Isaías 31

1 ¡Ay de los que descienden a Egipto por ayuda! En los caballos buscan apoyo, y confían en los carros porque son muchos, y en los jinetes porque son muy fuertes, pero no miran al Santo de Israel, ni buscan al SEÑOR.

2 Pero El también es sabio y traerá el mal, y no se retractará de sus palabras; sino que se levantará contra la casa de los malhechores y contra la ayuda de los que obran iniquidad.

3 Pues los egipcios son hombres, y no Dios, y sus caballos son carne, y no espíritu; el SEÑOR, pues, extenderá su mano, y el que ayuda tropezará, y el que recibe ayuda caerá; todos ellos a una perecerán.

4 Porque así me dice el SEÑOR: Tal como gruñe el león o el leoncillo sobre su presa, contra el que se reúne una multitud de pastores, y no se atemoriza de sus voces ni se acobarda por su multitud, así descenderá el SEÑOR de los ejércitos para combatir sobre el monte Sion y sobre su collado.

5 Como aves que vuelan, así protegerá el SEÑOR de los ejércitos a Jerusalén; la protegerá y la librará, la perdonará y la rescatará.

6 Volved a aquel de quien tan profundamente os habéis apartado, oh hijos de Israel.

7 Porque en aquel día cada uno repudiará sus ídolos de plata y sus ídolos de oro, que os han hecho vuestras manos pecadoras.

8 El asirio caerá por espada no de hombre, y la espada no humana lo devorará; no escapará de la espada, y sus jóvenes serán sometidos a trabajos forzados.

9 Su fortaleza a causa del terror pasará, y sus príncipes se espantarán ante el estandarte declara el SEÑOR, que tiene su fuego en Sion y su horno en Jerusalén.

Isaías 31 Commentary

Chapter 31

The sin and folly of seeking help from Egypt. (1-5) God's care for Jerusalem. (6-9)

Verses 1-5 God will oppose the help sought from workers of iniquity. Sinners may be convicted of folly by plain and self-evident truths, which they cannot deny, but will not believe. There is no escaping the judgments of God; and evil pursues sinners. The Lord of hosts will come down to fight for Mount Zion. The Lion of the tribe of Judah will appear for the defence of his church. And as birds hovering over their young ones to protect them, with such compassion and affection will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem. He will so defend it, as to secure its safety.

Verses 6-9 They have been backsliding children, yet children; let them return, and their backslidings shall be healed, though they have sunk deep into misery, and cannot easily recover. Many make an idol of their silver and gold, and by the love of that are drawn from God; but those who turn to God, will be ready to part with it. Then, when they have cast away their idols, shall the Assyrian fall by the sword of an angel, who strikes more strongly than a mighty man, yet more secretly than a mean man. God can make the stoutest heart to tremble. But if we keep up the fire of holy love and devotion in our hearts and houses, we may depend upon God to protect us and them.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 31

This chapter denounces woe to those that trusted in the Egyptians; assures the Jews of God's care and protection of them; calls them to repentance, and foretells the destruction of the Assyrian army. The sin of those that trusted in Egypt, with the reasons of their trust, and not looking to the Lord, and seeking him, is declared in Isa 31:1 and their folly exposed in so doing; since the Lord is wise, powerful, and unchangeable, and the Egyptians frail and weak; so that the helper and the helped must fall before him, Isa 31:2,3 whereas protection might be expected from the Lord, as is promised, whose power is like that of the lion, and whose tender care is like that of birds to defend their young, Isa 31:4,5 wherefore the Jews are called upon to return to the Lord by repentance, from whom they had revolted; which would be shown by their detestation of idolatry, the sin they had been guilty of, Isa 31:6,7 and the chapter is closed with a prophecy of the ruin of the Assyrian army, and the flight of their king, Isa 31:8,9.