Isaiah 5:5-7
“For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his pleasant planting; he expected justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry!” vs. 7
Isaiah had been called to proclaim the truth to the people of Judah and the message he was given was not a pleasant one. They could no longer bask in their presumed role as God’s chosen ones and enjoy the benefits of their election. Instead they would be ravaged by enemies and lose their favored status. God had expected that there would be justice and righteousness in the land…and there wasn’t…and now they would face the consequences. That’s always the case when justice fails…it always has been and it always will be. Civilizations are judged by one standard…is there justice for everyone? More particularly, is there justice for the oppressed and the poor? It’s not that God doesn’t care about the rich…but history tells us that the wealthy seldom have problems getting what they want. It’s the other folks who have a rough time. That’s why the church needs to be spending a disproportionate amount of its time and energy tending to the lowly and the outcasts of our world. They’re the ones whose blood gets shed and who regularly cry out for relief. As we echo the words of Isaiah in speaking truth to the nations perhaps one day the Lord will find justice and righteousness in his vineyard.
Thought for the Day: Is there liberty and justice for all in the United States?
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