Season 6, Podcast 44, Isaiah 3:12-15, “The Four Laws of Liberty.”

Season 6, Podcast 44, Isaiah 3:12-15, “The Four Laws of Liberty.”

In Isaiah 4:1-11, the Lord warns the House of Judah that if they don’t repent, their nation will be destroyed. He promises the righteous that it shall be well with them. That doesn’t mean that they shall be entirely spared for trials, but it does mean that the Lord will uphold them in their trials. He tells the wicked, however, that it shall be ill with them, meaning he will not uphold them in their trials. The message of Isaiah, however, is that the destruction can be averted if they turn to him. The Lord continues to warn them of their coming disasters.

Isaiah 3:12

12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

In the above the Lord blames their leaders and prophecies that their government will crumble because of their disobedience. Nevertheless, the Lord pleads with them to repent.

Isaiah 3:13

13 The Lord standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.

Judgment, of course, is a double-edged sword. As stated above, it is well for the righteous but ill for the wicked. The Lord continues to list their transgressions.

Isaiah 3:14-15

14 The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.

15 What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord God of hosts.

The problem is over taxation. The rulers are growing rich while the poor grow poorer. We must always keep at the forefront of our minds that Isaiah’s prophecies also reach beyond the moment. The Lord is warning all governments, even the government of the United States of America, that their land will be cursed if the leaders live fat off the labors of the poor. The curse of the Lord applies to our government as well, that those who rule are in a position of service. If they abuse their power they will bring calamity to the land. We see the same thing in America today. How is it that our rulers go into service poor and come out rich? They go into office with earning thousands but come out banking millions.  They “beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor.”  

The story of the Old Testament is the story of the rise and fall of nations. It should not escape us that the story of the House of Israel is also the story of America. America is to us what the Promised Land was to the House of Israel. It is our Promised Land, set apart by God as a beacon of freedom to the world.

We are on a parallel course. Everything Isaiah says applies to America. James calls the Ten Commandments the Law of Liberty. In fact, let’s examine for a moment the Book of James in the New Testament. Bible scholars identify the author as the brother of Jesus. Tradition has it that he was a Christian martyr, around 62 AD. 

James, noted for his strong teachings on the importance of works, identifies four laws of liberty. It is no coincidence that those four laws are the foundation of American Liberty.

The first one is The Law of Liberty, or what is better known as The Ten Commandments.

James 2:10-12

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

In the following I include the full Ten Commandments.