Seeking Help in Warfare
Isa 31:1 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!
Judah thought the Egyptians would help them because they had an abundance of horses and chariots. Judah was the nation where Jerusalem was, the Holy city of God. Why did they not seek God and trust in him? Had he not delivered them in the past? We do not fight against evil only in the flesh. First we seek God and then we fight with his direction and help.
Woe to our nation too, if the leaders do not seek God. There has been a revival in Iraq with many soldiers coming to Jesus and even being baptized in the desert. But they are not allowed to share their faith with the Iraqis, because it may offend them. If we were seriously serving God, we would want to share our faith. We cannot win a battle over evil with horses and chariots. When we need help will our enemies help us? Will those we have helped, help us? I do not think so.
Psa 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
Isa 31:2 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.
God is wise and the protector of those who trust him. The enemy may afflict for a time, but God sees and will rise up against the house of the evildoer, and against their help, the things that they trusted above the LORD. If we put anything above the Lord, it will be brought down. We are to love God with all of our heart, soul and mind.
Isa 31:3 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.
Flesh cannot fight against spirit. If the LORD stretches out his hand, as the king his scepter, all shall fall, but for his mercy and grace. We must seek the LORD'S help and not trust in the things we see that are strong from the flesh. Although an enemy may find a way to kill and destroy, God has the final say. He stretches out his hand and receives those who trust in Jesus, His Son, and he will cast the evil doer out into outer darkness and hell. The spirit is mightier thanthe flesh. God is Almighty, the spirit of the evil one will be cast in the lake of fire.
Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Zec 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
2 Cor 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2 Cor 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2 Cor 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Cor 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Psa 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Psa 18:3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
2 Tim 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2 Tim 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2 Tim 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
Let us stay in the spirit and let God fight our battles. One way is through praise and songs of faith. Keep your heart in tune with the LORD. Pray without ceasing, encourage yourself in his word and do his work in His Spirit. Jesus is our victory!
Our Defender
Isa 31:4 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.
The LORD will let us know when danger comes. He will roar as a lion, as a lion of Judah after his cubs when men come to do them harm. Assyria was coming, would God's people seek Him, or would they trust in the might of Egypt? Is the LORD our help or the world, which is mightier? If we put our trust in the LORD we shall not perish. The LORD is not afraid of evil men, he will come to rescue those who trust in him.
Isa 31:5 As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.
Three steps; the LORD, as a bird, perhaps an eagle in the air or an angel, the LORD will defend, he will deliver, and he will preserve. We know that calling on the name of God will bring angels to defend us. Next we need deliverance from sin by being in his Son Jesus, who will deliver us from the worlds power and the strongholds of satan as we submit all to him. As we trust in HIM and walk in His Spirit, we are preserved. Jesus our Savior will preserve us, sealing us with the Holy Spirit until this corruptible flesh becomes incorruptible.
Isa 31:6 Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.
Repent, turn to him again.
Isa 31:7 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.
Some things we must do. Cast off idolatry and sinful ways.
2 Cor 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2 Cor 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2 Tim 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Isa 31:8 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.
Isa 31:9 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.
If they or we trust in the LORD, putting away sin and idolatry, then the enemy must flee the power of God. He is as a fire burning off the chaff from the wheat. The fire of God protects Zion and the intense fire is in his holy temple. We, in Christ Jesus are his holy temples. Jerusalem is the city of God, God will protect Jeruslaem. " For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake."
The LORD defended Jerusalem as told in 2 Kings 19.
2 Ki 19:32 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.
2 Ki 19:33 By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD.
2 Ki 19:34 For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
2 Ki 19:35 And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
2 Ki 19:36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.
Isaiah 32
Isaiah 1 Table Of Contents
Eaglewings Ministries
Eaglewings Journal