WHAT MORE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE? -- Monday:
"What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?" KJV (Isaiah 5:4)
Why do people, upon whom much labor is bestowed, sometimes turn out fruitless and a source of great sorrow. What man or woman of God has not experienced the grief that comes from realizing seemingly fruitless labors? Paul wrote of a "Mary, who bestowed much labor" on him (Rom 16:6). You can imagine what rich satisfaction she must have realized when she saw and heard the Apostle, or was knowledgeable of his prodigious labors for the King.
But what of those who do not yield such fruitage? Paul once said he was "afraid" for the Galatians, considering he may have wasted his time with them. "I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain" (Gal 4:11). In a day of polished religious professionals, and institutional fervor, it seems that such thoughts are almost extinct. Churches without number acknowledge they have more people going out the back door than are coming in the front, yet it appears as though that circumstance causes little hurt or no concern among them.
Our text reveals the reality of effort without satisfactory results. It would be more easily received if the efforts were those of men. But this is Divine effort – the work of God Himself. Some people adopt a theology that refuses to admit the possibility of this occurrence. But God has spoken, so we will simply not listen to their prattling.
In this text, the "vineyard" is Israel, chosen and nurtured by the Almighty. They were given every possible advantage. God describes it this way. "Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And He fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and He looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes" (Isa 5:1-2).
This is about the Lord's own vineyard – those close to His heart. Every provision was made for an abundant and satisfying harvest. The prophets, like a watchtower of protection, were placed within it. Provision was made for handling an abundant harvest, and producing rich wine. Instead of a harvest of succulent grapes, however, the vine God planted yielded "wild grapes," or "worthless" (NASB) and "bad" (NIV) fruit.
What an arresting question the Sovereign of the universe poses. "What more could have been done for My vineyard than I have done for it?" (NIV). Was the deficiency of Israel owing to any Divine neglect or lack of provision? Indeed not! God cannot be faulted for the worthlessness of their fruit. Their condition was in spite of the rich working of God.
The saints must be willing to make the transition from Israel to themselves. As we "examine" ourselves (1 Cor 11:28; 2 Cor 13:5), if we find areas where we have not been productive for our Lord, let us ask the question, "What more could our Lord have done for me?" The answer will always be obvious to you. It is not Divine activity that it missing, but your own lack of response to it. There is no need to be lacking in our response. We can walk by faith and live in the Spirit. Then God will find what He is looking for in us.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I long for Your grace and power so I can be a source of joy and satisfaction to You.