Isaiah 5-6

In chapter 5, we hear a "song" about all that God had done for those in Jerusalem, Judah and Israel. But what did he get for all his investment? "The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the garden of his delight. And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress" (v. 7).

Verse 8 begins a series of woes, "Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field till no space is left and you live alone in the land." "Surely the great houses will become desolate, the fine mansions left without occupants" (v. 9).

In verse 15 and 16 God counters with something like, "Well, if you're not going to do it, then I will." "So man will be brought low and mankind humbled, the eyes of the arrogant humbled. But the Lord Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will show himself holy by his righteousness."

Again a rebuke of the abuse of power, "Woe to those... who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent" (v. 22, 23).

Chapter 6 deals with the dramatic call of Isaiah to God's service. The future isn't looking so bright for the crew, but God promises a holy seed will remain in the land when everything is destroyed.