Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-05-19

In the fifth chapter of Isaiah, from
which the lesson today is taken, are two
sermons that he delivered to Israel and
Judah. The first one ends with verse
seven and is a parable. The second one
is a seven-fold woe, denouncing six vpi-
cal sins of the people. and in the climax
showing what must be the necessary
result. An unfortunate selection OF
verses has made the lesson today con-
sist Of the parable, and part OF the nrst
two sections of the second sermon. rms
must be understood to prevent wrong
INTERPRETATION of the passage. Verses
s-12 have no connection with verses IT.
1t is like taking the whole Of one OF
Tennyson's poems and part Of another,
to study together, the part must be rec
ognized as belonging to something else
THE PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD
Israel and Judah we're at the height OF
their temporal prosperity at the ume
Isaiah spoke this. but with prosperity,
as so often happens, had come forget
fulness of God and decline IN spirit
uality. They were so much engrossed IN
their own affairs that they had no ear
for God, and would not have listened TO-
His message in direct form. Hence
Isaiah gained their attention by this par
able. They were all familiar with vine
culture, and under Uzziah at this time,
Judah had just made great progress in
this direction.
Everything known to the best interests
of vine culture this susbandman is rep
resented as doing. The fence and tower
were for protection; the best seed were
planted; the soil was properly tended;
the plants were watched and guarded; a
wine press was hewn out to receive the
fruit of the vine Everything was done
with the one end in view of having the
| fruitage-but there was only offensive
putrefaction as the result. Cine words
wild grapes" mean this IN the origi-
nal)
You can appreciate how the people
would feel when those pertinent. point
ed questions were asked. God makes the
people become their own judges. What
more could He have done that be mao
not done to get fruit?
| The very form of the next sentences
| reveals the answer Of the people 10
Tsaial's questions. The course the hus-
bandman took was right he took away
the fences. and destroyed the vineyard
Las a fruit bearing proposition 1t was
worthless.
Then leaving aside the figure. Isaiah
brought home the truth he had been
lpresentfng-the house Of Israel ana Ju-
Han were meant What had God failed
TO do for them that might have been
done? Think over Israers history anu
answer this. There can be but one an
swer. His object had been that tney
might bear Him the fruits OF rlgnteous-
ness. but instead He had received from
them, only offensive putrefacton- IS
rael was guilty of every crime In the
calendar. Judges took brides, the peo-
ME were covetous. they we're oppres-
sors. they were drunkards, and many
other sins were cnargeable TO tnem- All
OF Gods care for them had been unaVall-
ing as far as real fruit was concerned.
He could do nothing more but judge
them. What was His end in the scatn-
ing Judgment? Was 1t revenge? was
lit the satisfaction of making them sur
Far for their sins? Never, never! II
was through this purging judgment 70
save them. The object of all dlsclp-
line should be the restoration ana re-
clamation of the offender rear We
sometimes forget that in our criminal
courts God was judging them 10 save
them ...,4,,
reference to our nation. What more
could God do for our nation that he
has not done? Stop here while. we
are very greatly in danger OF the pros
serity of Israel and its consequent
sins. Let us be very careful that we
vfald TO God the ITullS VI AA6AeS~NSf
ness That His wonderful provicences 70
our nation demand.
Stop again. Ask yourself the ques-
tion. what more could God have done
for you as an individual that he mas
rot done? DO not hurry here An
other question must surely come to your
mind Am / yielding the grapes he ex-
meets, or offensive putrefaction!
COvETOUSNESS AND DRUNKEN
NESS.
These are the first two OF the SIX
sins that are condemned in that next
sermon. we see the evil effects or IN
temperance on every sid. Many lessons
bav been taught the scholars ABOUT
intemperance. and it viii be brought
to our attention again and again. Inc
fight against the liquor traffic viii
never end. Give 1t lick whenever you
get a chance. and the harder the bet
ter. We are not so apt to have the'
sin of covetousness treated, however
so let us note II here.
Isaiah condemned as a sin, and as one
~ first Importance, something that is
not only very prevalent today among
us. but something that is looked upon
rather In the light of a virtue. 1t Is
something that occupies the larger part
Of the time and energies of most of the
of he church and the u