Isaiah31

Isaiah 31 pronounces a woe upon those who seek help from Egypt, trusting in their military might rather than the Lord. The prophet declares that Egypt is merely human and will fail, while God, who is wise, will bring judgment upon evildoers. Nevertheless, the Lord promises to defend Jerusalem like a lion and flying birds, ultimately calling Israel to turn from their idolatry.
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Woe to Those Who Trust in Egypt

1
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! ​
2
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. ​
3
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. ​

The Lord Will Defend Zion

4
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. ​
5
As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it. ​

A Call to Repentance

6
Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted. ​
7
For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin. ​

The Downfall of Assyria

8
Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited. ​
9
And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem. ​

Study Notes for Isaiah 31

Verse 1

This 'woe' oracle condemns Judah's desperate political policy of seeking military alliance with Egypt, relying on their famed chariots and cavalry instead of trusting the covenant-keeping God of Israel.

Verse 2

God’s wisdom is contrasted with human folly; He knows their treacherous plans and will not withdraw the promised judgment against both the evildoers in Judah and their ungodly allies.

Verse 3

This verse provides the theological core of the critique: Egypt is merely human ('men, not God'), and their power is finite ('flesh, not spirit'), establishing the fundamental error of relying on creaturely strength.

Verse 4

The imagery of the lion roaring over its prey signifies God’s fierce, non-negotiable determination to fight for Jerusalem (Mount Zion) against overwhelming enemy forces, regardless of the noise or multitude of the opposition.

Verse 5

The metaphor of birds hovering and defending suggests swift, comprehensive, and protective care. The phrase 'passing over' echoes the Exodus narrative (Passover), where God protected Israel by sparing those under His divine shield.

Verse 6

The divine promise of protection (Vv. 4-5) is followed by a direct appeal for the people to repent and return to Yahweh, acknowledging their deep history of spiritual rebellion.

Verse 7

The assurance that 'in that day' every man shall cast away his idols indicates that God's deliverance will result in genuine, widespread spiritual renewal and purification from the sin of idolatry.

Verse 8

The defeat of Assyria is guaranteed to be supernatural, achieved by God directly ('not of a mighty man'), reinforcing the message that salvation comes solely through divine intervention, not human military prowess.

Verse 9

The description of the Assyrian flight emphasizes their terror and discomfiture. The final phrase, 'whose fire is in Zion,' refers to God's holy, purifying, and protective presence established in Jerusalem.

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