Tag: Ungodly Leadership Is Held Accountable - Isaiah 6-11

Isaiah 10:1-2

Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees,

and the writers who keep writing oppression,

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!

Tag:  Poor Leadership Is Held Accountable

Like all nations, organizations, institutions that fail, leadership is the key to that failure.  Israel is no different.   God’s people are not exempt from poor leadership and the ensuing results.   The above passage is an indictment about the leadership of Judah.  Note the earmark of poor leadership is how they treat the poor.  Poor leaders take advantage of the weak in their kingdoms.   You can spot a poor leader by how thy fail to judge righteously for the very weakest among them.   Note what the World Biblical Commentary has to say about this passage:

“Isa 10:1-4 responds to the dark picture of Israel's condition by lamenting the bad leadership that had precipitated its current state. Oppressive laws against the weak and helpless for the hope of ill-gotten gain have weakened the fabric of society. It cannot withstand the external pressures. The exploiters will suffer like all others. Thus they experience God's anger, which was aroused by their deeds.”

Every bad society is impacted by leadership that refuses to care for the weakest in their midst.   Again, God’s people are not exempt from that truth simply because they are God’s people. In fact, because they are God’s people they are more responsible for the care of the weak.  The above passage serves as a warning to all leaders (especially those in government), don’t use your power to oppress. Use your power to judge righteously.  Note how Christ will judge and rule:

Isaiah 11:3-4

And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

Godly leadership is to be like Christ’s leadership.