I once had a friend tell me that first he needed to cast the stones out and prepare the soil before he could plant the seed. Verse 2 mentions gathering out the stones and planting the choicest vine. The vine brought forth wild grapes (vs. 4). Then he does something unusual he takes away the protective hedge and wall (vs. 5) and allows thorns to grow; he doesn't dig it or prune it and he withholds rain from it (vs. 6). How can this be beneficial for his choice vine? Verses 12 and 13 speak of a people who regard not the Lord (have no knowledge), they are famished and thirsty. Verse 14 describes hell as opening her mouth wide. I imagine a whirlpool and we are being sucked in. But the mighty and lofty will be humbled (vs. 15). "But the Lord of Hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness" (vs. 16).
This is also the chapter the refers to our day as when people will "call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (vs. 20). "Who justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!" (vs. 23) Yet we need not fear for the Lord "...he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth; and behold, they shall come with speed swiftly; none shall be weary or stumble among them" (vs. 26). Let us be strong in the strength of the Lord. It is when we are famished and thirsty that if we turn to the Lord he can send the blessings of the rains and the protective wall and hedge and then he can til the soil and we will bring forth good fruit, not wild fruit and we will be harvested.
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