Sharper Iron — The Fifth Evangelist - Isaiah 27:1-13: Leviathan Cannot Harm the LORD's Vineyard

The day of the LORD is a day of victory over all His enemies, even Leviathan. By speaking about the LORD’s victory in this way, Isaiah shows that the LORD alone is the true God over all idols, and no powers of evil will win the victory over Him. Having defeated His people’s enemies, He will plant His people as His fruitful vineyard and keep them safe. Though His people received His punishment at the hands of their enemies, the LORD has atoned for His people’s sins and punished the enemies for their wickedness. All of this looks forward to the day of victory of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was lifted up to draw all nations to Himself.

Rev. Dr. Jason Wagner, pastor at Hope Lutheran Church in High Ridge, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Isaiah 27:1-13.

“The Fifth Evangelist” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through Isaiah 1-39. The prophet proclaims to the people of his day and throughout history that the Holy One of Israel alone is exalted. Those who put their trust in the strength of man will be brought low, but those who trust in the LORD will see that He is their Immanuel. Jesus is God with us who reigns over the kingdom of God forever and ever!

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Isaiah 27:1-13

The Redemption of Israel

27 In that day the Lord with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea.

²In that day,
“A pleasant vineyard,^[a] sing of it!
³    I, the Lord, am its keeper;
    every moment I water it.
    Lest anyone punish it,
I keep it night and day;
⁴    I have no wrath.
Would that I had thorns and briers to battle!
    I would march against them,
    I would burn them up together.
⁵Or let them lay hold of my protection,
    let them make peace with me,
    let them make peace with me.”

⁶In days to come^[b] Jacob shall take root,
Israel shall blossom and put forth shoots
and fill the whole world with fruit.

⁷Has he struck them as he struck those who struck them?
    Or have they been slain as their slayers were slain?
⁸Measure by measure,^[c] by exile you contended with them;
    he removed them with his fierce breath^[d] in the day of the east wind.
⁹Therefore by this the guilt of Jacob will be atoned for,
    and this will be the full fruit of the removal of his sin:^[e]
when he makes all the stones of the altars
    like chalkstones crushed to pieces,
    no Asherim or incense altars will remain standing.
¹⁰For the fortified city is solitary,
    a habitation deserted and forsaken, like the wilderness;
there the calf grazes;
    there it lies down and strips its branches.
¹¹When its boughs are dry, they are broken;
    women come and make a fire of them.
For this is a people without discernment;
    therefore he who made them will not have compassion on them;
    he who formed them will show them no favor.

¹²In that day from the river Euphrates^[f] to the Brook of Egypt the Lord will thresh out the grain, and you will be gleaned one by one, O people of Israel. ¹³And in that day a great trumpet will be blown, and those who were lost in the land of Assyria and those who were driven out to the land of Egypt will come and worship the Lord on the holy mountain at Jerusalem.

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Footnotes

Isaiah 27:2 Many Hebrew manuscripts A vineyard of wine
Isaiah 27:6 Hebrew In those to come
Isaiah 27:8 Or By driving her away; the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
Isaiah 27:8 Or wind
Isaiah 27:9 Septuagint and this is the blessing when I take away his sin
Isaiah 27:12 Hebrew from the River

Rev. Timothy Appel

Although a mathematics degree may not be incredibly helpful to (proudly born-and-raised Texan) Rev. Timothy Appel while hosting Sharper Iron, his love of CFW Walther and the season of Easter will come in handy. His Call is shepherding the flock at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois, and he’s also husband to wife Kristin and dad to their growing basketball team of children. When he’s not carrying out pastoral duties, you may find him reading “The Lord of the Rings,” snacking on Reese’s peanut butter cups, playing dominoes with his boys, or studying up on Texas history (including Sam Houston, of course).