Isaiah 10

As counseled by Nephi, I couldn't help but compare this chapter this morning to our day and  as Isaiah says to Judah (which I see as our country) -

"WOE unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed..."  (Old Testament | Isaiah 10:1)

Many of the decrees of judges in are day in the name of political correctness and fairness are grievous and unrighteous contrary to the commandments of God.  So Isaiah asks -

"...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?"  (Old Testament | Isaiah 10:3)

For without the Lord -

"...they shall fall under the slain..."  (Old Testament | Isaiah 10:4)

And how will this happen in our day?  It will be a "type" of Assyria -

"...the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation."  (Old Testament | Isaiah 10:5)

The fact that the type of Assyria will be tool in the hands of the Lord does not mean that Assyria is more righteous for -

"I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
7 Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few."  (Old Testament | Isaiah 10:6 - 7)

The type of Assyria or its king or leader may think he is great and personally did this -

"For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man..."  (Old Testament | Isaiah 10:13)

But the Lord makes it clear that wickedness is never justified for -

"...when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks."  (Old Testament | Isaiah 10:12)

For -

"Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood."  (Old Testament | Isaiah 10:15)

I note that this is one of my favorite scriptures suggesting without the Lord, I am nothing.  With Him, I may be an instrument in His hands.  But the promise is as it was in the day of Isaiah -

"...it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.
21 The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.
22 For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return..."  (Old Testament | Isaiah 10:20 - 22)

For -

"...it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing."  (Old Testament | Isaiah 10:27)

I continue to find that Isaiah has great application in our day.