Isaiah 5 part 2

This week, we continue Isaiah’s “Song of the Vineyard”. As you remember, the first part of chapter 5 gave a description of God’s vineyard, the Jews. He reminded them of how He had taken care of them, protected them, planted them, etc. Isaiah then informed them they had NOT followed God’s ways. He described their fruit as “wild grapes”, or literally “stink fruit”. He then goes on to pronounce six woes on the people for their rejection of God. The first woe we talked about last week as the “land grabbers”, or the greedy/wealthy people who were pushing out the weaker poor people. This week, we are continuing with this theme of “woes” coming to the people for their various sins. Nelson outlines the verses in this was:

Nelson’s Old Testament Survey Isaiah’s “Song of the Vineyard” (chapter 5)

Six Things the Lord Hates

Greed

Those who love possessions more than people (5:8)

Hedonism

Those who pursue pleasure more than God (5:11–13)

Rebellion

Those who choose to mock rather than submit (5:18–19)

Immorality

Those who love evil more than good (5:20)

Pride

Those who think they are wiser than God (5:21)

Injustice

Those who care for themselves while ignoring the rights of others (5:22–23)

The first woe we discussed was last week, those who love their possessions more than people

Isaiah 5:8 NKJV

Woe to those who join house to house; They add field to field, Till there is no place Where they may dwell alone in the midst of the land!

Greed was the first evil for which woe was pronounced. This week, we start with Hedonism (The doctrine that pleasure of happiness is the highest good: this dictionary definition definitely sounds like the world we live in!)

Isaiah 5:11 NKJV

Woe to those who rise early in the morning, That they may follow intoxicating drink; Who continue until night, till wine inflames them!

This week, the lesson is supposed to be about temperance. (we will cover more, but here are a few thoughts on the issue). I will start with a question:

Is is ever ok to partake in ETOH? Before going on, I will be clear that I do NOT drink ETOH, and I think it would be sinful for me to do so! However, in the real world, this question comes up. I had Catholic friends in medical school who would argue, “Well, they drank wine in the Bible”. And, people that want to argue this point may point to the scripture we “dread to hear”, 1 Tim 5:23

1 Timothy 5:23 NKJV

No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.

How do we handle this issue? I did some background reading on this topic. Wesley Bible Commentary, which is from our Wesleyan-Armenian viewpoint. I won’t go through all of their discussion, but they basically come down on the side that it is permitted only as medicinal use.

So, do we do this? Anyone in here who has taken nyquil, has technically used ETOH. It is about 10 % Etoh. (In fact, a few years ago, I had to show my drivers license to even buy this)! I may use this 5-6 x a year if I have a bad cold.

Second, it is used in cooking. Vanilla is about 90 proof. If you were to drink vanilla straight, you would become very drunk! However, when used in cooking, the ETOH is basically cooked out.

Example: meeting with friends at Steak and Shake.

There are some cultural aspects to consider. I spoke with Dr. Gibson about this issue. It is interesting that in general, American Christians have generally adopted a total temperance viewpoint (with exceptions such as I have mentioned). That is not the case in Europe!

I have had two different nurses that I have worked with in my office that occasionally will drink wine, etc. They are both professing Christians, and neither were raised in a “Christian home”. They occasionally may drink wine after super, but they are not getting drunk.

I am willing to admit that God is bigger than my viewpoint on this. God knows each individuals heart. I am NOT going to tell those nurses that they are on their way to Hell because of this. I will have to let God be God here, I will be content to be ONE of His followers.

One summer, I think partly on a vacation, we listened to the book “God’s smuggler” on audio while driving. This was always a great distraction for our kids if we were driving a long way. The author has an amazing story. He was saved from a terrible life of sin. He became a missionary, literally smuggling Bibles behind the Iron Curtain. He tells of a time in which his car got stuck (I think in Russia). Several men came out of a bar and joyfully helped him get his car out of the mud. He accompanied them back inside for a few moments. They were there with him, and very happy to be with him. Someone brought him a quick drink! He tells how he was initially not sure what to do. He had been saved from a terrible life of sin! However, he also realized that if he refused, these men would have considered it a dreadful insult, especially after they had helped him! He decided to quickly drink the shot that was given him!

What would we do? I don’t have the answer, but I can’t throw stones at someone who is literally is risking his life for the Gospel!

There are several big names in Christianity, whom we uphold, that would occasionally drink an alcoholic beverage, such as Martin Luther, CS Lewis, etc. Their cultures were different than ours!

Now, before someone thinks that I am saying it is ok to drink, let me give you my perspective on this. First of all, we can argue over things like nyquil, vanilla, etc. However, the Bible clearly forbids drunkeness!

Romans 13:13 NKJV

Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.

This is one of several scriptures. From my personal perspective (I think in some way similar to everyone else’s here), I was born in the American Christian culture in 1974. I was raised by a non drinking family. My Grandpa despised EOTH.

He was born in 1921. The years of prohibition in the US was from 1920 until 1933. He was raised in a non drinking society. I remember he used to tell me “You cannot imagine the difference in a society after ETOH is introduced”.

Not to be political here, but he was a lifelong republican. The reason he gave me was profound. He was a young boy when FDR repealed prohibition. About a week later, a 12 year old girl was killed on his street by a drunk driver! He despised the Democratic party ever since! I heard him say more than once, “If my own sons ran on the democratic ticket, I would not vote for them!”.

TIMES HAVE CHANGED! (not that the democrats are any better), but remember temperance can mean avoiding the excess of anything! We think of it in terms of ETOH, but it can be anything. Our current governor, a republican, has expressed that he is open to legalizing marijuana. How culture has changed!

It is interesting to note that the American Academy of Psychiatry a few years ago came out against this, the reason? Smoking pot is associated with causing schizophrenia! When someone smoked a joint in the 1960s, it was about 6-7 % THC. With the legalizing in many states, the commercial products are often around 35 %! Of note, I recently had a conversation with Sam Arp, the Lawrence County Prosecutor. He said he feared drivers smoking pot more that he did drunk drivers! (Some are functional alcoholics, but Pot will delay reactions times, etc). Enough on that.

Back to my perspective: The first real exposure I had to ETOH was in medical school. I remember sowing up someones tongue after he had been in a bar fight. That experience alone, was enough to make me realize that I despise the smell of ETOH!

My grandpa Speer smoked for many years. Most of the time, he did not smoke around his grandchildren when I was young, and I don’t remember him smoking around my mom or my aunt. (I don’t think he wanted any sermons from my mom or my aunt, I think he heard plenty from my grandmother!) However, when I was a teenager, if it was just me and him fishing, he would occasionally smoke in front of me. He knew that I was not going to preach to him about it, that was not my role!). Now, let me make this clear, I despise the smell of cigarettes. (some pipes do smell good, but they are NOT worth the risk). However, I would rather smell my grandpa’s cigarettes any day than I would ETOH!

So, from my raising, my American Christian perspective, (and my natural aversion to it), I think it would clearly be sinful if I took up drinking. I think that is most likely true of everyone in here. To re enforce this, here are a few statistics.

About 40 percent who drink before age 15 will develop dependence. About 10 percent if they wait until age 20. Clearly, the percent is 0 % if you don’t take your first drink! About 7 % of people in the US are plagued with alcohol dependence.

Remember, temperance can relate to anything in excess! John Wesley was not a fan of Coffee or Tea. He felt both caused anxiety, and harmful to those who were nervous. His view was influenced by the fact the British drank a lot of both, and in that day, both drinks were often sweetened by slave produced sugar.

Obviously, our views on Coffee and Tea are different! (I drank bout 2 pots of Coffee on Friday, I have had several cups this morning). You can ask Edward about temperance concerning Tea drinking (incidentally, my wife and I both drink much more Hot Tea now that we have been influenced by the Cooks!)

It can relate to practical things as well. For example, my son recently informed me that God had been dealing with him about watching “too much U-Tube. He informed me that he was going to take a break from it for now. (Not that he will never watch a clip again, but everything in life really should be done in moderation!).

Now, let’s get back to our verses for today. We see from vs 1 that “strong wine” is mentioned, and the fact they are rising up early. There were two kinds of wine ordinarily used. There was the usual grape wine. The was NOT the highly intoxicating kind. The second was called “Shakar”. It was made of palm and dates. In fact, Judea was famous for it’s excellent palm trees. There was plenty of this wine available. It was known for its highly inebriating qualities. It was not for health, not for purifying the water, etc. This as for revelry.

Vs 11 also describes them as “rising up early in the morning” to pursue this. According to commentators, it was common for the elites/royalty of that day to start at an early hour for their drinking parties. Usually, it was accompanied with vibrant music, and the revelry could last all night long.

Isaiah 5:12 NKJV

The harp and the strings, The tambourine and flute, And wine are in their feasts; But they do not regard the work of the Lord, Nor consider the operation of His hands.

Various types of instruments are listed here. The harp is likely the the same type that King David used. The viol or “strings” is likely an early, primitive type of guitar. The “tabret” could be something like a tambourine (as NKJV has it), or something like a kettle drum. The “pipe” is similar to a flute. The picture here is similar to our modern bar room scene, where alcohol is flowing, music is blaring, sensual dancing likely taking place, etc. Note that all of the instruments listed were also used during worship in times past, but now these same instruments are being used to drive on human passions. They had chosen to forget God in their lives. Pulpit: “The men of Isaiah’s generation had ceased to care for things of the past, and devoted themselves to enjoying the present”.

Amos had a few years earlier prophesied to the Northern Kingdom for the same lifestyle.

Amos 6:3–7 NKJV

Woe to you who put far off the day of doom, Who cause the seat of violence to come near; Who lie on beds of ivory, Stretch out on your couches, Eat lambs from the flock And calves from the midst of the stall; Who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments, And invent for yourselves musical instruments like David; Who drink wine from bowls, And anoint yourselves with the best ointments, But are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. Therefore they shall now go captive as the first of the captives, And those who recline at banquets shall be removed.

The language is very similar, and Isaiah’s audience in Judah will watch as the Assyrians fulfill this prophecy by carrying off Israel in 722. They are not only warned, but will have a direct visual object lesson!

In the next few verses, Isaiah pronounces similar judgement on Judah.

Isaiah 5:13 NKJV

Therefore my people have gone into captivity, Because they have no knowledge; Their honorable men are famished, And their multitude dried up with thirst.

Isaiah give this has a prophetic certainty. The “have gone into captivity”. The language is such that the prophet sees it as if it has already happened. Because they have decided to ignore the knowledge they should have had, we see a great contrast. There “honorable men” can be translated as “their glorious ones”. Not only the lower class, but the leaders are also guilty. Those who were feasting, drinking, and partying, are now seen as starving, thirsty, and taken into captivity.

Verses 14 and 15 are even more ominous:

Isaiah 5:14–15 NKJV

Therefore Sheol has enlarged itself And opened its mouth beyond measure; Their glory and their multitude and their pomp, And he who is jubilant, shall descend into it. People shall be brought down, Each man shall be humbled, And the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled.

KJV translates “Hell has enlarged itself”. The word “Sheol” is the same as “Hades” in the Greek. In English, it is often translated as “Hell”. As it is used here, it represents the underworld. It is “the general receptacle of the dead, dark and silent”. (Pulpit). Or, as Bannister and Hemenway put it, :

Commentary on the Old Testament, Vol. VII.—Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the Lamentations of Jeremiah Chapter 5

The term sheol never means the grave, but always the invisible domain of the dead, whether referring to souls, as usually, or to bodies.

The prophet here personifies sheol. Adam Clarke describes it this way:

The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes, Vols. I–VI Chapter 5

Hades is ... placed before our eyes in the form of a ravenous monster, opening wide his immeasurable jaws, and swallowing them all together: “Therefore Sheol hath dilated her soul, she hath opened her mouth beyond limit.” Destruction expects more than a common meal, when God visits Jerusalem for her iniquities.

Clearly, Isaiah is painting a clear picture of judgement.

When he says “Their glory, their multitude, etc, it is literally translated as “Her glory”. Isaiah seems to be referring to Jerusalem itself. The mass of people in this once joyous city is seen as falling into Hades in judgement.

Isaiah 5:16 NKJV

But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, And God who is holy shall be hallowed in righteousness.

When it says he is “exalted in judgment”, it is saying God is exercising His justice. It is future (shall be), and it indicates that this principle is eternally fixed, and is true. God does NOT change. He is holy, and he is righteous. His judgments are always just.

Isaiah 5:17 NKJV

Then the lambs shall feed in their pasture, And in the waste places of the fat ones strangers shall eat.

This verse is interesting, and has been interpreted in several ways. Some have seen the “lambs” here as the remnant of Israel, after judgement. In this view, the Good Shepherd then will take care of the lambs. Some see the “lambs” as followers of Christ (“feed My Lambs”). In this view, the “strangers” are the Gentile Christians, and they will “eat” where the “fat ones” (the Jews) should have. In other words, the Gentile Christians will partake of the rich privileges of God. However, most interpret this more literally (and I think correctly so). This would indicate that what once was the territory of Judah will be taken over by wandering tribes of nomads (Arabs, etc) feeding their flocks. It is a picture of desolation of the once proud territory of Judah, in ruins because of their sins.

The next woe is in vs 18-19:

Isaiah 5:18–19 NKJV

Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity, And sin as if with a cart rope; 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 near and come, That we may know it.”

The picture here is also fascinating. Several commentators see this as progressively worse sinning and lifestyle. It starts as a small “cord”, describes by several as a “hair string”, and ends in a stout, binding rope. As Brown puts it

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 5

The antithesis is between the slender cords of sophistry, like the spider’s web (

In vs 19, they are clearly taunting God. “let Him make speed”,” Hasten His work”, etc. It is is walking by sight, NOT by faith. They even use the expression “Holy One of Israel” (One of Isaiah’s favorite expressions) as a taunt instead of reverence.

It is easy to see similar attitudes in our day.

The next woe really reminds us of our own day!

Isaiah 5:20 NKJV

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

He compares opposites, light and dark, bitter and sweet, GOOD AND EVIL. We live in a day when men call evil good and vice versa.

In 2015, Rowan County Clerk of Courts Kim Davis was put in jail. Why? She refused to issue marriage licenses in Kentucky to same sex couples. She was jailed briefly, and given huge fines. This is a great example of the “good” (standing on Biblical principles) being called bad.

How about “pride month”, and Pride parades, even in Indianapolis. They are shaking their fists at God, and clearly flaunting the Bible and all it stands for. And yet, many call this “good”, what God clearly calls evil.

Or, how about “it is good for a woman to choose what she does with her body”.

In college, I remember one text book on sociology telling that the high divorce rate in the US means that Americans highly honor marriage. In fact, they hold it in such high esteem, that they must keep going through multiple spouses until they find the perfect marriage!

How twisted is it that a high divorce rate is called “good”, but I have actually read that.

Let us beware, we live 2500 plus years from the time of Isaiah, but the “woe” still applies to us today as a nation.

The next woe is similar:

Isaiah 5:21 NKJV

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!

Those that think they are “smarter than God”. Is this real in our world? Definitely. I was a Biology major in College. There are many in the scientific world who will scoff at anyone who believes in creation. The are considered “unlearned and ignorant”. I remember hearing a medical lecture once, when differences in the sexes was discussed. The doctor stated “evolution shows us that woman evolved first, THEN man, which contradicts the Biblical view”. That whole attitude of arrogance is condemned.

Romans 1:22 NKJV

Professing to be wise, they became fools,

Many try to use evolution to explain there is no God. (true, there are theistic evolutionist, but that is beyond the scope of this lesson)

Quite frankly, if one studies evolution deeply, it takes much more faith to be an atheist that to believe in God.

Isaiah 5:22–23 NKJV

Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink, Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away justice from the righteous man!

Vs 22 again mentions alcohol abuse, but we have already discussed that. However, this seems to take is a step further. Now, inebriated judges are giving wrong judgments! Those “mighty at drinking wine” describes those who brag about how well they can “hold their liquor”. These very men are then giving judgments! Clearly it has affected their thinking, and in so doing, it destroys justice!

I saw some clips of the hearings this week on confirmation of the incoming administrations appointees. Pete Hegseth is up for Sec of Defense. Apparently, he has been known for drinking in the past. However, He has pledged that if confirmed, he will NOT drink any ETOH. Some in congress (democrats mostly) are making an issue of this. I saw a senator defending Hegseth. He stated, (paraphrasing), “if we vote against him for drinking, then we would have to vote against most of us. I’ve seen many of you come into session after drinking, and then place your vote”. This is not a statement for or against Hegseth, but I think it illustrates that we face many of the same problems that Isaiah did.

I know this ends today on a dark note, but it will get better. Next week, Edward will be teaching on chapter 6, which is Isaiah’s great vision!