Isaiah

Isaiah 27: God keeps and gathers His vineyard

Begin in prayer

Before we look at God’s promise to His vineyard, let us ask Him to turn our hearts from false worship. Pray that our family would find peace through Jesus and listen to the Lord who gathers His people.

Turn again, we beg you, God of Armies. Look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vine, the stock which your right hand planted, the branch that you made strong for yourself.

Psalm 80:14-15

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Help us see Your patient care and the sin You remove. Bring us to peace with You through Christ and teach us to worship You. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God’s strong sword punishes the fleeing and twisted serpent and kills the dragon in the sea. He calls for a song about a pleasant vineyard that He waters and keeps night and day, calling opponents to make peace. Jacob will take root and fill the world with fruit. God’s measured contention with His people differs from the destruction of their enemies, and the removal of sin leaves idol altars shattered. A deserted city and withered branches warn that people without understanding will receive no compassion from their Maker. God will gather Israel one by one, and outcasts from Assyria and Egypt will come to worship Him in Jerusalem.

As you read Isaiah 27, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God keeps His vineyard and gathers His scattered people to worship Him.

The serpent and sea dragon picture fierce power that cannot withstand God’s sword. His vineyard lives because He Himself waters and keeps it. Thorns face His fire, yet He calls the opponent to take hold of His strength and make peace. The promise of roots and fruit follows His own care. His measured judgment removes His people’s idols, leaving their altar stones crushed and their sacred poles fallen. Taking sin away produces a real break with false worship. The forsaken city warns that being made by God gives no excuse for refusing understanding. His final gathering finds the scattered one by one and brings near those who were ready to perish.

How does Isaiah 27 show us that God keeps His vineyard and gathers His scattered people to worship Him?

God Himself tends the vineyard He loves.

He waters it continually and keeps it through night and day. The briers and thorns cannot stand against Him. His call to make peace gives the opponent a reason to seek His strength.

God’s removal of sin ends false worship.

His people are struck in measure instead of being destroyed like their oppressors. The fruit of sin removed is visible in broken altars. Sacred poles and incense altars will stand no more.

God gathers the scattered to worship Him.

The gathering is pictured as threshing across the land from the Euphrates to Egypt. God brings His people in one by one. A great trumpet summons the perishing and the outcasts to His holy mountain.

Memorise

I, Yahweh, am its keeper. I will water it every moment.

Isaiah 27:3

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what false worship am I keeping when Jesus calls me to peace with God?

The vineyard’s Keeper invites, “Let him make peace with me.” He also names the fruit of sin removed, broken altars where idols once received worship. Peace with this holy God reaches the heart and changes what it serves.

Our sin makes us guilty before Him. Jesus took the death that sinners deserve, and the Father raised Him from the dead. He made peace with God once for all, so no suffering or changed behavior of ours can add another payment.

Turn from your idols and trust Jesus Christ for forgiveness. He receives everyone who comes to Him in faith. The Savior who makes peace also teaches His people to leave false worship behind. Come to Him as a needy sinner and worship the God whose care bears lasting fruit.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God keeps His vineyard and defeats the serpent, and that Jesus is the Savior who gathers His people. Please explain the broken altars as the fruit of sin taken away, never as a payment for pardon. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He keeps His vineyard and gathers the outcasts to worship, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer.

John 15:1

Lord, thank You for tending Your people with patient care. Please bring us to Christ for peace and forgiveness. Show us the false hopes we need to leave behind. Gather people who are far away and teach our family to worship You with undivided hearts this week. Amen.