Bible Study on Isaiah 10, verses 1 to 4, that widows may be their prey

 

Isaiah 10:1 ¶  Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; 2  To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of  my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! 3  And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory? 4  Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

 

The tenth chapter of Isaiah is sometimes linked to 2Samuel, the tenth book of the Christian Bible.

 

22  For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.

 

2Samuel 17:11  Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.

 

The tenth Jewish book of the Bible is said to be 1Kings, though.

 

1Kings 4:20 ¶  Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.

 

Also, notice the symbol of fire.

 

17  And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day;

 

2Samuel 23:4 And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

5  Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow. 6  But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands: 7  But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.

 

Here, God speaking through Isaiah, condemns the lawgivers who give laws that are unrighteous which steal from the poor and the powerless.

 

Jesus condemned the Jewish leadership for such things.

 

Matthew 15:3  But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4  For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5  But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

6  And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7  Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8  This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

 

Matthew 23:4  For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers…23  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24  Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 25  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

 

See also this Psalm.

 

Psalm 94:20  Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law? 21  They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

 

What will they do when God comes to them to do justice? Who will they run to for help? What good will their titles and privilege do them then?

 

Without God’s help and mercy these leaders will be crushed and killed. His judgment is not tired or wearing out and He is constantly working in history to accomplish His ends. And when this destruction comes God is not done yet, they are warned. Now, He turns to Assyria.