Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;
The woe falls on those who enact unjust laws and formally write out oppressive decisions, using them to deny justice to the poor and needy and to exploit widows, orphans, and the fatherless. In its original setting it rebukes the magistrates and leaders of Judah in the days of Isaiah's call, who were charged with protecting the helpless but turned a deaf ear to their cries. At a time when desire for gain led men to add house to house and field to field, justice was perverted and no pity was shown to the poor. Such official injustice was part of the social corruption threatening the nation that Isaiah was called to confront.
To decree such decrees is to depart from the way of the Lord and from obedience to His law given at Sinai, making His law void. It is to fail in justice, kindness, and mercy toward fellow men, so that truth and righteousness fall in the street and equity cannot enter. Such works offend God as the great Ruler of all worlds who controls the whole universe and will not allow His law to be discarded. Those who disobey make themselves a prey, and wicked cities will be visited with demonstrations from heaven to show how He regards their deeds and to bring them to realize their offense.
The verse reveals two sides ranged against each other over truth: those who accept truth stand in vindication of pure truth, while those who decree unrighteous decrees are deceived and deluded, uniting with satanic agencies to oppress truth and uphold error by unjust laws. Proud speech that seeks to rule fellow men and resolutions and principles contrary to God's Word bring this woe. To turn away from justice and equity and to treat fellow men unjustly is to walk away from God, and He abhors both the practice and those who sanction it, including sanctioning methods that treat God's workers as inanimate machines.
The warning applies to the condition of the present world. It warns that rulers who decree punishment for refusing a man-made day of worship are accountable to God, for their decrees are unrighteous and oppress those faithful to God's Sabbath. It applies to a future law punishing with imprisonment and death those who refuse to worship the Sunday institution. Such laws trample the Lord's Sabbath and oppress those who remain loyal to God.
The woe falls on those who enact unjust laws and formally write out oppressive decisions, using them to deny justice to the poor and needy and to exploit widows, orphans, and the fatherless. In its original setting it rebukes the magistrates and leaders of Judah in the days of Isaiah's call, who were charged with protecting the helpless but turned a deaf ear to their cries. At a time when desire for gain led men to add house to house and field to field, justice was perverted and no pity was shown to the poor. Such official injustice was part of the social corruption threatening the nation that Isaiah was called to confront.
To decree such decrees is to depart from the way of the Lord and from obedience to His law given at Sinai, making His law void. It is to fail in justice, kindness, and mercy toward fellow men, so that truth and righteousness fall in the street and equity cannot enter. Such works offend God as the great Ruler of all worlds who controls the whole universe and will not allow His law to be discarded. Those who disobey make themselves a prey, and wicked cities will be visited with demonstrations from heaven to show how He regards their deeds and to bring them to realize their offense.
The verse reveals two sides ranged against each other over truth: those who accept truth stand in vindication of pure truth, while those who decree unrighteous decrees are deceived and deluded, uniting with satanic agencies to oppress truth and uphold error by unjust laws. Proud speech that seeks to rule fellow men and resolutions and principles contrary to God's Word bring this woe. To turn away from justice and equity and to treat fellow men unjustly is to walk away from God, and He abhors both the practice and those who sanction it, including sanctioning methods that treat God's workers as inanimate machines.
The warning applies to the condition of the present world. It warns that rulers who decree punishment for refusing a man-made day of worship are accountable to God, for their decrees are unrighteous and oppress those faithful to God's Sabbath. It applies to a future law punishing with imprisonment and death those who refuse to worship the Sunday institution. Such laws trample the Lord's Sabbath and oppress those who remain loyal to God.