“Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees,
Who write misfortune,
Which they have prescribed
2 To rob the needy of justice,
And to take what is right from the poor of My people,
That widows may be their prey,
And that they may rob the fatherless.
3 What will you do in the day of punishment,
And in the desolation which will come from afar?
To whom will you flee for help?
And where will you leave your glory? (Isaiah 10:1-3)
The word ‘woe’ means judgement. Prophet Isaiah declares that there is going to be a judgement against those who make unrighteous decrees. I believe this is a word for the lawmakers in every nation.
As I have done to Samaria and her idols,
Shall I not do also to Jerusalem and her idols? (Isaiah 10:11)
The Assyrians decided that Jerusalem was no different than Samaria (Israel’s capital) but there was a world of difference. Samaria was a house of idol worship but Jerusalem was and is God’s holy city.
When the Assyrians made the mistake of assuming all earthly kingdoms are equal, they sinned. We can make the same mistake today. Though the earthly government of Israel today is not living in a way that pleases God, nevertheless, the nation is still special to God
Therefore when the Lord has completed all His work [of chastisement and purification to be executed] on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, it shall be that He will inflict punishment on the fruit [the thoughts, words, and deeds] of the stout and arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the haughtiness of his pride. (Isaiah 10:12)
A prophetic Word for you:
When the Lord has completed His world of purification (sanctification) in you, He will punish your enemies (those powers responsible for your current distress)
In this verse, God declares a dramatic and comprehensive judgment on Assyria. He begins by allowing Assyria’s own thoughts and words to stand in judgment against the nation.
Notice, the Lord will inflict punishment on the fruit [the thoughts, words, and deeds]
Prayer: O Father, let my thoughts, words and actions be right in your sight O Lord.
For he says:
“By the strength of my hand I have done it,
And by my wisdom, for I am prudent;
Also I have removed the boundaries of the people,
And have robbed their treasuries;
So I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man. (Isaiah 10:13)
God’s judgement came upon Assyria for two primary reasons:
Shall the axe boast itself against him who chops with it?
Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it?
As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up,
Or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood! (Isaiah 10:15)
God says, can the tool boast of its power?
Only when an arm picks it up and uses it does it have power. And its power is in direct proportion to the strength of that arm.
Assyria was like an axe or saw or club or rod. It was to do what the Master determined it should do. If that tool begins to take credit for its work, it would offend the Master who wields it. Assyria was proud and sure of its own might, so God took away its might. (Look at Isaiah 37:35-36)
a sick man wastes away (Isaiah 10:18)
It shall come to pass in that day
That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder,
And his yoke from your neck,
And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil. (Isaiah 10:27)
The above verse defines the anointing as God's burden-removing, yoke-destroying power of God. The anointing is what delivers God's people and sets the captives free.
Oxen have a yoke placed around their necks so that they may be more easily controlled. However, it restricts the ability of the oxen to move freely. When the oxen show signs of veering off course, the yoke is used to force them back on track.
Even if an ox has a lot of strength, it can't complete the tasks it wants to since it has to wear this yoke. It's quite possible that you are living under a yoke without even being aware of it.
You may question why you are unable to advance in your situation or why everything seems to be such an intense battle. The reason is, that you are being held back by a yoke. A yoke is represented by phrases such as poverty, lack, and just getting by.
When you allow yourself to be diminished as a result of the negative words spoken over you, those words turn into a yoke. You have to make a proclamation based on what the prophet Isaiah said: "The anointing on my life is shattering every yoke and burden."
Chains are broken every time you proclaim, "I am anointed," because you have the power to break them. Fear must be extinguished. The state of depression must end. There will be healing. Strength and faith will arrive. You will find freedom via the yoke-breaking and burden-removal power of God!
Who write misfortune,
Which they have prescribed
2 To rob the needy of justice,
And to take what is right from the poor of My people,
That widows may be their prey,
And that they may rob the fatherless.
3 What will you do in the day of punishment,
And in the desolation which will come from afar?
To whom will you flee for help?
And where will you leave your glory? (Isaiah 10:1-3)
The word ‘woe’ means judgement. Prophet Isaiah declares that there is going to be a judgement against those who make unrighteous decrees. I believe this is a word for the lawmakers in every nation.
As I have done to Samaria and her idols,
Shall I not do also to Jerusalem and her idols? (Isaiah 10:11)
The Assyrians decided that Jerusalem was no different than Samaria (Israel’s capital) but there was a world of difference. Samaria was a house of idol worship but Jerusalem was and is God’s holy city.
When the Assyrians made the mistake of assuming all earthly kingdoms are equal, they sinned. We can make the same mistake today. Though the earthly government of Israel today is not living in a way that pleases God, nevertheless, the nation is still special to God
Therefore when the Lord has completed all His work [of chastisement and purification to be executed] on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, it shall be that He will inflict punishment on the fruit [the thoughts, words, and deeds] of the stout and arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the haughtiness of his pride. (Isaiah 10:12)
A prophetic Word for you:
When the Lord has completed His world of purification (sanctification) in you, He will punish your enemies (those powers responsible for your current distress)
In this verse, God declares a dramatic and comprehensive judgment on Assyria. He begins by allowing Assyria’s own thoughts and words to stand in judgment against the nation.
Notice, the Lord will inflict punishment on the fruit [the thoughts, words, and deeds]
Prayer: O Father, let my thoughts, words and actions be right in your sight O Lord.
For he says:
“By the strength of my hand I have done it,
And by my wisdom, for I am prudent;
Also I have removed the boundaries of the people,
And have robbed their treasuries;
So I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man. (Isaiah 10:13)
God’s judgement came upon Assyria for two primary reasons:
- First, they attributed their own success to their strength and wisdom
- Numerical strength and military might
- And the human wisdom in their libraries and wise men
Shall the axe boast itself against him who chops with it?
Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it?
As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up,
Or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood! (Isaiah 10:15)
God says, can the tool boast of its power?
Only when an arm picks it up and uses it does it have power. And its power is in direct proportion to the strength of that arm.
Assyria was like an axe or saw or club or rod. It was to do what the Master determined it should do. If that tool begins to take credit for its work, it would offend the Master who wields it. Assyria was proud and sure of its own might, so God took away its might. (Look at Isaiah 37:35-36)
a sick man wastes away (Isaiah 10:18)
It shall come to pass in that day
That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder,
And his yoke from your neck,
And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil. (Isaiah 10:27)
The above verse defines the anointing as God's burden-removing, yoke-destroying power of God. The anointing is what delivers God's people and sets the captives free.
Oxen have a yoke placed around their necks so that they may be more easily controlled. However, it restricts the ability of the oxen to move freely. When the oxen show signs of veering off course, the yoke is used to force them back on track.
Even if an ox has a lot of strength, it can't complete the tasks it wants to since it has to wear this yoke. It's quite possible that you are living under a yoke without even being aware of it.
You may question why you are unable to advance in your situation or why everything seems to be such an intense battle. The reason is, that you are being held back by a yoke. A yoke is represented by phrases such as poverty, lack, and just getting by.
When you allow yourself to be diminished as a result of the negative words spoken over you, those words turn into a yoke. You have to make a proclamation based on what the prophet Isaiah said: "The anointing on my life is shattering every yoke and burden."
Chains are broken every time you proclaim, "I am anointed," because you have the power to break them. Fear must be extinguished. The state of depression must end. There will be healing. Strength and faith will arrive. You will find freedom via the yoke-breaking and burden-removal power of God!
Chapters