Lesson 7: Receiving the Grace of God in Vain (5:1-30)

This week we are focusing on Isaiah 5. The following are some study suggestions to help you get started:

LIMITED TIME:

1. Read through Isaiah 5.
2. Meditate on and/or journal the answers to the following questions.
   1. What does this passage teach me about God and His character?
   2. How does this aspect of God’s character change my view of myself?
   3. What should I do in response?

MORE TIME:

1. Read through Isaiah 5 and study it on your own. Here are some possible questions to get started. Note: Isaiah 5 can be divided into two parts. This chapter opens with Isaiah singing a song concerning his beloved’s vineyard (vv. 1-7). After experiencing the gracious care the beloved took of his vineyard, verses 8-30 speak in more detail as to the kind of fruit the vines produced.
   1. Read verses 1-7:
      1. Who is the ‘beloved’ and what has he done to care for his vineyard?
      2. Who is the vineyard, and what kind of crop did it yield?
   2. Read verses 8-30. Notice the ‘woes’ and the ‘therefores’.
      1. What types of fruit are being produced by the vineyard according to each ‘woe’?
      2. ‘Therefore’, what are the judgements of the beloved on his vineyard?
      3. Time for some faith building! According to verse 26, the beloved is in control of the nations (i.e. history). If time permits, check out 2 Kings 18:9-12 and 2 Kings 25:1-21 for more information as to what Isaiah may be referring to at the end of this chapter (vs. 26-30). (Note: The Northern Kingdom of Israel fell to Assyria in 722BC, and the Southern Kingdom of Judah fell in 586 BC.)
   3. Read John 15:1-11. In what vine are you abiding? What fruit are you producing?
   4. God is rich in mercy and grace! Read Ephesians 2:1-10. How are we like the vineyard Isaiah sings about? How are we different?
2. Meditate on or journal the answers to the following questions.
   1. What does this passage teach me about God and His character?
   2. How does this aspect of God’s character change my view of myself?
   3. What should I do in response?

GOING DEEPER (optional): For further teaching and application, do one or more of the following:

• Read chapter 7, “Receiving the Grace of God in Vain (5:1-30)” in Isaiah: God Saves Sinners or listen to Ray Ortlund’s sermon series on line. (Most of the sermons correspond to the chapters in his book.)
• Listen to the sermon(s) from Pastor Liam Goligher’s sermon series on Isaiah that go along with this week’s reading.

Share what the Lord is teaching you with someone else! Feel free to use the discussion board to post questions or thoughts and interact with others.