I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. – Isaiah 5:1

Today's Scripture Reading (April 25, 2026): Isaiah 5

In the second episode of season four of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," Captain Jean Luc Picard goes home to visit with his brother, Robert, and his family. The episode, appropriately titled "Family," tells the story of a broken Picard returning home to a strained relationship with his brother. And a vineyard plays front and center in the conflict. Robert is a vineyard owner, and the vineyard takes up a lot of Robert Picard's time. Robert carefully tends his grapes, ensuring they are healthy and free of disease; after all, that is what a vineyard owner does. Robert doesn't understand why Jean-Luc decided to give up the vineyard to journey through the stars.

Owning and caring for a vineyard is a time-consuming project. The vines have to be pruned, disease needs to be spotted quickly, and sick vines need to be cut off before the disease spreads to healthy vines. Maybe that is why vines make an excellent illustration of the relationship between God and his people. Jesus used vines as an illustration on the last night he spent with his disciples before his crucifixion.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples (John 15:1-8)

Here in Isaiah, the message is clear. God is the vineyard owner, and we are the vineyard. And God will take all of the time that is needed to care for and protect his vineyard. Reformer John Calvin (1509-1564) makes this observation:

No possession is dearer to a man than a vineyard, and there is none that demands more constant and persevering toil. Not only, therefore, does the Lord declare that we are his beloved inheritance, but at the same time points out his care and anxiety about us (John Calvin; Commentaries on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah 1-32).

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 6