Isaiah 10

Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers who write oppressive decrees. Wesley: magistrates who make unjust laws and give unjust sentences; grievous things that vex their subjects.

“Woe”—Israel’s bench. They still write it. The poor of v. 2 are this people’s poor.

Calvin: he comes to particulars so hypocrisy cannot hide. Not two classes of scribes, but princes and magistrates whose decrees approach robbery. Those on the highest rank imagine they are exempt and not bound to give account; they will be first punished.

The governors of 9:15–16 under a first woe. Common ground: decree, iniquitous, writers, oppression.

To deprive the needy of justice, and to rob the poor among my people of their rights, that widows may be their plunder, and that they may make the fatherless their prey. Wesley: judgment—from obtaining a just sentence.

A theft in a court. Widows and fatherless are still His concern (9:17).

Calvin: keep the poor from their cause. Magistrates ought to have assisted them more, yet indulge more contemptuously in oppressing them. The Lord takes peculiar care of the poor (Ex 22:23; Deut 24:15) and will not let this pass unpunished. He is their protector (Ps 68:5). The powerful are warned: no avenger now seen, still He will avenge.

The poor are his, and the day of reckoning is his. On this both agree: needy, justice, poor of my people, widows, fatherless.

What will you do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth? Wesley: from far—the Assyrians; Israelites were secure, in amity with them after weakening Judah. Glory—your wealth, to be kept safe for your use.

“What”—a question to a secure court. They still have nowhere to park the glory they wrote for themselves.

Calvin: princes careless, intoxicated by prosperity. God has fixed a time. From afar: they had beaten neighbors and allied with a powerful nation. Visitation is judgment—He visits in mercy and in judgment. In vain they rely on resources. Judges appointed to defend the poor: they will have judgment without mercy who showed no mercy (Jas 2:13). Where deposit your glory: where find a hiding-place to preserve it? If princes fall, what of the lowest? No one has reason to flatter himself.

The day is fixed. Held in common: day of punishment, ruin from afar, flee for help, wealth.

They will only bow down under the prisoners, and will fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. Wesley: without me—without my favour and help, which you have forfeited. Shall bow down—notwithstanding all your succours.

The refrain of 9:12, 17, 21 comes again: his hand is stretched out still. Arminian readers note that the help they lost was help they had refused, and the outstretched hand remains a threat and an invitation at once.

Calvin: without me they shall fall—they have revolted from God. The cause of all distresses is to forsake the fountain of life. Ironical: they vaunt of being forsaken as if nothing were more pleasant than distance from Him. Or: no hiding-place but among the bound and the slain. Wrath not yet apparent; more frightful punishments reserved. Nothing more desirable than sincere repentance, that we may obtain pardon.

“Still”—they left the fountain; the hand is not done. Held in common: prisoners, slain, anger not turned away, hand stretched out still.