And yet…and yet.

And yet they are choosing to do it their own way. Choosing to reject your advice. Choosing clearly the wrong thing at times. Making the most spectacular mistakes. And you cannot always protect them from the consequences. They are making a mess of things and only they can start to clear up that mess. It’s frustrating. It makes you wonder what more you could have done. It’s heartbreaking.

This is a small glimpse into how God must feel about His people. His people in the Book of Isaiah. And His people around the world now. The whole word is God’s vineyard. Our country is God’s vineyard. Our community is God’s vineyard. Our home is God’s vineyard. Our workplace is God’s vineyard. Our life is God’s vineyard.

God loves each of these vineyards. He protects and provides in the best way possible. In each of these places, the ground is prepared for the best fruit to flourish and grow. For justice and righteousness to overflow. What more could God possibly do?

And each one of us has a role to play. We are invited to be a worker in whichever vineyard we find ourselves in today. To do all that we can to help produce the very best fruit. To strive always for justice and righteousness, whatever they look like for us and the people around us today.

When bad fruit is produced, there will be consequences. We’re already seeing those consequences. But the story is not over. The story is never over.

Thank God.