A Godly Husband

Isaiah 5:1-7; see Psalm 128:1-6

INTRODUCTION: As men, God laid upon us a great responsibility. This is true whether it be in the home, the workplace, or in the church. Thankfully God did not leave us without example.

I. LAYING THE GROUNDWORK

A. The Association of a Husband

1. Husbandmen, among other things, are known for their association with vineyards (Genesis 9:20; John 15:1)
2. The root of the compound word husbandman or husbandry is the word husband, but what exactly is a man’s vineyard (Psalm 128:3)?

B. Man and Wife

1. First called “man and his wife” (Genesis 2:24-25); Note: Often the designation used in wedding ceremonies.
2. Later called “woman . . . her husband with her” (Genesis 3:6); Note: First time man is called a husband in scripture is when he failed in his responsibility to his wife

II. LESSONS FROM GOD’S HUSBANDRY (Isaiah 5:1-7)

A. Preparations for Success (Isaiah 5:1-2)

1. His vineyard was in a “very fruitful hill” (Isaiah 5:1).
a. In other words, God put His vineyard in a place where fruit had been produced in years gone by.
b. At the same time, He put His vineyard in a place where fruit could grow in the present.
2. He protected the vineyard (Isaiah 5:2).
a. He protected it from without—“he fenced it”
b. He protected it from within—“he…gathered out the stones thereof”
3. He put in that which was healthy—“he…planted it with the choicest vine” (Isaiah 5:2).
4. He kept an eye on the vineyard (Isaiah 5:2).
a. He built a tower.
b. He put it in the midst of the vineyard.

B. Expectations of Success (Isaiah 5:2)

1. He made a winepress.
2. He looked that it should bring forth grapes.

C. Questions of Success (Isaiah 5:3-4)

1. God was willing to take responsibility for the troubles in His vineyard (Isaiah 5:3).
2. God questioned what He could have done differently in order to glean what He expected from the vineyard (Isaiah 5:4).

III. LIVING THE PRACTICAL LESSONS OF A VINEYARD

A. The Traits of Husbandry

1. Labour (2 Timothy 2:6; Isaiah 5:1-7; Ephesians 5:25-33)
2. Patience (James 5:7)

B. The Lessons of Vineyards

1. The vineyard requires times of rest (Exodus 23:11; Leviticus 25:3-4).
2. The vineyard should not receive divers seeds (Deuteronomy 22:9).
3. An untended vineyard will yield thorns (Proverbs 24:30-31).
4. A vineyard is a place of joy (Isaiah 16:10; Proverbs 5:18).
5. A husbandman is responsible to the owner of the vineyard (Matthew 21:39-41).

CONCLUSION: What kind of husband and father are you? Are you tending to those God has placed under your care? If not, you will give account to the owner of the vineyard!