Isaiah: Chapter 5

Below is but a small measure of revelation that my father had received from the Lord. I hope this will be a blessing to you. All that is written below are the words of my father.

December 9, 2021 

In loving memory of my father
Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett
July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023

In our last message, we primarily concentrated on one verse, Isaiah, Chapter 4, Verse 1, which says, "And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach." In general, "that day" implies the day of the judgment of God. As such, "that day" was true in Isaiah's day and will be true in these last of the last days in which we live.

Before we get into Isaiah, Chapter 5, let us read the last five verses in Isaiah, Chapter 4.

2 In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

Who are "them that are escaped of Israel"? and escaped from what? escaped from the eight captors that today hold many in the church captive because of our own decisions. In our previous message we described, from Isaiah, Chapter 11, the significance of those eight modern-day captors.

3 And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:
4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.

We must remember 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." We also must remember that the significant meaning of scripture is in the spiritual realm, not in the natural realm. The mountain of Zion has no natural daughters; the natural city of Jerusalem has no blood. A New Testament counterpart of Isaiah 4:4 is,

2 Corinthians 7:1, "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 

I believe none of us understands the depth of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Neither do we understand the immense height of the glory of God. 

Back to Isaiah, Chapter 4.

5 And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.

6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

Now let us turn to Isaiah, Chapter 5. The first seven verses constitute a parable or an allegory or a love poem.

1 Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching His vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:

The "I" is God the Father speaking and singing a love song to His Son. The "wellbeloved" is the Lord Jesus Christ, and the "vineyard" stands for the chosen people of God. The image of the vineyard is appropriate because grapes were one of the main crops of Israel. The very fruitful hill is Mt. Zion, which speaks of a remnant which will bring forth, by the power of the Holy Ghost, the fruit of the Spirit.

2 And He fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and He looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.

He fenced the vineyard... He and He alone is our Protector and our Provision. The stones that He gathered are the chosen people of God. The choicest vine is Jesus, who said, "I am the Vine, ye are the branches." The tower in the midst is also Jesus. That is recorded in Psalm 18:2 and Psalm 144:2. The "winepress" speaks of the same instrument as Gethsemane, which means "oil press." That speaks of the Holy Spirit, who brings about the circumstances in our life to press us out of our measure into the measure of Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, "For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:"

"Grapes" speak of the fruit of the Spirit; "wild grapes" speak of the fruit of the flesh, as recorded in Galatians, Chapter 5.

3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.

4 What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?

What more could the Lord have done for us? He created us. He birthed us; He gave us new birth. Even all creation points to Jesus. Jesus plus what else is sufficient for us? He bought us for a price. We belong to Him.

5 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:

6 And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah His pleasant plant: and He looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

A New Testament counterpart of those seven verses is found in Matthew 21:33-46.

33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

The husbandmen are the religious leaders over all of time. The servants are the prophets.

36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.

40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

What is a nation that brings forth the fruits of the kingdom of God? Gentiles initially, but more generally all believers over all of time.

44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

"This stone" is clearly Jesus, the chief corner stone.

45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard His parables, they perceived that He spake of them.

46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took Him for a prophet.

Why did Jesus speak a word of judgment against Judah and Jerusalem and the leaders thereof? Because of their failure to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance.

Back to Isaiah, Chapter 5. Six "woes" follow verse 7. These six woes correspond to the six woes that Jesus spoke in Luke, Chapter 11, to the scribes, the Pharisees, and the lawyers.

8 Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!

9 In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant.

The first 'woe' is directed toward those who selfishly expand their real estate holdings. Since God graciously provided the land so that all of His people would have some, buying up land was always done at the cost of another person. Ahab's seizure of Naboth's vineyard is a good example of this exploitation. While the wealthy intended to grab land to get riches, the result will be the opposite - empty houses and poor harvests. Those who join house to house sounds like our housing subdivisions. This speaks of urbanization and commercialization. The beauty of God's handiwork is covered up by man's work. The asphalt jungle with the myriads of concrete highways exist so that man can get to where man wants to go faster. God has provided us with His spiritual highway, the Holy Spirit, so that we can get to where God wants us to go faster.

10 Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah.

A bath is about 8 gallons of grapes, which is a very meager amount for 10 acres. A "homer" is about 10 bushels. An "ephah" is about one bushel. In other words, for those who follow man's ways, the very ground or farm will yield very meager crops. Many years ago I knew a good man who travelled extensively to churches all over the United States and various other countries. He told me that flying over Central America, he could see one country whose land was very green and another country whose land was very brown. God is not mocked. We reap what we sow.

11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!

12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of His hands.

The second "woe" is directed toward those who indulge in excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages. They drink and eat and sing and play their instruments ... entertainment of all kinds, and we call them celebrities, but they forget what is really important ... the work of the Lord. The result is recorded in Verses 13 through 15.

13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.

14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.

15 And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:

Verse 15 is a re-affirmation of Isaiah 3:9, of which the best translation says, "And the mean man is bowed down, and the great man is brought low: therefore forgive them not."

16 But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.

17 Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.

18 Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:

19 That say, Let him make speed, and hasten His work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!

This third "woe" pictures people whose sin is so heavy that they pull it along in a cart behind them. Their sin is cynicism. With a tone of unbelief they challenge God to act so they can see with their natural eyes.

Now let us fast forward to our day. We, the church, have lost something ... we have lost the ability to influence the world. What has gone wrong? We see carnality without conviction. We have mingled the things of the Lord with the things of the world. We go to church, we call ourselves a Christian, but what happens after the service is over? We act more like those in the world. Worse still, we justify our lifestyle. We have a grandson who just six months ago was born again by the power of God. Immediately he became on fire for the will of God in his life and started a Bible study in his home. He told me privately that he sees some of his peers, who call themselves Christians and attend his Bible study, living in sin with the opposite sex, just like those in the world. Whatever happened to "be ye holy, for the Lord our God is holy?" Whatever happened to "be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect?" The sin nature is present in every human being born since the fall of Adam (Romans 5:12).

Many different words represent the outworking of man's fallen nature. We will mention only two such words... sin and iniquity. There are differences between sin and iniquity but both require a cleansing which must come from the blood of the Lamb of God. Every iniquity is sin but some sins are not iniquity. The Bible describes the sad story of Israel constantly violating God's trust by breaking His covenant with them.

Sin means 'to miss the mark.' Sin is the general term for anything that "falls short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Sin can refer to doing something against God or against a person (Exodus 10:16), doing the opposite of what is right (Galatians 5:17), or failing to do something you know is right (James 4:17). First John 3:4 says that sin is the transgression of the law. It is like shooting an arrow at a target and you not only miss the bulls eye, you miss the target altogether. However, in your heart you intended to hit the target; you just missed for some reason. There are some sins of deception, sins of ignorance, and sins of presumption. Under the Old Covenant, the sin offering was for unintentional sin (Numbers 15:27). Everyone crosses the line in thought, word, or attitude, perhaps several times a day - that is called human nature. Therefore, we should be quick to forgive others who do the same.

Sin leads to a downward progression that we all tend toward without the restoring power of the Holy Spirit. If left unchecked, continual sin leads to a "reprobate mind," spoken of in Romans 1:24. Our sin nature causes us to gravitate naturally toward selfishness, envy, and pride, even when we are trying to do good. The apostle Paul alluded to his propensity to sin when he wrote, in Romans 7:18, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not."

Iniquity is more deeply rooted than sin. Iniquity is a premeditated or calculated choice, continuing without repentance. We know that something is wrong but we go ahead and do it anyway. We overstep the bounds. Iniquity is a bending, twisting, or distorting of the law or God's Word. When we knowingly run a stop sign, tell a lie, or blatantly disregard an authority, that is called iniquity. Iniquity is a willful, knowing transgression of God's law where one's desires start to dominate the person's life like it did in David's relationship with Bathsheba.

David first lusted after Bathsheba, Uriah's wife, then he had an affair with her and produced a child, then he had Uriah killed so he could legally have her as his wife. If anyone gets to that stage of iniquity, no amount of prayer, praise, or prophecy can set us free. We must run to the cross and sincerely repent and ask for forgiveness.

In David's psalm of repentance, he cries out to God, saying, Psalm 51:1-5,

1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Psalm 32:5, "I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah." 

David also wrote, "Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered" (Psalm 32:12).

Now let us consider the result of iniquity when left unchecked. First, Psalm 66:18. 

"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:"

Next, it leads to a continuing state of willful sin with no fear of God. The build-up of unrepentant sin is sometimes pictured as a "cup of iniquity" being filled to the brim (Revelation 17:4). This often applies to nations who have forsaken God completely. Continued iniquity leads to unnatural affections, which leads to a reprobate mind. Romans 1:28-32 outlines this digression in vivid detail. The sons of Eli are biblical examples of reprobates whom God judged for their iniquities (1 Samuel 3:13-14). Rather than repent, Eli's sons continued in their abominations until repentance was no longer possible.

Another result is a seared conscience. 1 Timothy 4:1-2, 

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;"

Romans 1:18-22, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold [down] the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

But the ultimate result of unchecked iniquity is recorded in Matthew 7:21-23, 

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Paul exhorts us, in 2 Timothy 2:19, 

"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

However, regardless of how depraved a human heart may become, Jesus' death on the cross is sufficient to cover all sin (Romans 5:18). God forgives iniquity, as He does any type of sin, when we repent. Hebrews 8:12, "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." Isaiah 53:4-5, "Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed."

The only sin that God cannot forgive is the final rejection of the Holy Spirit's drawing to repentance the ultimate fruit of a reprobate mind, which is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Matthew 12:31-32, "Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come." Then we read Hebrews 6:4-6, "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame." As to Christ's teaching concerning blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, if anyone, with the evidence of the Lord's power before his eyes, should declare it to be Satanic, he exhibits a condition of heart beyond Divine illumination and therefore hopeless. As to the Son of Man, in His state of humiliation, there might be misunderstanding, but not with the Holy Spirit's power demonstrated.

Back to Isaiah, Chapter 5.

20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

This fourth "woe" is overwhelmingly evident in the political system of our modern-day United States. This speaks of confusion in ethical and moral categories. One senator recently warned the Supreme Court that if Roe v. Wade was overturned, there would be a revolution in the United States. That senator, and a multitude of other political leaders, apparently do not understand that we have had an on-going revolution in our country for many long years already ... a revolution against God and His ways, irregardless of Roe v. Wade.

21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

The issue of this fifth "woe" is the autonomy of man. This is clearly stated several different times, such as Proverbs 3:7-8, "Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones."

14 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength [or wealth] to mingle strong drink:

15 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

This sixth and last "woe" repeats but adds to the earlier issue of excessive drinking. Included in this woe is twisting justice for money. How does a man take away the righteousness of the righteous? Jesus said, in Matthew 23:15, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves."

24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

25 Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against His people, and He hath stretched forth His hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.

26 And He will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly:

27 None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken:

28 Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind:

28 Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it.

30 And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.

The nations that the Lord brought up against His chosen people in Isaiah's day were Assyria and Babylon. In our previous message we saw, from Isaiah, Chapter 11, that in our day the Lord has brought up 8 captors, which have put God's chosen people into bondage.

Jeremiah 8:5-6, "Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle."

We, as Christians, need to keep our garments clean.

Jeremiah 8:7, "Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD."

I find it rather amazing how God has built into His creation natural instincts. For example, consider the bird called a golden plover. Pacific golden plovers breed in West Alaska in June and July. They form monogamous pairs. They are phenomenal long-distance travelers. After breeding in Alaska, these plovers migrate to spend winter almost half way around the world. Alaskan breeders winter in Hawaii, Fiji, South Pacific Islands, all the way to New Zealand, a feat requiring precise navigation over thousands of miles of uncharted ocean. Males usually return to the same nest site, even to the same spot.

In like manner, I believe Scripture indicates that God has built into us human beings a spiritual DNA ... a longing for fulfillment that only God Himself can supply. David said, in Psalm 17:15, "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Romans 8:19-23, "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." 

Let God arise and His enemies be scattered. Amen.