Isaiah 10:1
Author: Steve Amato
Keywords: bible study,bible, isaiah

Translations: 简体中文 繁體中文

## Woe to Oppressive Authorities

### Legislative Authorities

> Isaiah 10:1,2 "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless."

### Disciplinarian Authorities

> Isaiah 10:5-7 "Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath! I send him against a godless nation, I dispatch him against a people who anger me, to seize loot and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets. But this is not what he intends, this is not what he has in mind; his purpose is to destroy, to put an end to many nations."

It is written that "everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." Rom 13:1 However this is not to condone all legislations and actions of such authorities, for as we see above such authorities may act outside their God-given role and thus bring judgment upon themselves. The common deviation of the authorities above is in their overly oppressiveness, which throughout history has been characteristic of ungodly authority figures. The Lord Himself is not overly oppressive as He said, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:29 As was the case during His incarnate ministry so also here we see His greatest concern is for the most needy.

Paul wrote further in Romans 13 of the Roman authority figures of his time who though generally regarded as pagan were nonetheless legitimate authority figures saying, "he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." Rom 13:4 Assyria was the equivalent at this time. But though being God's servant, the Assyrian King held the Lord in contempt and exalted himself and his heart was set on destruction rather than on executing justice. So after he finished his job God would bring punishment and humiliation upon him as well.

> Isaiah 10:12,13 "When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, "I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes. For he says: "‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, because I have understanding. I removed the boundaries of nations, I plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their kings."

Such has been the case for all who set their heart on destroying Israel. And so also for those set on destroying Christians. God will use pagan authority figures, whether national or international, to discipline his people. But woe to those bloodthirsty murderers who set their heart on destroying God's people. These days of course the Islamic nations ally themselves against Israel, being intent on destroying the Jews. But against Assyria God says "The Light of Israel will become a fire, their Holy One a flame; in a single day it will burn and consume his thorns and his briers." Is 10:17

This broke Israel's reliance upon Assyria and drew them to rely upon God. "In that day the remnant of Israel, the survivors of the house of Jacob, will no longer rely on him who struck them down but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel." Isaiah 10:20

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