Isaiah 31 -- Old Testament -- Gospel Daily

Isaiah

Chapter 31

Woe to those trusting Egypt

Isaiah pronounces woe upon those who seek help from Egypt and trust in chariots and horsemen instead of the Holy One of Israel. The LORD declares He will bring judgment upon the evildoers, for the Egyptians are but men and their horses flesh, not spirit. When the LORD stretches out His hand against them, both helper and helped shall fall together. The LORD will defend Jerusalem like a lion roaring over its prey and like birds flying, delivering and preserving it. The Assyrian shall fall by a sword not wielded by man, his princes shall be afraid, and he shall flee to his stronghold.

Trust in the LORD aloneFolly of human alliancesDivine judgment on idolatryProtection of JerusalemAssyrian defeat

¹Woe 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!

²Yet 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.

³Now 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.

⁴For 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.

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

⁶Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.

⁷For 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.

⁸Then 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.

⁹And 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.