INTRODUCTION: Anticipations disappointed create depression and anger. Examples: Planning a vacation, and then your boss tells you to skip it due to special demands. Thinking your going to graduate from college, to discover you are one credit hour short, and must do another sememster. Expecting a particular birthday gift, and getting something else. Expecting a marriage proposal, and simply getting asked to a movie.
Isaiah tells us that God anticipated great things from Israel, and was deeply disappointed.

I. Isaiah teaches spiritual truth by means of a song. (Is. 5:1).
A. We need to sing hymns that have content to teach us.
We sang Hymn #6 today. Let's read it now, with thought.
B. Paul wrote to Christians (Ephesians 5:19).

II. God Created Israel/the Church with great care.
A. He chose fertile soil./Mesopotamia, Egypt, Roman/Greek civilization.
B. He cultivated the soil./God's providence can be seen in ancient history
i.e. Joseph's rise to power in Egypt. the Pax Romana, etc.
C. He planted the choicest vines./election in OT and NT (Deut. 7:6)
D. He built a watchtower./prophets, teachers, shepherds (Ezekiel 3:17)

III. God Expected A Great Harvest!
A. He built a winepress to squeeze his anticipated grapes.
B. What did God expect from Israel?
1. A beacon of holiness to the nations.
2. Missionary work, as with Jonah to Ninevah.
C. Instead he got (see Is. 5:7)
C. He expects fruit from the Church today (John 15:1-2, 5-8)

CONCLUSION: God has created His Church with great care. He has great expectations of fruit in our lives. Let's all try to live up to God's will for us.

Prayer
*Hymn # 382 "Be Thou My Vision"