God NEVER forsakes His people! (He may chastise them in measure, but never abandons them in full!)
And Isaiah 31:1-5 proves that point.
“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! 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. 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. 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. As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it. ” That’s right, only five verses! (Again, and it is the nature of Isaiah the Prophet … you must read this whole Paragraph a time or two, or risk missing the whole “point” of today’s Lesson.)
Wow!
In summary … Sin in Judah (and its resulting judgment) … yet through God’s inexplicable Mercy … comes eventual Salvation! (Deliverance and Protection, at God’s Hand!)
Judah is trusting Egypt instead of God, to protect her from arch-enemy Assyria. She will not even “look” to God for help, not even a quick prayer! This is unfaithfulness! Because Judah, by promise (vow), has pledged to obey God and all His commands! (“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!” Verse 1, a warning!)
So God has decided to bring “evil” (catastrophe) upon the “evildoers” (citizens of Judah) and those who have assisted her (Egypt) in her distrust, rebellion, toward God. (“Yet he – the Lord – 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.” Verse 2)
Then in his Sermon Isaiah gives us a little comparison, analogy … “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.” Verse 3, where God can bring “down” both the erring sinner, Judah, and the one who abets him, Egypt, in his wrongdoing! Besides, Egypt is merely human, fighting with horses and chariots … GOD IS SUPERNATURAL, ALMIGHTY, FIGHTING WITH HOSTS OF ANGELS!)
Then comes an illustration … God as Judge! “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.” Verse 4, God like an attacking Lion! One Who will not “back off” his “target, prey,” even if numerous shepherds try to distract Him! God as persistent Warrior!
But then suddenly … the atmosphere changes! (Often in the literary world, this is called “Reversal.”) God becomes (presumably when Judah has learned her lesson, has repented) a Defender of His people! (“As birds flying, so will the Lord of Hosts DEFEND Jerusalem; defending also He will DELIVER it, and PASSING OVER He will PRESERVE it.” Verse 5, Wow, what a beautiful “string” of verbs! Yes, our Lord is the great “PASSOVER” God! )
More about that “repentance” idea Monday, the Lord willing. As we continue into our chapter, into Isaiah 31.)
Today’s Text begins (obviously) the 5th “Woe” Sermon from Isaiah’s pen (lips) … an Oracle/Oration that continues to the end of chapter 32. More about that later, too.
Meanwhile today … let’s just enjoy seeing God “chasten” in order to produce “godliness” in the lives of His people! (Hebrews 12:11 comes to mind: “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of RIGHTEOUSNESS unto them which are exercised thereby.”)
Amazing!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
.