Charles Spurgeon Commentary Isaiah 5:5-6

"And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; I will break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: and I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned nor hoed; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it." — Isaiah 5:5-6 (ASV)

And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: and I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

I will tell you what I will do. He does not wait until the men of Judah have given their verdict. There was no need of any. The case was all too sadly clear.

I will take away the hedge thereof, and break down the wall thereof. Those providences which guard men from sin will be removed. You will be allowed to sin if you like—and as you like. Your will will have its freedom to the full.

And it shall be trodden down: and I will lay it waste. There is no destruction like that which comes when God destroys the fruitless vineyard.

When a human enemy or the wild boar out of the wood lays it waste, it may be restored again, but if in righteous wrath, the Divine Owner of the vineyard himself lays it waste, what hope remains for it?

What fearful words, It shall be trodden down: and I will lay it waste. It shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns. Nothing happens worse to a church or to a man than to be altogether without affliction—no pruning, no digging, no restraints, no prickings of conscience, no smitings with rod. I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

That is the worst of all!