He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit. – Isaiah 5:2

Today’s Scripture Reading (November 4, 2013): Isaiah 5

This season, the plot line of fictional story “The Good Wife” has taken a turn. To be honest, it is not one that I am especially comfortable with, but it probably should not have been a surprise. The television series follows the career of the Florrick’s, a political couple trying to get ahead in the world. In the beginning of the series, Peter Florrick had been jailed for a very messy corruption and sex scandal. His wife, Alicia, was forced back into the working world in order to support the family. Alicia, as a lawyer who had not practiced law in a while, was given an opportunity at a law firm to re-enter the field. With Peter’s negative image, there was a risk on the part of the law firm in hiring Alicia. But Alicia performed well for the firm; she justified the risk that the firm had taken.

As the story progressed, Peter got out of jail and was restored in public opinion, partially because Alicia (The Good Wife) stood behind her man – at least, she did publically. Peter ran for and won the Governorship and Alicia is now the first lady of the state, and this is where the uncomfortable turn starts. Just at the point in time when Alicia is of a stature to be able to greatly help the law firm that had given her a chance, Alicia decides to leave the firm. In the process Alicia and her cohorts end up being able to take a number of high profile clients with her to the new firm. The poignant scene comes in that moment of betrayal between Alicia and her employer. And the feeling of betrayal is not unjustified. But in many ways, the subject matter of many of the story elements in “The Good Wife” is really about betrayal.

Isaiah starts a song about vineyard. In the opening lines he speaks of all of the advantages that the owner gives to the vineyard. The vines are planted by one who loves them and is willing to care for them. The stones and anything that would hinder the growth of the vineyard have been removed. Only the best of vines have been planted. A watchtower is installed to protect the vineyard and keep it safe and a winepress is built into the vineyard to make the wine when the growing is done. The vineyard has everything it needs to be a success, and yet, even with all of its advantages it would only produce bad grapes. Even though the vineyard was loved, the vineyard had betrayed the owner who planted it and loved it.

And even before the question was asked, the listener to the parable was already answering the question of what the vineyard owner should do with the vineyard. They also recognized that the story was really about those listening to the story. Isaiah was making a point. Even though God had given Judah all of the advantages a nation could ask for, the nation insisted on betraying the One who had created her – they were betraying God. And so the question is – what should God do with us?

And are we still the ones that are guilty of betrayal? If we are, what should God do with us?

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Isaiah 6