Isaiah chapter 31
Egypt cannot protect them. The LORD will protect them.
EGYPT CANNOT PROTECT THEM
VERSE 1. Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they don’t look to the Holy One of Israel, and they don’t seek the LORD!
go down to Egypt for help. Going to Egypt for help was a violation of God’s stipulations in the Deuteronomic Covenant:
Deuteronomy 17:16. Only he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he may multiply horses; because the LORD has said to you, “You shall not go back that way again.”
Horses … chariots. The prophet Elisha beheld the horses and chariots of the LORD God:
2 Kings 6:17. “Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young manʼs eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.”
VERSE 2. Yet he also is wise, and will bring disaster, and will not call back his words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of those who work iniquity.
VERSE 3. Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out his hand, both he who helps shall stumble, and he who is helped shall fall, and they all shall be consumed together.
THE LORD WILL PROTECT THEM
VERSE 4. For the LORD says to me, “As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, if a multitude of shepherds is called together against him, will not be dismayed at their voice, nor abase himself for their noise, so the LORD of Hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its heights.
a multitude of shepherds. A lion that just killed its prey is not afraid of shepherds, no matter how much they shout.
In our day, some Christian shepherds shout a lot. But we need not fear them.
the LORD of Hosts. This might mean the Lord Jesus Christ himself.
come down to fight on Mount Zion. We envision a mighty angel flying down from the sky and landing near Jerusalem.
VERSE 5. As birds hovering, so the LORD of Hosts will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver it. He will pass over and preserve it.”
the LORD of Hosts will protect Jerusalem. The LORD of Hosts will shield Jerusalem from the enemy.
We envision Jesus Christ standing in Jerusalem, or hovering over it, shielding the nation with divine protection.
VERSE 6. Return to him from whom you have deeply revolted, children of Israel.
NAB translation. Return, O children of Israel, to him whom you have utterly destroyed.
This summarizes of the whole message of Isaiah. Return to the One God. Have faith in him. Be in relationship with him.
VERSE 7. For in that day everyone shall cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold—sin which your own hands have made for you.
VERSE 8. “The Assyrian will fall by the sword, not of man; and the sword, not of mankind, shall devour him. He will flee from the sword, and his young men will become subject to forced labor.
the sword. In the Bible, the word “sword” can often be taken as a euphemism for “the Bible.” Here are the verses about this »
VERSE 9. His rock will pass away by reason of terror, and his princes will be afraid of the banner,” says the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.
ISAIAH
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, True Fasting
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.