Isaiah 10:1
1 Woe [howy] unto them that
decree [chaqaq] unrighteous ['aven] decrees, [cheqeq] and that
write [kathab] grievousness [`amal] which they have prescribed; [kathab] KJV-Interlinear
1 Woe to those
who enact evil statutes, And to those who constantly record unjust decisions, NASB
The first four verses in
this chapter complete the prophecy which was begun in the previous chapter.
These first four verses,
warn against injustice, unfairness, discrimination, oppression, and persecution
and so forth. These are the things that
result, when truth is rejected and fantasy beliefs or idealisms are pursued.
All of mans attempts to legislate
justice, are inevitably directed at social morals and values, which man
defines.
The sin nature causes
these to result in discrimination, favoritism, ostracism, and such. This results in a perversion of justice and
judgment from a governmental posture.
This overflows to all levels of establishment, from ones own thinking
and volition, to family structures, to organizational flaws between people.
When a society is
dysfunctional, then those who write these statutes, apply them with impunity,
and as such perfect righteousness and perfect justice which come only from God,
are diluted into obscurity.
Unfortunately as man
drifts further and further away from truth, then all things wrong, seem right
and reasonable, and all things right, seem burdensome and unfair.
The ‘woe’ is a warning,
and in this case a gentle warning as those who hear it will tend to disregard
it regardless of its impact and force.
And when the result of the woe occurs in difficulties, then most will never
remember it as they will be too busy fretting or fearing, or complaining or
blaming.
And when we get to verse
four, then we will see that everyone will be in one of two categories, among
the captives or among the dead.
