Isaiah 31:1-9    Click here for Bible Verses

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 31:1-9.  Let’s go!

Isaiah 31:1-3 (NIV)
1  Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD.
2  Yet he too is wise and can bring disaster; he does not take back his words. He will rise up against the house of the wicked, against those who help evildoers.
3  But the Egyptians are men and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out his hand, he who helps will stumble, he who is helped will fall; both will perish together.

On verses 1-3:  To those who looked to Egypt for help but not to the LORD (v1), Isaiah warns that Egypt is a bunch of mere human being and not God (v3a), whereas the LORD is all powerful.  Isaiah promises that because they did not look to the LORD, both Egypt the helper and Judah the helped will fall together (v3b).

What can we learn from this?  It is foolish to put your trust in your own strength, smarts and alliances and not look to God at all.  Instead, if you want to be wise, seek God first.  By all means take stock of the strength, smarts and resources God has given you and use them for His glory, but through it all anchor your hope in God and not in yourself.

Isaiah 31:4-9 (NIV)
4  This is what the LORD says to me: “As a lion growls, a great lion over his prey– and though a whole band of shepherds is called together against him, he is not frightened by their shouts or disturbed by their clamor– so the LORD Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights.
5  Like birds hovering overhead, the LORD Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will ‘pass over’ it and will rescue it.”
6  Return to him you have so greatly revolted against, O Israelites.
7  For in that day every one of you will reject the idols of silver and gold your sinful hands have made.
8  “Assyria will fall by a sword that is not of man; a sword, not of mortals, will devour them. They will flee before the sword and their young men will be put to forced labor.
9  Their stronghold will fall because of terror; at sight of the battle standard their commanders will panic,” declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

On verses 4-9:  Here the LORD promises that He will personally protect the capital city of Jerusalem.  Like a great lion facing a pack of attacking shepherds, God is not afraid to do battle even when He seems to be outnumbered (v4).  Like birds overhead, God promises to be Jerusalem’s shield (v5a).  As He does in Isaiah 28, 29 and 30, He promises to rescue the city of Jerusalem from Assyria’s attack (v5b).  God promises that Assyria will fall and be defeated in a supernatural way, “by a sword that is not of man; a sword, not of mortals” (v8) but by the work of God.

God is committed to rescuing the capital city of Jerusalem from Assyria despite the fact that the Israelites had revolted against Him and worshiped idols (v6).  Instead of dwelling on the Israelites’ past failures, God looks ahead to the day when His people will reject their idols and return to Him (v7).

What can we learn from this?

–  God does not stay stuck in the past, but moves forward with hope.
–  God is gracious and merciful, willing to rescue and defend His eople even when they have revolted against Him.
–  In the end God will always have the last word and the last laugh, so while we still can, we should return to Him (v6).  As long as there is breath in our lungs, it’s never too late to return to God.

Finally, I love it when verse 9 says, “the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, whose furnace is in Jerusalem”.  Isaiah meant that God’s light, God’s power, and God’s presence were with His people.  The same goes for you and me as followers of Jesus.  God has placed the fire of His Holy Spirit, the furnace of His power and presence in us, such that no matter how dark things may get, we always have His fire to strengthen us, comfort us and light the way.

Thank You Father for being my great lion who is committed to protecting me, the shield over my head.  Thank You for being a God who warns us fairly beforehand and, even when we fail, You invite us to come back to You.  Thank You that as long as I am alive, it is never too late to return to You.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!