Woe to the United States A Poetic Contextualization of Isaiah 10, Particularly “Woe to Assyria” (10:5) Grant Showalter-Swanson

Woe to the United States

A Poetic Contextualization of Isaiah 10, Particularly “Woe to Assyria” (10:5)

By Grant Showalter-Swanson

Woe to the United States –

the guns wielded by ICE –

awash in blood and murder

always made excusable

by a tyrannical regime –

elicits God’s fury.

Woe to the political leaders who make morally wrong policies –

weaponizing the law to oppress the migrant and the powerless;

shielding themselves from the consequences of their wrongdoings.

Woe to the power players of unbridled capitalism

who prioritize the (b)(tr)illionaires and corporations

over the ability of the rest of us to survive –

the infinite wealth of a few

over the livelihood of the many.

Woe to the christians who blaspheme the name of Christ

to justify white Christian Nationalism

and a heretical theology of civil religion –

attributing God’s blessing to the economic

and military might of the United States –

for the benefit of an administration determined

to eliminate electoral democracy

and maintain power-over

indefinitely.

Woe to the MAGA base –

and any republicans, independents, democrats, and non-voters –

who have opted into the group-think

and mind control of a fascist

and authoritarian curation of reality.

Woe to the U.S. citizens who stand by –

apathy and agreement both leading to death –

as the Trump administration

robs the poor

plunders the middle class

reduces health care access and

eliminates health care subsidies

abuses children

controls the bodies of women

demonizes Trans/Queer people

dehumanizes non-white people

criminalizes migrants

colonizes sovereign lands

coerces foreign leaders

justifies genocide

rapes the Earth

and kills with impunity.

God demands that we ask ourselves:

what will you do on the day of judgement

when you must account for your active—

or passive— participation in this regime?

When there is no way to flee from God

behind wealth, religious platitudes,

or feigned obliviousness?

God promises eventual justice, 

for those who oppressed,

hated, or were ambivalent

toward their neighbor?

Neighbor: defined by Jesus

as anyone we encounter,

especially those in need.

Repent.

Be transformed by the Spirit.

And live in love toward your neighbor, as yourself.

But for those who suffer under this tyrannical regime –

for those who speak out and put their lives on the line

for their neighbors –

do not be afraid.

God promises that the yoke of suffering and oppression

will be removed from your shoulders

and destroyed from this world

in the final realization

of God’s peaceable Kingdom

on Earth as in Heaven.

Lord,

may Your will be done,

enacted and embodied

through us, the body of Christ.

Amen.