v. 8-23. _Woe unto them that join house to house, &c._
It is important to remember that this whole chapter constitutes one
prophecy. Much of the power of its teaching will be lost, if this
fact be overlooked. In verses 1-7, we have the astonishing
declaration that in "the vineyard of the Lord of hosts" He has
discovered, not the excellent fruit He had a right to expect, but
"wild grapes." In verses 8-23, some of these "wild grapes" are
specified and denounced. Surveying His vineyard the Husbandman
beheld--
I. Not the gracious fruit of generosity, but the evil fruits of GREED
and PRIDE. He saw men, not content with the possessions which
Providence had conferred upon them, nor those which honest industry
would enable them to secure, but coveting their neighbour's
possessions, and hesitating at no means that would enable them to
gratify their desires (Micah ii. 1, 2); beating down their equals,
that they themselves might dwell in solitary grandeur (ver. 8). Note,
1. That the aggregation of landed property here denounced was
directly contrary to the most explicit Divine ordinances (Num.
xxxvi. 7; Lev. xxv. 23, 24).[1] 2. The conduct here denounced has its
counterparts to-day--in the matter of land, great landowners buying
up all the little farms adjoining their estates, and turning fruitful
valleys into deer-runs; in trade, great capitalists subjecting their
less wealthy rivals to ruinous competition, &c., &c.[2] 3. That it is
not merely particular manifestations of the spirit of greed and
pride, but the spirit itself, that provokes the indignation of the
bountiful Giver of all good. Covetousness and arrogance are not
confined to any particular class. The tenth commandment exists for
the poor as well as for the rich.
II. Not the excellent fruit of temperance, but the evil fruit of
SENSUAL INDULGENCE (ver. 11, 12). He saw men living for mere
pleasure, without any recognition of the "work" which He had wrought
for them as a nation, without any acknowledgement of His goodness to
them as individuals, without any remembrance of the purpose of their
being.[3]
III. Not the excellent fruit of reverence for God's Word, but the
evil fruit of SCOFFING. The messengers whom He sent to recall them to
duty, they scorned; the warnings which He mercifully sent to them of
the judgments impending over them, they turned into merriment.
Instead of forsaking their sins, they yoked themselves to them with
renewed determination (verses 18, 19).
IV. Not the noble fruit of a recognition of the truth, but the evil
fruit of INFIDELITY--that intellectual scepticism which seeks to
destroy the very foundations of morality, and which prepares men for
vice of all kinds, and hardens them therein, by confounding vice with
virtue, and denying man's moral accountability.
V. Not the befitting fruit of humility and desire for Divine
guidance, but the evil fruit of SELF-SUFFICIENCY (ver. 21). Clever
and successful "men of the world," they resented the idea of their
needing counsel and help as an insult. They were their own gods.
Trusting in themselves with unfaltering confidence, they excluded
from their minds all thought of Him in whom they lived and moved and
had their being. Conceiving that they owed all their prosperity to
their own wisdom and prudence, how could they give Him thanks?
Confident that they would be equal to every emergency of life, how
could they lift up to Him one real prayer?
VI. Not the indispensable fruit of righteousness in those who are
called to rule, but that evil fruit which always excites His hottest
indignation, DENIAL OF JUSTICE TO THE POOR. He saw the judges taking
their seats on the judicial bench, not with clear intellects and the
love of righteousness enthroned in their hearts, but besotted and
brutalised by strong drink; not dispensing justice, but selling their
verdict to those who could furnish them most amply with the means of
gratifying their sensual lusts (vers. 22, 23). Than the denial of
justice there is no more cruel wrong.
These were the "wild grapes" which God saw when He looked down upon
His ancient vineyard. Was it any wonder that He brake down the wall
thereof, and give it over to destruction? These are the "wild grapes"
which He sees brought forth only too abundantly when He looks down
upon this land. Is it not a wonder that He spares the nation to which
we belong? 1. Let us beseech Him still to spare us, for the sake of
the "ten righteous" who dwell among us. 2. Let us recognise that the
most urgent duty to which we are called as patriots is the abatement
of those iniquities which justly kindle God's indignation against us.
3. Let us as individuals search and see what fruits are being brought
forth in the vineyard of our own souls, lest while we are deploring
the iniquities of our land and time, and, it may be, are labouring to
lessen them, there grow up within us, "wild grapes" which will bring
down upon us the Divine condemnation.