Morning over Jerusalem on its ridge: high above the flat roofs and the temple, two large birds hover on spread wings, still in the wind.

Woe and a King

Isaiah 31

What do you count on when you’re not sure God is enough?

9 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–5Zion on trialJudah’s sin, the mountain raised, the vineyard’s song
6Holy, holy, holyIsaiah’s call, in the year King Uzziah died (about 740 BC)
7–12ImmanuelAhaz’s fear, the sign, the Child, the shoot of Jesse
13–23The nations judgedBabylon to Tyre: the LORD is Judge of all the earth
24–27The whole earthThe earth laid waste, and death swallowed up
28–35Woe and a KingEgypt’s help or the LORD’s, and the King in His beautyChapter 31
36–39Hezekiah’s crisisSennacherib, 701 BC: the prayer, the sickness, the envoys
40–48Comfort My peopleTo the exiles ahead: Cyrus, the idols, the Servant
49–55The Servant and ZionPierced for our transgressions; Zion restored
56–66New heavens and earthA house of prayer, the Anointed One, all things new

Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt

Isaiah

Isaiah

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,

who rely on horses,

who trust in their abundance of chariots

and in their multitude of horsemen.

They do not look to the Holy One of Israel;

they do not seek the LORD.

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Isaiah

Yet He too is wise and brings disaster;

He does not call back His words.

He will rise up against the house of the wicked

and against the allies of evildoers.

Isaiah

But the Egyptians are men, not God;

their horses are flesh, not spirit.

When the LORD stretches out His hand,

the helper will stumble,

and the one he helps will fall;

both will perish together.

Question

Quick question

Egypt had the best horses and chariots of the day. Isaiah still calls the alliance foolish. Look at 31:3.

Why was trusting Egypt foolish (31:3)?

God

Evening on a rocky slope in the hill country: a maned lion stands broad and calm on a ledge, head up, while far below a band of four shepherds with staffs shout and wave.

For this is what the LORD has said to me:

“Like a lion roaring

or a young lion over its prey—

and though a band of shepherds is called out against it,

it is not terrified by their shouting

or subdued by their clamor—

so the LORD of Hosts will come down

to do battle on Mount Zion and its heights.

God

Like birds hovering overhead,

so the LORD of Hosts will protect Jerusalem.

He will shield it and deliver it;

He will pass over it and preserve it.”

Isaiah 31:5

Isaiah

Return to the One against whom you have so blatantly rebelled, O children of Israel.

Isaiah

Isaiah

For on that day, every one of you will reject the idols of silver and gold that your own hands have sinfully made.

God

First light on a grassy hillside in Judah: an Assyrian battle standard on a long pole lies fallen in the grass, a bronze helmet beside it, an empty road winding away north.

“Then Assyria will fall,

but not by the sword of man;

a sword will devour them,

but not one made by mortals.

They will flee before the sword,

and their young men will be put to forced labor.

Their rock will pass away for fear,

and their princes will panic at the sight of the battle standard,”

declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion,

whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

0:26

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Pray

LORD of Hosts, You hover over Your people like a bird over its nest. Forgive me for running to what is only flesh. I return to You; shield me and keep me. Amen.

You’ve experienced

Isaiah 31

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A verse to carry with you

Like birds hovering overhead, so the LORD of Hosts will protect Jerusalem. He will shield it and deliver it; He will pass over it and preserve it.

Isaiah 31:5

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