Isaiah 10:1-4

Isaiah 10:1-4
​English Standard Version
10 Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees,
    and the writers who keep writing oppression,
2 to turn aside the needy from justice
    and to rob the poor of my people of their right,
that widows may be their spoil,
    and that they may make the fatherless their prey!
3 What will you do on the day of punishment,
    in the ruin that will come from afar?
To whom will you flee for help,
    and where will you leave your wealth?
4 Nothing remains but to crouch among the prisoners
    or fall among the slain.
For all this his anger has not turned away,
    and his hand is stretched out still.

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These verses finish up the passage from yesterday when God declared His judgment on the arrogant people of the northern kingdom of Israel and those they allied with against Judah and Jerusalem.  The LORD now states additional reasons for the coming judgment--the wicked kings of the north are commanding people to do things that the LORD has called iniquity (engaging in idolatry is a big one).

They have perverted what should be the justice system to be a system of oppression and deprived those in need of justice from getting it.  They have denied their citizens of their rights and have treated the indigent like the widows and orphans as property that they can use and exploit.  Those who were already victimized have become the prey of the justice system predators who were sworn to protect them and get justice for them.

The One who is truly King and Judge and Avenger sees the plight of the oppressed and will acts to bring swift judgment on the oppressors and those that have failed to bring justice.  The wicked will have no place to hide from Him or His justice, and their wealth will save them--nor will they be able to keep it (there will be nowhere left to keep it, if it survives).  No one will answer the distress call of the wicked in their time of need.  Those who they thought were their friends will turn on them to help destroy them.  Their options are death or being taken as prisoners into exile (and this is a lesson for the people of Judah of what will happen to them soon when they don't repent).

God cannot wink at or overlook this injustice just because it is done by the children of Abraham.  His anger and wrath must be satisfied in this situation.  The cries of the oppressed and the other victims have been heard and must be answered.  Justice must be given.  Sin must be dealt with, and the hearts of the people must be dealt with for the good of the nation, and ultimately for the good of the whole world and all peoples in all places at all times.  The salvation that would come from the Jews (though it would be from the tribe of Judah, Jesus would live and minister among these northern areas most often) was more important than their comfort, wealth, or freedom.