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. The older lion is experienced enemies. They would be no match for and stealthy. Combining the two of the LORD. them together make a very potent The LORD is more than able to adversary. When the multitude of protect and take care of Israel so there shepherds is called forth against them, is no need for Israel to go to Egypt or the lions will not be afraid of their any other Gentile nation for help. voices. The singular pronoun “he” refers to the young lion which probably How shall Israel turn from her sins? already has the prey between his teeth – 31:6-7 as he roars. He will just ignore all of The only way out of every sin is them. The shepherd’s duty is to protect repentance. Repentance has to be the flock. The multitude of shepherds done according to God’s prescription, is a sizeable force to frighten any lion. not man’s. A mere bad feeling in the But here the LORD said that the young heart is not repentance. Crying for sin lion will not be at all afraid of them committed without turning to the LORD even though he knows that they are is not genuine repentance when there to stop him from getting his prey. applied to God’s people. Genuine In the same manner, the LORD of repentance results in a restored hosts i.e. heavenly armies will come relationship with God. down to fight for mount Zion and for Israel was commanded by the the hill thereof. LORD to return to Him. The reason Fighting for Israel is what the was that the children of Israel had LORD has always been doing and seriously revolted and rebelled against wants to do. The LORD, however, the LORD. The command from the could not protect Israel in her state of LORD was for them to stop sinning, sin because to do so would encourage turn back from evil and return to her to sin more and the LORD would holiness. be charged with breaking His promise Backsliding is not, as some as stated in the covenantal agreement. think, a small sin. Some may think that The agreement said that the LORD it is the norm for a believer to would curse Israel when she backslide, and therefore backsliding is disobeyed Him. The LORD could not fine and the LORD will not mind! This defend and fight for Zion when Zion is far from the truth. The LORD always disobeyed Him. minds when His people stray from Flying birds protect their young Him. Israel had strayed very far from from prey. By rising high up in the sky, Him. How could the LORD not mind? they can see far and the protection The LORD wanted Israel to begins even before the enemy comes return. But how should Israel return to near to the prey. Flying also implies the LORD? A repentant nation will swiftness. The LORD would not delay

4 DHW LESSON 31 ISAIAH 31 firstly remove all idols of silver and midst of Israel. Fire destroys gold. These may be precious but they everything that stands in its path. The are to be cast away i.e. no longer furnace of the LORD was in found in their homes. They can be Jerusalem. The furnace burned up melted down if they are purchased by anything that was placed in it. The two the owner before his conversion. imageries, fire and furnace, when There is nothing wrong with melting combined give a very informative the idol. The cost of destroying these description of the LORD. The LORD idols is high. It is supposed to be high. will make sure everything and The cost should not be a factor in the everyone who stands against Him and believer’s decision. His people be categorically and Can Israel’s enemies stand? thoroughly removed. They will not be – 31:8-9 able to stand before the LORD. The LORD said that the enemies of Israel would be dealt with PRACTICAL VALUE by Him. After Israel had returned to the LORD, then the LORD would deliver The LORD is the only God! Israel from the wicked and powerful When God’s people go to Assyrians. The Assyrians would fall Gentiles for help to do God’s work, it is with the sword. Based on 2 Kings as good as admitting that the gods of 19:35, Assyria would be devoured by a the heathens are living and able to sword wielded by an angel of the help. This is no small sin as this LORD (not a mighty and fierce man) chapter of Isaiah reveals. The LORD after Israel return unto the LORD will not allow such a transgression to during the reign of king Hezekiah. The stand. He will take action against His Assyrians would panic and flee from own people if they are the culprits. the sword of the LORD. Their young It is unimaginable that God’s men who were supposed to be strong people will turn to heathens who and courageous would be discomfited worship idols to help build God’s i.e. melted. kingdom. Yet this is a frequent Then the Assyrians would pass phenomenon. Do we really mean what over to their stronghold because of we say when we tell the world that the their fear. What kind of fear could LORD is the only one living and true cause such a great nation like the God! If we do, there are certain things Assyrians to turn around and run? It that we just cannot do. was the fear of the wrath of the LORD. Hurt those who help! This would happen when God’s people Churches today that approach returned to the LORD. The princes of heathens for help to build God’s the Assyrians would be afraid of the kingdom will actually hurt the ensign i.e. a banner or flag that heathens. Israel did just that when she identified a particular nation. The fire of approached Egypt for help. The LORD the LORD was in Zion i.e. the had to punish both parties in the presence of the LORD was in the

5 DHW LESSON 31 ISAIAH 31 process. Thus the actions of God’s has always been God’s way of dealing people have the potential to hurt with His people who are supposed to others because of their troubled represent Him in this sin-sick earth! relationship with God. AMEN. The reasons are that God’s people bear God’s Name. Therefore they must reflect God’s character by DAILY READINGS & DISCUSSION what they do. When they fail to do this, QUESTIONS the LORD is misrepresented. The

LORD will not allow such Daily Readings misrepresentation to continue. The more important reason is that the MONDAY: Isaiah 31:1-9 world needs to see Christ in the TUESDAY: Isaiah 31:1-9 conduct of His people. When God’s people sin, the world will remain in a WEDNESDAY: Isaiah 31:1-9 state of spiritual darkness and are thus THURSDAY: Isaiah 31:1-9 doomed to spend eternity in Hell when FRIDAY: Isaiah 31:1-9. they die in their sins.

By their compromise with the heathens, they commit the sin of Discussion Questions turning to their idols for help. God 1. What is the difference between a intervenes and chastises both parties. Christian going to the bank and Repentance before Help asking for help to start his Christian Saying sorry alone is not book room business compared to a repentance. It is frightening when the local church asking the bank for a person does not genuinely repent of loan to do God’s work such as his sins. This was the case of Judas overseas missions (assuming that Iscariot. There are also those on earth banks give such loans)? Please who have been ordained for explain. destruction. They are not repentant. ______Israel must repent first before ______God can help. This sequence is not ______negotiable. God cannot vitiate this ______standard that He himself has set for all ______times. ______After genuine repentance which ______is evidenced by the removal of idols and cessation of all sins, the LORD will be ready to help His people to victory. 2. If a church were to ask a heathen The enemies will be destroyed. Israel or a worldly organisation to give to would be free from her enemies. This its church building fund, will God

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punish these people who help the ______church? Please explain. ______5. Do you believe that God can take ______care of your future and that of your ______loved ones who are also believers? ______Do you believe that there is no one ______in this world who can hurt you and ______your loved ones without His ______permission? If so, why are you so worried and so stressed by your 3. When can we say that a local job, family, service, etc? church is regarding or treating the ______heathens and the world as gods by ______the things that it does? Can you cite ______some examples? ______6. Is the LORD pleased with you right ______at this moment? Did you keep a ______holy solemnity with the LORD? How was your worship of the 4. Will you regard the confession of LORD this morning? Please someone as genuine repentance if explain. he were to make excuses for what ______he has done? What if he begins by ______saying that “he is not making ______excuses” and then continues to ______give reasons for his actions? ______Please explain your answer. ______

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7. What lessons have you learnt from this chapter about God’s Word and about yourself? ______

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