Proper 15 / Pentecost 13 / Ordinary Time 20
Devotional
Water From the Rock
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle C
Object:
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!
-- Isaiah 5:7
This parable undoubtedly provided the foundation for a parable that Jesus would tell about the wicked tenants in Luke 20:17 and parallels in other gospels. It begins almost like a folk song: "Let me sing for my beloved my love-song concerning his vineyard...." The pleasantness of the beginning is intentional. It is to suggest that the loving-kindness of God is like that of one who would carefully build a vineyard. Attention is given to each detail, and no expense is spared to make this as good a vineyard as possible. But then inexplicably, things go wrong.
Despite planting the best of vines, the grapes that were produced were not quality grapes but what Isaiah refers to as wild grapes. All of this is a buildup to explaining what the owner of the vineyard will do in response to his failed vineyard. At this point, it could simply be a sad tale of a failed agricultural experiment. The owner's reaction seems a little strong -- removing the hedge, breaking down the wall, and not allowing it to be pruned or hoed. It becomes clear, however, that the owner of the vineyard is not just anyone but is actually God. This is revealed when the owner declares that he "will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it." This is clearly something that only God can do. Suddenly the ears of the listener perk up.
There is something more here than merely a sad tale. At this point, the meaning of the parable is made clear: "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!" Isaiah went on to denounce the growing disparity between the rich and the poor in Israel and the resulting failure of justice in the land. Since Isaiah was telling this tale as a judgment on the people of God, it becomes a haunting tale for the continuing people of God in the church. Are we risking our own destruction by the hand of God through our failure to pay attention to the justice and violence within our own communities? If we do not believe this to be so, is it because God has changed God's expectations for the people of God?
-- Isaiah 5:7
This parable undoubtedly provided the foundation for a parable that Jesus would tell about the wicked tenants in Luke 20:17 and parallels in other gospels. It begins almost like a folk song: "Let me sing for my beloved my love-song concerning his vineyard...." The pleasantness of the beginning is intentional. It is to suggest that the loving-kindness of God is like that of one who would carefully build a vineyard. Attention is given to each detail, and no expense is spared to make this as good a vineyard as possible. But then inexplicably, things go wrong.
Despite planting the best of vines, the grapes that were produced were not quality grapes but what Isaiah refers to as wild grapes. All of this is a buildup to explaining what the owner of the vineyard will do in response to his failed vineyard. At this point, it could simply be a sad tale of a failed agricultural experiment. The owner's reaction seems a little strong -- removing the hedge, breaking down the wall, and not allowing it to be pruned or hoed. It becomes clear, however, that the owner of the vineyard is not just anyone but is actually God. This is revealed when the owner declares that he "will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it." This is clearly something that only God can do. Suddenly the ears of the listener perk up.
There is something more here than merely a sad tale. At this point, the meaning of the parable is made clear: "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!" Isaiah went on to denounce the growing disparity between the rich and the poor in Israel and the resulting failure of justice in the land. Since Isaiah was telling this tale as a judgment on the people of God, it becomes a haunting tale for the continuing people of God in the church. Are we risking our own destruction by the hand of God through our failure to pay attention to the justice and violence within our own communities? If we do not believe this to be so, is it because God has changed God's expectations for the people of God?
