The LORD takes his place in court;
he rises to judge the people.
The LORD enters into judgment
against the elders and leaders of his people:
“It is you who have ruined my vineyard;
the plunder from the poor is in your houses.
What do you mean by crushing my people
and grinding the faces of the poor?” - Is. 3:13-15 NIV
It's hard for me to read these chapters without thinking of all the televangelists and mega-churches that have built their empires on the tithes and gifts of many people of few means. People with generous hearts who wanted to follow after God, and some who wanted the health and prosperity that was promised to follow, have given to the few so that they could build their magnificent sanctuaries, mansions, and technological infrastructures to perpetuate their own glory, seldom the Lord's. It's easy to think that these words were pronounced against politicians and aristocrats, but it is his people, the house of Israel that is being chastised and it is his church, today that must look at themselves and see what we have wrought.
The vineyard of the LORD Almighty
is the house of Israel,
and the men of Judah
are the garden of his delight.
And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed;
for righteousness, but heard cries of distress. - Is. 5:7 NIV
The vineyard of the Lord has been abused for all it's worth. It has been trampled and plundered until it no longer produces the wine that gladdens the heart. Perhaps somewhere a vineyard is being planted where the grapes will be tended with love and care; loved for themselves, not the profit they can produce.
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