Isaiah 31 - Repent and trust in YHWH

The 31st chapter of Isaiah appears to be a short rehash of chapter 30 - an oracle against Egypt and against ethnic Israel for trusting in Egypt.

Isaiah 31:1 (HCSB) Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and who depend on horses! They trust in the abundance of chariots and in the large number of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel and they do not seek the LORD’s help.

I've noted several times in this walk through Isaiah that Israel once declared that OTHERS might boast in horses and chariots, but THEY would boast in the name of their God. Oh how often they forgot this! Fearful of the Assyrians, Israel sought help from Egypt - wealthy in horses and chariots; the machinery of war! By doing so, they turned their back on YHWH - the One who brought them out of Egypt with a strong arm. He freed them from Egypt so long ago - now they seek refuge from the Pharaoh of that land.

Isaiah 31:2-3 (HCSB) But He also is wise and brings disaster. He does not go back on what He says; He will rise up against the house of wicked men and against the allies of evildoers. Egyptians are men, not God; their horses are flesh, not spirit. When the LORD raises His hand ⌊to strike⌋, the helper will stumble and the one who is helped will fall; both will perish together.

The Holy One of Israel is the only wise god, the only true God; the only One who does not need a "plan B." Evil doers will not last long, though it may seem they do. Egypt's help is merely flesh (which profits nothing, Jesus observed, in John 6) and they will be cast down and perish with YHWH raises His hand to strike them. We have seen this raised hand of God several times as well - He saves with His strong outstretched arm and He destroys His enemies with His strong outstretched arm.

Isaiah 31:4-5 (HCSB) For this is what the LORD said to me: As a lion or young lion growls over its prey when a band of shepherds is called out against it, and is not terrified by their shouting or subdued by their noise, so the LORD of Hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill. Like hovering birds, so the LORD of Hosts will protect Jerusalem— by protecting ⌊it⌋, He will rescue ⌊it⌋, by sparing ⌊it⌋, He will deliver ⌊it⌋.

Isaiah pronounces what God has told him, and it's about how almighty and trustworthy He is! Those who reside on Mt Zion will be under His protection, rescued and delivered from their own evil sins. No fear of Assyria or any other army or beast because the battle belongs to YHWH and He will vanquish all His enemies - just as He rescues and preserves all His sheep.

Isaiah 31:6-9 (HCSB) Return to the One the Israelites have greatly rebelled against. For on that day, every one of you will reject the silver and gold idols that your own hands have sinfully made. Then Assyria will fall, but not by human sword; a sword will devour him, but not one made by man. He will flee from the sword; his young men will be put to forced labor. His rock will pass away because of fear, and his officers will be afraid because of the signal flag. ⌊This is⌋ the LORD’s declaration—whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

Those who repent and turn to God will reject the idols once held dear. Recall this from chapter 30: Isaiah 30:21-22 (HCSB) "whenever you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.” Then you will defile your silver-plated idols and your gold-plated images. You will throw them away like menstrual cloths, and call them filth." God grants repentance to His people; but He doesn't repent for us. If repentance is not part of your life, cry out to God for this!

Assyria will not be put down by men - Egyptian or any other. A sword not from a human will devour them one by one. The sword of Truth, wielded by the victorious Christ will do this. Those who flee will be imprisoned, their source of pride - their rock - will pass away, and no one will look to the battle flag of Assyria any longer. YHWH has decreed this - His fire in on Mt Zion, burning from the furnace in Jerusalem. Righteousness from God wherein He sits as He rules, Jerusalem will be that city on Mt Zion!

Again and again we see the same cycle - trust in men and strongholds of this world are attractive to us, we are but frail men and women. But the only refuge the provide safety from the storm of God's wrath is to have the righteousness of Christ imputed to your account!