Isaiah 10:1

 Isaiah 10:1 says, Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;  Isaiah pronounced woe on those who dealt unrighteously with those that they had power over, especially the people of both Judah and Isreal, or all of God’s people.  This was not woe from Isaiah that they were to face but woe from God.  Isaiah was just the messenger of God.  If those who profess to be God’s people are treating other people unrighteously, they are going to find themselves in woe when God judges their actions.  It doesn’t matter where in the world they may live.   

Verse two adds, 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!  One of the things these rulers were doing was turning away those in need.  This included the widows and children without fathers to provide for them.  We often view those in need in the world, even in America, as unworthy of our support, especially if it is going to cost us financially.  God’s word has always told us that we are to help them and not turn them away.  

Verse three continues, 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?  Isaiah then asked them who they would turn to for help when the invading armies came against them.  Their power had always come from God and not from themselves, and if they had rejected Him and lost His protection, who was going to protect them?  As followers of Christ, our spiritual protection comes from God, and if we turn away from Him, we will be left defenseless in the world.  We will still be a part of His everlasting kingdom, but we will not be spiritually at peace and protected in this lifetime.   

Verse four concludes, 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.  Isaiah said there was a coming defeat, when those who were supposed to be God’s people and have His protection would be carried away captive or killed.  Just believing we are God’s people without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ will never save us from the coming punishment of God, no matter how rich and successful we might be in the world.