Isaiah 5:1-7 The unfruitful vineyard.
Hebrews 11:29-12:2 The faith of others.
How can we not identify with the struggles expressed in Isaiah; when we, too, are faced with disappointments over and over again; when it feels like everyone and everything is working against us; when the only conclusion left is often that it is time to throw in the towel. Then again, maybe it is not time to throw in the towel, but to turn it into a rally towel instead, so that we can find the spirit of perseverance needed to finish the race which God has placed before us.