Isaiah 31 - Bible Study in 5 Minutes

Isaiah 31 Short Summary:

Isaiah 31 is a short chapter that continues the theme of chapter 30. The men of Judah were looking to Egypt for a military alliance to protect them from the Assyrians, but God warned them it was a futile pursuit. The people of Judah needed to return their trust to the Holy One of Israel, the lion of Judah, who was their only hope of protection.

Isaiah 31 Bible Study

TIMELINE:

• The prophetic ministry of Isaiah spanned the reigns of King Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.

• The prophecy in Isaiah 31 must have been spoken before 701 BC, because that was the year God saved Jerusalem from an Assyrian siege.

KEY CHARACTERS:

• Isaiah – The son of Amoz (1:1). God commissioned Isaiah as His prophet to Judah.

• The Citizens of Judah – They hated hearing God’s instruction. They were sick of hearing Isaiah preaching about the Holy One of Israel (30:11).

DEFINITIONS:

• Zion (31:4) - Zion refers to the hill/mountain where David’s palace was built in Jerusalem. This area was on the southeast side of the city. Zion is sometimes used to refer to the city of Jerusalem as a whole.

OUTLINE:

• EGYPT WILL OFFER NO HELP (31:1-3):

  • Isaiah repeated his admonition to the people of Judah that a military alliance with Egypt would not save them from the upcoming Assyrian assault.

  • Adding horses and chariots to their military arsenal was vain when they refused to look towards the Holy One of Israel for aid.

  • God intended to bring a partial judgement on Judah, and no horse or Pharaoh would prevent Him from punishing Judah’s wicked.

  • Isaiah wrote, “The Egyptians are man, and not God, and their horses are flesh, and not spirit” (31:13).

• THE LION OF JUDAH (31:4-6):

  • God once again reminded the people of Judah they didn’t need foreign help.

  • God was prepared to come down like a lion to guard Jerusalem.

  • If God guarded the city, the Assyrians would be no threat, just like a shepherd was no threat to a lion in its prime (31:4).

  • Like a flock of hovering birds, God watched the city.

  • Isaiah pleaded with the people to turn to the God they had revolted against.

• JERUSALEM’S SALVATION WITH A SPIRITUAL SWORD (31:7-9):

  • Though His people had revolted, God promised to spare the city of Jerusalem.

  • It wouldn’t be saved by human military might or strategy, but by a supernatural sword (31:8).

  • This prophecy was fulfilled when an angel saved Jerusalem by wiping out the Assyrian army in 2 Kings 19:35 and Isaiah 37:36.

APPLICATION:

• God wanted Judah to be patient and wait for His deliverance.

• Sometimes God will ask us to be patient and wait for Him to help us.

• Patience can be a test of faith.

• Sometimes our faith is tested when turmoil strikes our lives and unnerving things are happening in quick succession.

• Sometimes our faith is tested in the stillness of another ordinary day when we’ve been waiting for God to help us but haven’t perceived any sense of His guidance.

• Being able to wait on God in faith is just as important as being able to act with God in faith.