Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church
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CALVARY PANDAN the same enemies have been the logical way to tread for centuries. To BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH break away from this mould is what the LORD demands of Israel, His people. DHW BIBLE CLASS God’s people are not like other nations. They have the one living and LESSON 31 true God on their side as their ISAIAH Guardian, Defender and Provider. To CHAPTER 31 appeal to others for help from a spiritual standpoint is an insult to God. The insult is that the LORD is unable Theme: “Wrestle not against flesh and to take care of His own people. Other blood but principalities!” nations do not have God on their side. They are in sin and do not know any better. They do not have the truth. THEME VERSE They are not given the Word of God as Isaiah 31:3 (KJV) “Now the Egyptians their guide, and the Temple as their are men, and not God; and their true and acceptable place of worship. horses flesh, and not spirit. When the Israel has received all these blessings LORD shall stretch out his hand, both from God for centuries. For them to he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is turn their backs on God is a serious holpen shall fall down, and they all sin. shall fail together.” The nations did not court Israel’s alliance. Israel went to Egypt for help on her own accord. This made the INTRODUCTION insult even more damaging. Israel was Isaiah 31 continues where Isaiah basically saying to the world that the 30 left off. The focus is still on Israel in LORD, Israel’s God, was not able to relation to Egypt and Assyria. For man help so she had to turn to other to depend on other men for help in nations and their gods to help the times of testing and adversities is very LORD! Israel carried the Name of the common. This has been man’s ways LORD, hence the reputation of the for eons. The arm of the flesh has LORD as well. She was forbidden to been man’s foundation against all behave like other nations. She had to foes. For him to break away from his be distinct from the rest of the world. old ways require superhuman effort. God had made her distinct! Israel He has to swim against the tide as would have to be chastised for her they say. He is surrounded by every faithlessness and insult of God. nation, past and present, testifying to Those who helped God’s people this route as the only way of salvation. would not be spared either. They For many, this is indeed the way of would also be punished by God in salvation. Making alliances with order to show Israel that these Gentile superpowers or other powers that face nations could not help them because DHW LESSON 31 ISAIAH 31 the problem was spiritual and not modern weapons of war available at carnal. Israel’s waywardness would that time. Egypt was one of the ruin and hurt Egypt. The actions of countries with the best horses. Horses God’s people would hurt those whom were animals built for speed in the they befriended and led into sin. This battlefield. Horsemen made very good chapter of Isaiah emphasises this truth soldiers. They were swift and on their very clearly. mounted position had an advantage over their enemies who usually fought OUTLINE on foot. The Egyptians possessed chariots comparable to our modern 1. Who is like unto God? (vv.1-5); day tanks. They could overrun 2. How shall Israel turn from her enemies’ position with ease and mow sins? (vv. 6-7); down foot soldiers if these chariots 3. Can Israel’s enemies stand? were fitted with sharp knives around (vv. 8-9). their wheel base. The Egyptians had both these weapons of war in great abundance. COMMENTARY Israel’s problem was not the Who is like unto God? – 31:1-5 use of these weapons of war but their Direct confrontation without rejection of the LORD. They did not mincing words is the best way to deal look to the Holy One of Israel; neither with sin. It describes and emphasizes did they seek the LORD. They sought the urgency as well as the seriousness the arm of the flesh for they saw their of the sin committed. Hence the LORD problem as carnal rather than spiritual. cried out “Woe.” The word “woe” has a Israel as a nation of God never very ominous overtone. The target of battles against flesh and blood but this woe is Israel. The LORD always against principalities. Israel had described them as “them that go down forgotten this truth. That was the to Egypt for help.” This means that reason why God described Himself Israel, without outside influence or here as the “Holy One” of Israel. coercion, went to seek help from Holiness is a spiritual, not a carnal Egypt. The culprit is Israel and she will issue. It is significant to note that there bear all the blame for what transpired. is a distinction made between the Holy This shameful deed of Israel One of Israel and the LORD. was inconceivable as they had been The Holy One of Israel refers to blessed by God with everything God the Father while the LORD refers possible to succeed on earth as a to the Lord Jesus Christ. The godly testimony. But Israel threw reference to the Holy One of Israel everything away and turned to idols. emphasized the holiness of God and Their idolatrous heart resulted in this the need for holiness in Israel’s appeal to Egypt for help instead of existence. The “LORD” emphasizes looking up to God. What did Israel find the covenantal relationship which in Egypt? Israel found the most 2 DHW LESSON 31 ISAIAH 31 points to the covenant Israel made These powerful Egyptians were with the LORD. How dare Israel break men and not God. This is a loaded this covenant by turning to Egypt for statement. No matter how powerful the help instead of to God? On both Egyptians might be in the eyes of man, counts, Israel was condemned by the it was abundantly clear that they would LORD. never be as powerful as God! The The “he” in verse 2 refers to horses of the Egyptians were powerful God. He is wise in His dealings with weapons of war but they were not Israel. God wanted Israel to return to spirit. It was a spiritual warfare that the path of holiness and Israel was fighting. How could Israel righteousness. God will do what is not realize this? When the LORD right for His people even though His stretched out His hand i.e. He took people do not realize that this is what action, both Israel and Egypt would fall they need most. God will bring evil i.e. together. Note that the sequence of calamities and will not call back His whom God would punish first is word. This means that God’s Word reversed. In verse 2 Israel was through the prophets, whom He sent to mentioned first but in verse 3, Egypt warn Israel of impending doom, would was mentioned first. This is to draw the not be reversed. They would come to attention of the reader to the pass precisely as proclaimed. God punishment of God upon the two would rise up against the house of the parties. evil doers i.e. Israel. What they had Isaiah testified how the LORD done by going to Egypt was an evil act related the issue to him, “Like as a lion in the sight of God. God’s standard of and the young lion roaring on his prey, holiness is revealed here. Making when a multitude of shepherds is alliance may be just a matter of course called forth against him, he will not be for other Gentile nations but not for afraid of their voices, nor abase Israel. God expected a higher standard himself for the noise of them: so shall from Israel because she had been the LORD of hosts come down to fight given much more than the Gentile for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.” nations in terms of spiritual truths. Using animals as imagery to convey Not only would God punish truths is common in Holy Scripture. In Israel but He would also punish the this instance the imagery is of the one who helped Israel. In this instance, LORD fighting for Israel, if only Israel it was Egypt! Egypt was charged for would let Him. Israel was to be helping Israel commit iniquity. This is a obedient and be reasoned into serious charge. God’s people must repentance. Israel was to turn back to realize that when they err from the the LORD so that the LORD could truth and go to the heathens for help, intervene and help. It is in light of this they will cause the heathens to be understanding that Israel was said to punished as well. It is crucial that let the LORD protect her. God’s people do not harm others The lion and the young lion because of their own waywardness. roaring on his prey means that the 3 DHW LESSON 31 ISAIAH 31 lions have already caught the prey and to deliver Israel. He revealed that He are about to kill and consume it. The would defend, deliver and preserve. young lion is strong, fearless and He would fight for Israel against all her tireless.