What does Isaiah 5:15 mean?
The picture coming into focus is of a people committed to exalting themselves first. They use their money and power to acquire more and more property (Isaiah 5:8–9). They adorn themselves with expensive clothes and jewelry with the purpose to be noticed by others (Isaiah 3:16–18). And lastly, they live in a constant state of personal pleasure by drinking and partying (Isaiah 5:11–12).Through Isaiah, God warns His people they will not go unchecked in this direction for long. He will bring an end in the form of foreign invaders who will strip away every luxury and opportunity to elevate oneself above others and above the Lord (2 Kings 24:14). In that day, there will be no one looking up at the Lord in defiance. Those who survive will hang their heads in the humility that comes from defeat and loss. The following verse will show that it will not be the Lord who loses. It will be His people who have abandoned knowing Him.
Isaiah 5:8–30 contains Isaiah's dire predictions about the upcoming judgment of Israel. The first "woes" are to the greedy and the pleasure-seeking drinkers. They will go into exile and to the grave for refusing to acknowledge God. The Lord then will be exalted for restoring justice and righteousness. The next woes are to those who embrace sin and mock the coming judgment. These are also those people who have mixed evil and good and believe they know better than God. The final listed woes are those who make it a point of pride how much alcohol they can drink, as well as how they can work the system with bribes. The Lord will summon the armies of the nations to bring judgment on His people.
Isaiah 5 begins with a parable about a farmer who builds a vineyard that produces sour grapes. The owner says he will lay waste to the vineyard. Isaiah reveals the owner to be the Lord and the vineyard to be Israel. Israel's bad fruit includes the greed of the wealthy and the hedonism of the people. They will go hungry and thirsty, into exile, and the grave. The Lord will be exalted for His righteousness. Isaiah pronounces woe on the sinners, the mockers, and the unjust rulers. The Lord will summon the nations to judge His people.
