When unrighteous rulers decree unrighteous ordinances and laws, the needy and the poor are oppressed. It may seem like they are getting away with these things for a season, but God says, “1) Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; 2) To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!” (Isaiah 10:1,2) When we see unrighteous laws being passed that cause hardship for the poor and needy and specific groups of people, perhaps we ask ourselves, do these lawmakers really know what they are doing? Or do they do this by design? It appears from these verses that unrighteous rulers who do such things know very well what they are doing. The things they do are not done to help the country or to help people in need. They are done so that these rulers can have everything for themselves. These people are greedy of gain. This type of evil goes all the way back to Isaiah’s day. What does God say about this type of oppressive government? He says, “Woe unto them.” “Woe” means “alas” and indicates grief, sorrow, misery and heavy calamity to come. Like the old song says, “You can’t do wrong and get by.” If you do not pay for wrong doing now, there will surely be a payday some day.
In the previous chapter, we saw that God was going to punish everyone, even the fatherless and the widows and the poor and the needy. He would do this because they all had forsaken Him and walked in sinful ways. But God still takes oppression of these members of society as a very grievous thing. He will not let it go or turn a blind eye to it. Regarding those who are guilty of such oppression, God says, “3) And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory? 4) Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain.” (Isaiah 10:3,4a) God will bring them down. From their high and lofty positions, they will be brought very low. They will bow under the prisoners and fall under the slain. They will be brought down from their high positions until they are lower than the lowest of society.
After all this, there was still no repentance of the people of Judah and Jerusalem. God again spoke these sorrowful words, “For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.” (Isaiah 10:4b)
So, how shall we pray for our nation? We can pray that our leaders will enact righteous legislation and will remember the poor and needy and widows and fatherless. We can pray that they will not pass laws that oppress the people.
We should also pray for our rulers to be saved. I Timothy 2:1,2a says, “1) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2) For kings, and for all that are in authority.” What should we intercede and pray for, and why? a.) For the good of the people of the land, especially Christians. The rest of verse two says, “…that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” b.) For the good of our leaders, that they will be saved and thus escape God’s wrath and also lead righteously. I Timothy 2:4 says that God, “…will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” Jesus Christ is the only One who can save a nation and bring peace to a people. “5) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6) Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (I Timothy 2:5,6)