Isaiah 31
Published June 23, 2025
June 24
Reading: Isaiah 31
1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help
and rely on horses,
who trust in chariots because they are many
and in horsemen because they are very strong,
but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD!
2 And yet he is wise and brings disaster;
he does not call back his words,
but will arise against the house of the evildoers
and against the helpers of those who work iniquity.
3 The Egyptians are man, and not God,
and their horses are flesh, and not spirit.
When the LORD stretches out his hand,
the helper will stumble,
and he who is helped will fall,
and they will all perish together.
4 For thus the LORD said to me,
"As a lion or a young lion growls over his prey,
and when a band of shepherds is called out against him
he is not terrified by their shouting or daunted at their noise,
so the LORD of hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill.
5 Like birds hovering, so the LORD of hosts will protect Jerusalem;
he will protect and deliver it;
he will spare and rescue it."
6 Turn to him from whom people have deeply revolted, O children of Israel. 7 For in that day everyone shall cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold, which your hands have sinfully made for you.
8 "And the Assyrian shall fall by a sword, not of man;
and a sword, not of man, shall devour him;
and he shall flee from the sword,
and his young men shall be put to forced labor.
9 His rock shall pass away in terror,
and his officers desert the standard in panic,"
declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.
The “woe” at the beginning of Isaiah 31 continues the warning from the previous chapter. Woe to those who trust not in the Lord but in other things. God’s people here are trusting in Egypt’s military might. But the Egyptians are only men. They are not God. (vs. 3)
Who are you trusting in?
The Lord promises to protect Jerusalem. (vss. 4-5) He begs His people to come back to Him. (vs. 6) He tells them that their silver and gold and their idols will all be cast away. (vs. 7) He tells them that he will defeat the Assyrians. (vss. 8-9)
Why are they not trusting the Lord?
Sometimes we refuse to trust God because we cannot see Him. Our fears seem all too real. We can see problems. We can see people who wish to do us harm. We can see the lack of money. We see all the dangers and our desires. We cannot see God. Therefore, faith is essential. We must believe what the Lord says. He is trustworthy.
Who are you trusting in?
Are you trusting in doctors? Do you spend more time figuring out doctors and hospitals than you do praying? Are you trusting in money? Do you spend more time financial planning (or worrying about it) than you do praying? Are you trusting in politicians to solve your problems? Are you trusting in family? Are you trusting in yourself? Do you know that every person reaches their limit? Someday you will fail to have what it takes for the next step. Every idol fails. The Lord will never fail.
Reading: Isaiah 31
1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help
and rely on horses,
who trust in chariots because they are many
and in horsemen because they are very strong,
but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD!
2 And yet he is wise and brings disaster;
he does not call back his words,
but will arise against the house of the evildoers
and against the helpers of those who work iniquity.
3 The Egyptians are man, and not God,
and their horses are flesh, and not spirit.
When the LORD stretches out his hand,
the helper will stumble,
and he who is helped will fall,
and they will all perish together.
4 For thus the LORD said to me,
"As a lion or a young lion growls over his prey,
and when a band of shepherds is called out against him
he is not terrified by their shouting or daunted at their noise,
so the LORD of hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill.
5 Like birds hovering, so the LORD of hosts will protect Jerusalem;
he will protect and deliver it;
he will spare and rescue it."
6 Turn to him from whom people have deeply revolted, O children of Israel. 7 For in that day everyone shall cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold, which your hands have sinfully made for you.
8 "And the Assyrian shall fall by a sword, not of man;
and a sword, not of man, shall devour him;
and he shall flee from the sword,
and his young men shall be put to forced labor.
9 His rock shall pass away in terror,
and his officers desert the standard in panic,"
declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.
The “woe” at the beginning of Isaiah 31 continues the warning from the previous chapter. Woe to those who trust not in the Lord but in other things. God’s people here are trusting in Egypt’s military might. But the Egyptians are only men. They are not God. (vs. 3)
Who are you trusting in?
The Lord promises to protect Jerusalem. (vss. 4-5) He begs His people to come back to Him. (vs. 6) He tells them that their silver and gold and their idols will all be cast away. (vs. 7) He tells them that he will defeat the Assyrians. (vss. 8-9)
Why are they not trusting the Lord?
Sometimes we refuse to trust God because we cannot see Him. Our fears seem all too real. We can see problems. We can see people who wish to do us harm. We can see the lack of money. We see all the dangers and our desires. We cannot see God. Therefore, faith is essential. We must believe what the Lord says. He is trustworthy.
Who are you trusting in?
Are you trusting in doctors? Do you spend more time figuring out doctors and hospitals than you do praying? Are you trusting in money? Do you spend more time financial planning (or worrying about it) than you do praying? Are you trusting in politicians to solve your problems? Are you trusting in family? Are you trusting in yourself? Do you know that every person reaches their limit? Someday you will fail to have what it takes for the next step. Every idol fails. The Lord will never fail.