This Isaiah passage is sometimes called the "Song of the Vineyard." It's not hard to see why given the description of a vineyard being carefully prepared and planted. Although like us "non-Felder Rushing" types it yielded a less than satisfactory crop. In fact the crop was overgrown by wild grapes. I take this to mean that weeds and uninvited growth took over the vineyard.
I hate it when weeds take over. It feels like all my hard work has been covered or consumed by some insidious force that I cannot control. It seems that the only solution or fix is more back breaking hard work ... in fact ... pulling all the weeds one by one. Or, using chemicals thereby adding something unnatural to the garden.
Of course, another option is starting over. That's right plowing it under and raking up everything else and starting over. This includes letting the pile of debris decompose and create fresh, fertile compost. This option allows for replanting the next year with all the rich soil heavy and thick with last years leaves, weeds and lessons. Probably the most important lesson to be learned is that vineyards and gardens need tending. Regular tending and attention.
I'm not saying that God wasn't tending to us (Israel) on a regular basis. I'm saying that humankind needed something more ... we needed a savior. A savior to teach us how to tend to the everyday needs of God's garden. Jesus calls us to step into the garden or vineyard and get to work. He calls all of us to little by little tend to the needs of his people. The really hard part is that he doesn't allow us any excuse like waiting for the right time. Or, waiting till you are totally ready. He want us to get to work now and to daily see to the needs and upkeep of his garden.
Why does the passage from Luke sound so dire and apocalyptic? Simple Jesus is reminding us that our spiritual life can't wait. He is reminding us that the end is always near and we must be ready.
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