Isaiah

 

Isaiah Chapter 31

 

  • Isaiah 31:1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

We see here a return to the warning part of prophecy. This was a warning to those who trust in Egypt for help. Their trust was in Egypt, abundance of horses and vehicles, not in the Lord.

Sometimes people are so quick to blame God when bad happens but never seek Him for guidance and counsel. Israel had knowledge of God and had His word. They did not seek His guidance and sought to get help from foreign countries. They gloried in great armies and the strength of man instead of trusting in God. Unfortunately mankind has not changed in that area much. 

  • Isaiah 31:2 Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.

This was true then and is still true. Evil workers will not always prevail. Their strength is only temporary.

  • Isaiah 31:3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.

This we all need to remember. Egyptians were only men not God. Horses were not spirits. God is everlasting and a sure thing. Men fail, material things pass away but the God is forever.

They were looking at the many numbers of chariots and horses of the Egyptians, thinking surely with all that, they would be safe; not so. Israel many times turned to outside help only to find that outside help turn on them in the end. God was their only sure help. The times it seemed that God was not there to help probably meant that sin was separating them from God. God wants to help and send salvation but unbelief, sin and lack of acknowledging Him cuts off His blessings. Sometimes we may temporarily feel cut off because of trials and temptations but that is just a temporary trying of our faith.

Many times we have trouble though because we have gotten away from Him and became so busy that our prayer life is almost dead. When we do not seek Him, He can't possibly guide us in the right direction and we begin to make mistakes and trust in the wrong things. We then get into trouble and wonder why God allows it to happen. It would be like a neighbor starving without food. We go out and buy food, knock on the door with food in our arms but they shut the door in our face and do not let us in. We then sat the bags of food down and walk away hoping they will see them. We call on the phone. They do not answer yet we know they are capable of answering, yet do not. We wait and wait but they do not open the door and get our gift of food. God has the answers to all we need but He will not use force.

He does not force us to serve Him. If we insist on our own way and doing our own thing, we will be able to do so but with hazardous results. I realize that sometimes bad happens through no fault of our own. What I am talking about here is bad happening because of our own mistakes and then we question God’s care because of it or we blame God.

  • Isaiah 31:4 For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.
  • 5.As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.

Again the prophet turns back to predicting the help that comes from God. God will always defend Jerusalem. Jerusalem has an eternal purpose and call of God.

  • Isaiah 31:6 Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.
  • 7. For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.
  • 8 Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited.
  • 9 And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.

Here is a call to return to the Lord from which they had forsaken. One day they will cast away their gold, silver and idols. The oppressing Assyrian shall fall. This had a partial fulfillment when Assyria fell but it also has a latter day fulfillment when those enemies that surround Jerusalem and desire to take over that city shall be cut off by the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ and His armies from heaven. Many believe the Assyrian mentioned here could very well be the antichrist or deceiver who is to come in his own name sitting in the temple of God claiming to either represent God or take the place of God.

Isaiah 32

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