Isaiah 27 - The Lord of the Vineyard

 

 

 “The Lord of the Vineyard: Judgment, Restoration, and Final Redemption”

Text: Isaiah 27

Tonight we come to Isaiah chapter 27, a powerful and hope-filled conclusion to what is often called Isaiah’s “Little Apocalypse” in chapters 24-27. These chapters deal with God’s judgment on the whole earth, but they do not end in despair; they end in victory, restoration, and redemption.

Isaiah 27 gives us a glimpse into three great truths:

God’s ultimate victory over evil; God’s careful discipline of His people; God’s promise of restoration and worship.

This chapter reminds us that God is not only a God of judgment—He is a God of redemption. He does not destroy His people; He purifies them. And ultimately, He gathers them.

I. God’s Final Victory Over Evil (Verse 1)

“In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent… and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.”

This verse introduces us to a symbolic enemy—Leviathan. In Scripture, Leviathan represents chaos, evil, and opposition to God. This is not just about a literal creature. It is a picture of Satan and the forces of evil that oppose God’s rule.

Notice three descriptions: The piercing serpent, the crooked serpent, the dragon in the sea.

These images point us back to Genesis 3 and forward to Revelation 12 and 20. Revelation 20:2 says: “And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.”

Isaiah is reminding us: evil may seem powerful now, but it is already marked for defeat.

God’s sword is described as: Sore (severe), Great (powerful), Strong (unstoppable).

We live in a world where evil seems to be increasing. Sin is normalized, truth is rejected, and righteousness is mocked. But Isaiah 27:1 reminds us that God has not lost control. Victory is not uncertain. It is guaranteed.

The conquered beast (Isa 27:1). The nations around Israel had many myths about sea monsters, one of whom was compared to "Leviathan," probably the crocodile (Job 3:8; 41:1 ff). To slay Leviathan was a great achievement (Ps 74:14), and the Lord promised to do it. Satan held these nations in bondage through their superstitious religions, but the remnant did not need to fear the false gods of the Gentiles. God's people today are set free from bondage to Satan and the false gods he seduces people to worship (Col 2:13-15), and we can rejoice in our Lord's great victory (John 12:31). When the battle is over, and the Lord has conquered evil. Israel can enter her glorious kingdom without fear.

Now that we see God’s victory over His enemies, Isaiah shifts to something beautiful—God’s relationship with His people.

II. The Vineyard of the Lord (Verses 2–6)

2 In that day sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine.

3 I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.

4 Fury is not in me: who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together.

5 Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.

6 He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.

The fruitful vineyard (Isa 27:2-11). As in 5:1-7, the vineyard is Israel, but here the prophet sees both the Israel of his day and the Israel of the future day when the kingdom will be established.

 God was not angry with His people (27:4); He just yearned for them to return to Him and to trust Him fervently. He used war (Assyria) to punish the Northern Kingdom and captivity (Babylon) to discipline the Southern Kingdom (v. 8, NIV), but He did so in love, not in anger.

“In that day sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine.” (v.2)

This vineyard represents Israel, God’s chosen people. Earlier in Isaiah 5, Israel was called a vineyard that produced wild grapes, symbolizing failure. But here in chapter 27, the tone changes. This vineyard is restored.

Verse 3 says: “I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment… I will keep it night and day.”

Notice the tenderness of God: He keeps the vineyard, He waters it constantly, He protects it day and night. This is not neglect. This is intentional care.

Verse 4: “Fury is not in me…”

This is powerful. God is not dealing with His people in wrath anymore, but in restoration. For the believer, this is a picture of God’s ongoing work in our lives. He does not abandon His people. He tends to us.

Philippians 1:6 says: “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Verse 5 continues: “Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me…” and he shall make peace with me.

Peace with God is available, but it must be received. This aligns with Romans 5:1: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

It is Jesus who has made our peace with God something that we could grasp. If “we take hold of His strength”. We have to possess it though, and the only way to do that is to come to Christ in faith and believe on Him and all He has done for us at Calvary.

Verse 6 gives us the result: “Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.” God’s people are not meant to remain barren—they are meant to bear fruit.

Are we producing fruit in our lives? The Fruit of righteousness, Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22-23” But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” The Fruit of being a witness for Christ in our lives.

But how does God bring His people to that place of fruitfulness? The answer is discipline.

III. God’s Measured Discipline (Verses 7–11)

7 Hath he smitten him, as he smote those that smote him? or is he slain according to the slaughter of them that are slain by him?

8 In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it: he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind.

9 By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.

10 Yet the defenced city shall be desolate, and the habitation forsaken, and left like a wilderness: there shall the calf feed, and there shall he lie down, and consume the branches thereof.

11 When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on fire: for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour.

Verse 7 asks an important question: “Hath he smitten him, as he smote those that smote him?” In other words, has God judged Israel the same way He judged their enemies? The answer is no. God disciplines His people differently than He judges the lost.

Verse 8 says: “In measure… he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind.” God’s discipline is controlled. It is measured. It is purposeful.

Hebrews 12:6 reminds us: “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth…”

God does not discipline to destroy; He disciplines to purify.

Verse 9 explains the purpose: “By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged.” The goal is not punishment; it is purification. Notice what happens: Idols are broken, Altars are destroyed, and God removes anything that competes with Him. Sometimes God allows hardship in our lives, not to harm us, but to remove what should not be there.

Let us ask ourselves: What is God trying to remove from my life? Pride? Self-reliance? Worldliness? Verses 10–11 describe desolation, cities left empty. This is the consequence of rejecting God. A life apart from God becomes spiritually barren. But thank God, the story does not end in judgment. It ends in restoration.

IV. The Great Gathering of God’s People (Verses 12–13)

12 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel.

This is a picture of God gathering His people carefully and personally. Not in masses alone, but “one by one.” God is personal. Salvation is individual. You must come to Him personally.

Verse 13: And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem. This trumpet represents a call to regather and worship. This points forward prophetically to the return of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:16: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven… with the trump of God.” And what happens? Verse 16b: And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Never to be parted from Him again!

The final picture is worship. After judgment…After purification…After gathering…There is worship. This is our future. The people of God will be gathered and will worship Him forever.

Isaiah envisioned a glorious day when God would repeat the miracle of the Exodus and deliver His people from their bondage to the Gentile nations.

The trumpet would summon them to Jerusalem (Matt 24:31), “and He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other,” and announce God's victory over their foes, and they would "worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem." The kingdom will be like an endless feast and a holy day of worship as the people rejoice in the Lord. Of course, God's people today are also awaiting "the sound of the trumpet" (1 Cor 15:50-58; 1 Thess 4:13-18) announcing the coming of the Lord for His church. Then we will go with Him to heaven and prepare for the marriage supper of the Lamb. We shall return with Him to earth and reign with Him in the kingdom.

Isaiah 27 gives us a complete picture of God’s plan:

God defeats evil (v.1)

God restores His people (v.2–6)

God disciplines to purify (v.7–11)

God gathers for worship (v.12–13)

So what does this mean for us today? Do not fear the power of evil; God has already secured the victory.

Trust God’s care—He is tending your life like a vineyard.

Submit to God’s discipline—it is for your good.

Prepare for Christ’s return—the trumpet will sound. Let me leave you with this question: Are you part of God’s vineyard… or are you still outside of it? Because one day, the trumpet will sound—and only those who belong to Him will be gathered.