Old Testament – Isaiah 5:1-7
We meet our friend, Isaiah, again. This is the beginning of his ministry. Isaiah
tells his readers that there was a farmer who did everything to make sure his
plants produced yummy fruit. But, instead of delicious fruit, the farmer’s plants
produced sour and tasteless fruit. Isaiah says to his readers the farmer is God and
the plants are his readers, the Israelites. God has done everything for the
Israelites so they could live good lives but instead the Israelites are being evil.
God tells the Israelites he will punish them for their bad deeds.
Old Testament – Psalm 80
Psalm 80 was written by Asaph. Asaph was one of the chief singers of the Temple
Choir. He is known to have sung at the dedication of Solomon’s Temple. He sang
in the choir from David’s reign through Solomon’s reign. So he lived a long time.
Psalm 80 was written at the time the Israelites lost their country and went into
exile.
Once again, in Psalm 80 we see that the Israelites are compared to a beautiful
plant that has grown large because of God’s care and love. Then God has
stopped protecting the plant and it is being destroyed by wild animals. This is a
picture of what God has let happen to Israel. Israel had become a large country.
Now Israel was conquered. Asaph begs God to remember Israel and help Israel
out of all her troubles.
New Testament – Philippians 3:4b-14
Paul is writing to the Philippians. Paul is at the end of his life in jail. He says that
everything in life is junk compared to being able to have Jesus as his Lord and
Savior. He reminds us to live a life that will make Christ proud.
New Testament – Matthew 21:33-46
Jesus tells a story to his listeners which include the Pharisees. The Pharisees
wanted everyone to think they were good but often they did things that made
Jesus unhappy.
In this story a farmer has a farm that he has rented out. The renters are supposed
to give the farmer his share of the crops. When harvest time comes, he sends his
workers to the farm to get his share. But, the renters hurt some workers and
killed others. So the farmer sends his son because he thinks his son will be
respected. But, the renters kill the son. Jesus asks the Pharisees what they think
the farmer will do to these renters. The answer is that he will have the renters
put to death. Jesus then quotes a portion Psalm 118 which says those who reject
Jesus will themselves be rejected by God. The Pharisees are mad when they
realize Jesus is talking about them.
This story is really about God giving us second chances. Listen to Miss Kristen as
she explains this is really a story about second chances.
