Human pride can show itself in many ways throughout our lives. One of the most cynical and self-serving examples is when people oppress those who are helpless.
Treating people equally under the law is seen as a reflection of God’s character. This is a consistent theme of both the Old and New Testaments.
“You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in their lawsuits. Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and those in the right, for I will not acquit the guilty.
You shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds officials and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.
You shall not oppress a resident alien; you know the heart of an alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt (Exodus 23:6-9).
The unfortunate reality of society 700 years before Jesus was that those in charge of upholding the laws enriched themselves by exploiting the helpless.
Woe to those who make iniquitous decrees,
who write oppressive statutes,
to turn aside the needy from justice
and to rob the poor of my people of their right,
to make widows their spoil
and to plunder orphans! (Isaiah 10:1-2)
History is full of stories about autocrats living in luxury while their subjects struggle to get by. It also contains many examples of democratic societies where lawmakers create rules that benefit their donors and improve their own lives.
It’s helpful to remember what the word “iniquity” in verse 1 means. Iniquity refers to an internal state that is twisted, warped, and out of alignment with what God intended.
When people use their power to enrich themselves while depriving others, it stems from a heart that is twisted and not aligned with God’s values.
Jesus quoted Isaiah 11 when he outlined the goals for his ministry.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.” (Luke 4:18)
He highlighted the importance of bringing good news to the poor. Throughout the Bible, from start to finish, God shows concern for those who are disadvantaged. We should follow this example in our own lives.
Ultimate Accountability
A friend of mine illustrated the concept of eternity in a sermon. He moved to one side of the stage and measured a few inches. Then he walked to the other end. He pointed out that the small section represented our life, while the far end symbolized eternity.
He asked, “Why would anyone risk facing God’s judgment for eternity just for brief moments of pleasure now?”
Isaiah’s message was one of present-day judgment to be followed by condemnation for eternity.
What will you do on the day of punishment,
in the calamity that will come from far away?
To whom will you flee for help,
and where will you leave your wealth,
So as not to crouch among the prisoners
or fall among the slain?
For all this his anger has not turned away;
his hand is stretched out still. (Isaiah 10:3-4)
The only source of refuge from disaster is the Lord.
No one has ever seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul. When we stand before God, we do so empty-handed.
All our wealth will be lost, and the only things that matter will be our relationship with God and our faithfulness to His will. In the face of God’s wrath, status, power, and wealth are meaningless.
Reflections
The twisted, warped, self-serving presence of iniquity resides in the human heart. We can thank God that Jesus died to remove the guilt of our iniquity.
What can we do to correct our corrupt and warped inner state?
I recently listened to a talk given by Frank Laubach. He asked whether someone would be qualified to teach high school students if they only went to school for an hour each Sunday.
He noted that teachers become qualified by devoting three or more years of their lives to study and preparation. During those three-plus years, they attend class for 15–20 hours each week, followed by additional hours of homework.
We owe it to ourselves to apply this kind of dedication to the spiritual life. Once we have been forgiven of the guilt of our iniquity, we can enter the Lord’s classroom to be straightened out on the inside.
This involves more than a few minutes on a Sunday morning. Instead, we devote hours each week to the joyous privilege of speaking to and listening to the Creator of the universe. He is waiting to meet with us and to transform our lives from the inside out.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 