Isaiah 31 vs 1-9

Isaiah Chapter 31 Verses 1 – 3

·    There’s a contextual and historical element that is clear here that we’ve discussed many times in the past chapters. Judah was looking to their enemy for support (Assyria) and then to their southern neighbors (Egypt) but as Isaiah is pointing our here, they were not looking to God.

·    Think of it this way for just a moment. Who is able to do more? God or man? Who has more resources? Has more power? Who is stronger? Not even a comparison, right!? And so yes, Isaiah is writing this as a declaration of reality but being who he is and knowing what he knows, I wonder how frustrated he is thinking and watching his people choose so poorly!

·    It’s a good bit of information for us to remember as well. God is far more powerful than any human resources including persuasion, intellect or even material resources. And so as much and as hard as I plan, persuade, position and predict, I should pray! (Actually much more!)

·    Interesting here, Isaiah gives us reasons why Judah was trusting in chariots and horsemen… The chariots he tells us are many and the horsemen he tells us are very strong…, but the only reason he gives us for trusting God is that He is holy. I would go out on a limb and say that’s not a good enough reason for many Christians and for myself at times to choose/trust God.

·    The fact that God is Holy means that His purposes are higher, they are right, and He is the center of the subject, not me. So, whatever He does, He does it to bring about His will which is righteous, it is good, and it may or may not materially benefit me in the situation or moment. And is that enough for me? See the rub?

·    It wasn’t enough for Judah. They wanted it their way, right away but the only problem is they weren’t at Subway! Ha! And so, here’s the result of things when I don’t yield to the King above all other kings, one-word, differing degrees but sure as the day is long…, disaster.

Isaiah Chapter 31 Verses 4 – 5

·    These are natural things that we can observe to ponder the character and activities of God. Do you ever feel the sunshine on your face or the wind on your shoulders or watch the power of a forcefully flowing river or the way a steady and heavy snowfall changes the portrait of everything? There are countless things to stop and observe and view things, tangible things about God!

·    A young lion, afraid of nothing, never been defeated, king of the food chain, when he wins his prey, bring a legion of shepherds against him and he doesn’t look up from his meal. A swarm of birds resolute on attacking a threat, you better take cover! And Isaiah perhaps strengthening himself, recalls these examples both speaking to God’s protective hand over Zion. What is Zion? The faithful remnant…

·    No matter the outward circumstance or what is transpiring materially, physically, those that wait on the Lord WILL BE (promise of the Word of God) WILL BE renewed in strength, they will mount up on wings of eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not stumble or faint.

Isaiah Chapter 31 Verses 6 – 7

·    There’s an element of continuous action in this “return” and it’s the same with us. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:31, “I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.” What was Paul talking about? Obviously, he doesn’t physically, literally die every day?

·    This “return” in Isaiah also can be defined as “die to one thing to live to another.” I wish I could seal off the sin and the flesh and my fallen nature…, but I cannot. Paul says therefore in Romans 6:11, “Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” And so, there is this continuous work, daily work of seeking the Lord and turning from sin. Paul described it in alignment with Isiah saying that he “dies” daily…

·    Because that’s the struggle, that’s the battle, that’s this walk with the Lord because without being intent upon walking with Jesus, without even realizing it, I will be in (what Isaiah describes here as) deep revolt. That’s just the current of my heart, the pull and power of my fallen nature. Not just in what I do but in how I think, react, feel and even frame the world around me…

·    And…, there’s also an element of grace in this equation as well. For when we do sin, as Paul often found himself in the flesh (no doubt we see this in his writings which were so very truthful), he would then also, reactively, choose to die to that flesh through repentance and by the grace of God, stand constantly and affirmatively in the approval of Jesus.

·    Jesus said to His disciples in John 13:10, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean.” And Jesus said in John 15:3-4, “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”

·    But I sin, I fall short, I make mistakes, I walk in the flesh at times, surely, I am not a good man, worthy of being accepted or used by Jesus?! And yet, Jesus invites me, no…, more than that, He commands me to abide in Him! How? Paul figured it out, Isaiah calls Judah out on it…, return…, again and again and again and again. And when the condemnation of the flesh, the world and the enemy come knocking, Paul says defeat all of that with grace through reckoning myself dead to sin.

·    What’s that look like? Here’s the mindset…, yes, I did that, thought that, said that, but all the way down, that’s not who I want to be, not who I am becoming and therefore not who I am! BUT, you can’t make that affirmative statement without being willing to do verse 7… This is the washing of the feet, or part of it, that Jesus was talking about…

·    I need to throw away, the word means reject, despise, refuse, turn away from whatever it is that is bringing condemnation into my life. Whatever it is that is offensive to the Holy Spirit, and that begins with me no longer blaming others for my own frustrations and sin. See that in the end of the verse? Resolve to do this, then you are returning…, and a returning person can make affirming weaponry against the enemy as Paul instructed (reckon yourself dead to sin).

·    Now, just one more inside-baseball type truth on this matter. Back in John 13:10, Jesus’ statement, the word “his” in your Bible is in italics because it’s been added for context. Excuse that word for a moment that’s not there in the original text to reveal a challenging truth. “Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash feet, but is completely clean…” A critical, must-have, must be there, element of one who walks with the Lord, abides in Jesus, lives a life returning, dying daily unto Him, bears much fruit and throws away that which condemns them all the way in their person of persons, their spirit…, actively and consistently washes the feet of others…

Isaiah Chapter 31 Verses 8 – 9

·    There is such a strong revelation here for Judah. Simply turn from your refusal of God and God will win all of your battles for you…. And God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Those that want to embrace loss and continue in the pattern of defeat that manifests in anger, frustration, dissatisfaction, negativity and condemnation of spirit, keep refusing the leadership and Lordship of the Holy Spirit… But know this, all of your enemies will fall at the hands of God if you’d simply humble yourself and return to Him.

·    Check out this Psalm for those who would as Paul was willing to do, die daily, over and over again to self and the works of the flesh and reckon themselves alive (identify with) unto Christ!

·    Psalm 91:1-16. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely, He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right and; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.”