Isaiah 27:1-4

In the opening of this chapter, the Prophet begins it, if not in the same words, yet at least to the same amount, as the Psalmist doth one of his Psalms, when he saith, I will sing of mercy and judgment; unto thee, O Lord, will I sing; Psalms 101:1; for here is mercy to the Lord's Church; and judgment to the Lord's enemies. The Prophet is using figurative language, when, under the image of a serpent and a dragon, he would represent the enemies of God's Church and people. The scripture hath explained both, and in the victories of Jesus plainly shown to whom they both refer. The arch-apostate spirit is uniformly known in the word of God, as the dragon, and the old serpent, which is the devil, Revelation 20:2. The Church is very frequently represented under the similitude of a vineyard, and a garden; and the red wine is the choicest wine, intimating that all choice things are given to the Church; Isaiah 5:1. etc. Matthew 20:1, etc. Song of Solomon 7:11. But what a sweet promise is here of the Lord's keeping his vineyard: how gracious, how constant, how unceasing is the Lord's watchfulness over it! And Reader! do observe: the Lord not only keeps it, but waters it; not only defends it from without, but blesses it from within; not only keeps off evil, but is himself her chief good! Song of Solomon 4:12. And observe how gracious the Lord is in the intimations of his love and forbearance. There is nothing of anger or resentment in him towards his people. If there were, everything opposed to the Lord, would be but as briers and thorns, which the fire of his fury would instantly consume.