When working with a horse, one may say woe from time to time. It’s part of getting the large animal to stop. When dealing with children, woe is used and sometimes implied as “hold for just a minute.” But when God placed a woe on something, He was not dealing with horses or implying “stop for a minute.” Rather, He used the term translated woe to mean cease and desist from the wrong, sinful activity. Five such woes are seen in Isaiah 5.
Woe to those who oppress others in business (Isa. 5:8)
Is this divine advocacy for socialism? No, it is inspired instruction against an insatiable desire for material things—materialism. One can overwork to be rich and lose understanding of what is most important (Prov. 23:4). Is this sin? Most certainly, and it will be the condemnation of many in the final day (Luke 16:25). Notice that a love of the material world robs one of spiritual devotion and a tender conscience. The love of mammon dulls the senses to what is good and right (Matt. 6:24). It increases poverty through selfish ambition, removing moral compunction to do what is right. Read the next verse—judgment is coming (Isa. 5:9).
Woe to those who live to party (Isa. 5:11, 22)
Know anyone like this? American culture has moved to mirror the European mindset. Some seem to live for a weekend of drunken or drug-fueled partying. This brings destruction. It is the opposite of the biblical principle—rising early in honorable labor (I Thess. 4:11).
Not long ago, I heard of a “good ole boy” elder in east Tennessee—let’s call him “Ole Joe”—who does not discourage the use of alcohol but actually encourages it, along with his preacher. They’re closely connected to a prominent school training preachers for the church of Christ, yet not a word is said! Ole Joe and all his cronies will give an account for such maliciousness, because their sinful recklessness fuels the sorry rottenness of self-indulgence here condemned. Woe to such foolishness in this age.
Woe to the cruel master (Isa. 5:18)
God’s people are to be the example in justice (Col. 4:1). This calls the boss who is a man or woman of God not to be self-willed in dealing with those employed. The Master’s golden rule applies (Matt. 7:12). The apostle Paul reminded Philemon (v. 16) of this when dealing with his runaway slave Onesimus (Col. 4:9). If you have employees, they should see the best of Christianity in you.
Woe to perversion (Isa. 5:20)
This is self-gratification gone to seed (Psa. 19:13). One cannot honestly study the word of God and come away from it without knowing that perversion, unchecked, leads to much greater wickedness (Gen. 19; Judg. 19–20). Our society has tried to normalize perversion, and we are beginning to reap the whirlwind. Assassinations, children slaughtered at school, and continued societal disruption are the results. How long will Christian people sit quietly? These people are most often past reason, because their hearts are cold and without feeling. It is the worst fruit of a spoiled, selfish society.
Woe to the high-minded (Isa. 5:21)
Those conceited, self-righteous ones who think themselves something (Gal. 2:6). “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). The high-minded attitude is the opposite of what God calls us to in Christ (James 4:10).
These five woes from Isaiah 5 are just as relevant today as when recorded over 2,500 years ago. Think on these things.
-David Hill, President of Tennessee Bible College
For a short, powerful reminder on God’s warning against greed and oppression in business, listen to the One Gospel Minute episode “God’s Stop Sign.” Follow the truth that saves.