Isaiah 5 Bible Study Questions

What More Can God Do? (Isaiah 5:1–7, 8-25, 26-30; 1a, 4)

"I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard..." "What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad?" (Isa 5:1a, 4, NIV)

Outline (5:1-30):

1. The Song (1-7): Love and grace.
2. The Woes (8-25): Laments of sorrow.
3. The Judgment (26-30): Defeat and darkness.

Recap: In Isaiah 1-4, what challenges and choices does Isaiah present to his audience (Judah and us)?

• Be a ______ (1:2) Or be __________ (1:27).

• Be _________ and __________ Or _______ and ________ (1:19-20).

• Walk in the _______ Or ___________ (2:5; 5:30).

• Trust _____ Or _____ (2:22).

• _______ God alone Or remain _________ and ________ (2:11, 17).

• Live with the glorious ______ of God's coming kingdom (2:1-4; 4:2-6) or live in _______ (2:11, 17; 3:16).

5:1-30

1. Who is "I"? "The one I love" (1)? What does this show about the relationship between God and the prophet?
2. What does verse 2 teach us about God (5:1)?
3. In terms of rhetoric (the art of persuasion) what is Isaiah doing in verses 3–4?
4. Compare 5:5–6 with 4:5–6. What is the significance of this?
5. How might the function of this song (5:1-7) function like Nathan's parable to King David (2 Sam 12:1-10)?
6. What is the relation of 5:8–25 to 5:1–7? Look especially at the last part of verse 7.
7. Find the six "woes." List and title each behavior or kinds of behaviors mentioned (8, 11, 18, 20, 21, 22). Do you see any progression? What would the opposite "good grapes" be in each case?
8. What does it mean to have "no regard for the deeds of Yahweh" (12)?
9. "Therefore" in 5:13, 14, 24, and 25 introduces the effect of a prior cause. What is the cause and what are the effects? How are they related in the context of the vineyard imagery?
10. Note vv. 15 –16 and compare them with 2:11,17. Where is true human glory to be found?
11. Compare 5:25 with 9:12, 17, 21; 10:4. What do you think the significance of this is? How does what is said in this section relate to America and the West today?
12. What does 5:26–30 say about Yahweh's lordship of history? Why is Assyria coming? How do they relate to 5: 5–6? What effects is the imagery designed to convey? What is Isaiah seeking to convey?
13. Compare 5:30, 5:20 and 8:22.