1st Reading – Isaiah 5:1-7

Let me now sing of my friend,
my friend’s song concerning his vineyard.
My friend had a vineyard
on a fertile hillside;
he spaded it, cleared it of stones,
and planted the choicest vines;
within it he built a watchtower,
and hewed out a wine press.
Then he looked for the crop of grapes,
but what it yielded was wild grapes.

Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard:
What more was there to do for my vineyard
that I had not done?
Why, when I looked for the crop of grapes,
did it bring forth wild grapes?
Now, I will let you know
what I mean to do with my vineyard:
take away its hedge, give it to grazing,
break through its wall, let it be trampled!
Yes, I will make it a ruin:
it shall not be pruned or hoed,
but overgrown with thorns and briers;
I will command the clouds
not to send rain upon it.
The vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel,
and the people of Judah are his cherished plant;
he looked for judgment, but see, bloodshed!
for justice, but hark, the outcry!

Today’s first reading has been titled “Song of the Lord’s Vineyard,” and is believed to have been composed by Isaiah in the early years of his ministry in the 8th century BC.

This passage is both a masterpiece of Hebrew poetry and a parable that depicts God’s relationship with the people of Israel. It moves quite easily from a love song to an indictment of sin and ultimately a proclamation of judgment, thus reviewing Israel’s history from its election to the time of the prophet Isaiah.

Let me now sing of my friend, my friend’s song concerning his vineyard.

Isaiah sets up the allegorical story by introducing a song about a vineyard.

The song is about the poet’s friend (yādad), which is also translated as “my beloved.” We will see that this beloved friend is God.

My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside;

The fertile hill symbolizes the blessings and favor God has bestowed upon Israel.

He spaded it, cleared it of stones, and planted the choicest vines; within it he built a watchtower, and hewed out a wine press.

God is depicted as a diligent vineyard owner who carefully prepared the vineyard for success. God’s protection and care are symbolized by the clearing of stones, planting quality vines, and construction of a watchtower. God’s anticipation of a fruitful harvest is seen in his labor to create a wine press to process all the grapes.

Anyone familiar with planting and caring for vines can attest to the backbreaking nature of this kind of work.

Then he looked for the crop of grapes, but what it yielded was wild grapes.