Isaiah 5:1 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: 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. 7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel".... "and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
This passage of scripture teaches us of the efforts made by God in trying to enable us to develop characters that would reflect His. In the verses He mentions the fencing of His vineyard, meaning that His protective watch-care is exercised day and night over His people so that they can grow. Then He speaks of gathering out the stones thereof, referring to the removal of all impediments to spiritual development, and last but not least, He discloses that it was the choicest vine that was planted, with the expectation that a bountiful harvest of converted souls would be garnered for His kingdom.
But to His utter despair, the vines thus planted and diligently cared for produced only wild grapes, meaning that the balanced character development with the corresponding symmetry was strangely absent, even though God had obviously done all He possibly could to bring about the favorable and desired results. This unfavorable outcome, after expending so much energy and resources after His vineyard, represents many of the Hebrews who had failed to develop according to the grace and opportunities granted them as a nation and as individuals. In other words, the laws and principles of God's kingdom were not internalized, and as a result, a very superficial form of religion which does not reach or touch the heart was being actively cultivated, with the morbid production of "Wild grapes".
This situation and undesirable outcome which took place with God's chosen people, is a fitting representation of what is now the norm in many Christian circles and institutions, for there is a form of godliness being paraded which does not touch the heart, nor does it spawn conformity to God's plainly revealed will. And the reason for this is just as it was in the days of old, for the commandments and laws of God's kingdom are being held by millions of professed Christians as intellectual property only, with no literal practice or implementation of His statutes in the real world. Hence the reason why we see so many prominent Christian leaders and clergymen clamoring for the Ten commandments to be displayed in public places, whilst at the same time, the fourth commandment which stipulates the keeping of the seventh day as God's Holy rest, is trampled upon.
This condition of things is sure to produce the problem of "Wild grapes", where many who claim Christ as Lord and Master are really Christians in name only, and the balanced character development which is to take place through the assimilation of God's law through the power of The Holy Spirit, lies dormant in the consciences of many, for where there is no absolute standard of righteousness, no proper growth and development can take place. As a matter of fact, many of us Christians who often boast of conversion and having The Holy spirit, may not be aware of the actual work of the Holy Ghost, nor of the rightful place the law of God has in the conversion process. The Holy Ghost converts us by writing the law of God into our hearts and minds, and therefore any claim of true conversion, without the law is a delusion at best, and will ultimately produce only "Wild grapes". Let's read:
Psalm 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make".... "saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
In our day there is urgent need of reform in many Christian circles, because the false doctrine which teaches the annulling of the ten commandments is productive of great evil, for how can we as a Christian community stand up firmly for the marriage institution, if the same law that says "Thou shalt not commit adultery" is thrown out with the fourth commandment? Here is the source of great confusion in the professedly Christian world, for whilst some are sticklers for the original marriage institution, they are at the same time violating some of the other laws in the Ten commandments, and the apostle James makes it clear that he who is guilty of one is guilty of all.
Let us therefore restore the entire law of God to its original prominence in our consciousness, so that a clear distinction between right and wrong may be made, and so that the process of character-building, which involves deliberate choice, can continue uninterrupted, to produce not wild grapes, but a character which is well balanced and finely tuned by the grace and power of God. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which enjoins this sacred duty and constant cooperation on our part, and the sure result will be vines and trees that bear much fruit, to the honor and glory of God. Let's read:
2nd Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!