Contemplative Bible Reading

Isaiah 1:8 (New Living Translation)

8 Beautiful Jerusalem stands abandoned
like a watchman’s shelter in a vineyard,
like a lean-to in a cucumber field after the harvest,
like a helpless city under siege.

God is talking to the people through the prophet Isaiah. This is bad news—this is very bad news. Because of generations of rebellion, the people will be punished. Did I mention this is bad news?

The large, modern, built-up city of Jerusalem will look like a “lean-to in a cucumber field.” I love that horrible description of what will become of a glorious city. I have been in cucumber fields; nothing special there as when I was in high school we could grow cucumbers in the heat and rain of Louisiana. Lots and lots of cucumbers.

I know what a lean-to is in a field of crops. Literally several pieces of wood and corrugated tin leaned onto one another in a sloppy manner so they stand and provide shade, except when there is a little wind or something that knocks them down only to be leaned on one another again.

A lean-to serves its purpose. Nothing special, just a quick way to do something halfway. It shows a lack of honor, purpose, or anything that is worthwhile. Just do something, anything. Who cares? No one.

That is what God is telling the people. The people don’t care. Fine. You don’t care? You will live in a place that screams, “We don’t care!”

Is that what we want? A “I don’t care” life in a “I don’t care” world? God has blessed us. Let’s care. Let’s honor and worship and obey God. I can do better than a lean-to in a cucumber field.