Title: SURREY CHAPEL – Fellowship Group Notes for the 27th/28th October 2010
Author: DJ
Last saved by: Robert Varley

SURREY CHAPEL – Fellowship Group Notes for the 27^th/28^th October 2010
ISAIAH – A Son is given

Chapter 5  - - Vineyard song

Isaiah turns to song to complete the discourse that had begun in Chapter 2:1. He compares God’s people to a vineyard that He had carefully and lovingly cultivated and prepared, but they did not bear fruit that was expected of them.

The fruit of the vineyard    v 1 – 17
God’s disappointing vineyard  v1-7
v1-2 What do these verses tell us about God and his dealing with his people?
	What do these verses tell us about what God expects from his people?
v3-4	Here we have the ‘court case’. Is the fault with the owner or the vineyard?
	How do you answer the question ‘why’ in verse 4?
v5-7	The verdict/punishment. What does it mean? (v7)  See also Psalm 80:12-14

6 woes of impending judgement v8-25
Isaiah is describing in detail the bad fruit produced by the vineyard. (God’s people) Six times he pronounces woe to those who produce this bad fruit.  What are the sins that lead to these woes?
How do you see each of these in our own society in this country today?
v13,14,24 & 25 – all begin with ‘therefore’.  Referring to v 13-17 and 24-25 what is God’s verdict? What is God’s response (action)?

The destruction of the vineyard   v 26 -30
Read again v16 – this is important to the whole passage. ‘Lord Almighty’ – ‘Holy God’- had they lost something of that high view of God? What about us – how is our view of God? 
Note –His judgement will be righteous (v16).
God’s vineyard –that is His people – will be destroyed by an invading army. This is a reference firstly to the Assyrians and then later to the Babylonians, who in turn overran Israel and Judah. Notice how their coming is described in v26. Note also it is God who is in control.
Notice two things –
•	The people were not defeated by superior military might –but as a result of God’s judgement.
•	Nations are under God’s control –and he can use whom he chooses.
Read – Psalm 34:21-22

In conclusion let’s look at the positive in John 15:1-8
Israel had failed –they were the vineyard of God’s people. Jesus alone is the true vine, the faithful one who produces good fruit. Christians are grafted into that root stock. How then may we produce good fruit?  Notice the results – v2 ‘more fruit’ v5 ‘much fruit’ v16 ‘fruit that will last’ (amen!)

												D.J.
PRAYER POINTS:
Christian Witness to Israel evening service – Sunday 14^th November
General Church Meeting - - Thursday, 18^th November
Surrey Sketchers - -meeting Tuesdays and Fridays
Church Leadership –elders and deacons.