The Foolishness of Trusting Egypt's Army
Study note
Judah's leaders were impressed by Egypt's large army, with its many horses and chariots. But Isaiah reminds them that God is also wise and powerful. The Egyptians are only human beings, not God. Their horses are just animals, not divine. When God acts, both the helper (Egypt) and the one being helped (Judah) will fall together.
1 How awful for those who run to Egypt looking for help! They trust in horses, chariots, and powerful riders. But they won't look to the Holy One of Israel. They don't even bother asking the Lord for anything. 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!
2 But here is the thing — God is wise too! He knows how to bring disaster, and he does not go back on what he says. He will take action against the house of evildoers and against everyone who helps them. 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.
3 The Egyptians are just people, not God. Their horses are flesh and bone, not spirit. When the Lord stretches out his hand, the helper will trip and the one being helped will fall. They will all go down together. 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.
God Will Protect Jerusalem
Study note
God uses two powerful images to describe how he will defend Jerusalem. First, he is like a lion that will not be scared away from its prey by a crowd of shepherds. Second, he is like mother birds hovering over their nest to protect their young. The word 'passing over' echoes the Passover, when God protected Israel in Egypt.
4 Here is what the Lord told me: 'Picture a lion or a young lion growling over something it caught. Even when a whole crowd of shepherds is called out against it, it is not scared. Their yelling does not bother it at all. That is how the Lord who rules over all will come down to fight for Mount Zion and its hill.' 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.
5 Like birds hovering protectively overhead, the Lord who rules over all will shield Jerusalem. He will protect it and rescue it. He will pass over it and save it. As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.
Turn Back to God and Reject Idols
Study note
Isaiah calls the people to turn back to the God they have so deeply rebelled against. When they do, they will throw away their idols of silver and gold. The Assyrians will be defeated, not by human swords, but by God's supernatural power. Their young soldiers will be put to forced labor, and their leaders will flee in terror.
6 Come back to the God you have so deeply rebelled against, people of Israel. Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.
7 When that day comes, every one of you will throw away your silver and gold idols. Your sinful hands made those idols. 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.
8 The Assyrians will fall, but not by any human sword. A sword will wipe them out, but not one held by human hands. They will run from that sword, and their young men will be put to forced labor. 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.
9 Their fortress will fall out of sheer terror. Their leaders will panic at the sight of the battle flag. The Lord says this. His fire burns in Zion. His furnace blazes in Jerusalem. 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.