Isaías 31

1 ¡Ay de los que descienden a Egipto por ayuda; y confían en caballos; y en carros ponen su esperanza, porque son muchos; y en caballeros, porque son valientes; y no miraron al Santo de Israel, ni buscaron al SEÑOR!

2 Mas él también es sabio, para guiar el mal, ni hará mentirosas sus palabras. Se levantará, pues, contra la casa de los malignos, y contra el auxilio de los obradores de iniquidad.

3 Y el egipcio hombre es, no Dios; y sus caballos carne, y no espíritu, de manera que al extender el SEÑOR su mano, caerá el ayudador, y caerá el ayudado, y todos ellos desfallecerán a una.

4 Porque el SEÑOR me dijo a mí de esta manera: Como el león, y el cachorro del león, brama sobre su presa, contra el cual, si se llega cuadrilla de pastores, no temerá por sus voces, ni se acobardará por el tropel de ellos; así el SEÑOR de los ejércitos descenderá a pelear por el Monte de Sion, y por su collado.

5 Como las aves que vuelan, así amparará el SEÑOR de los ejércitos a Jerusalén, amparando, librando, pasando, y salvando.

6 Convertíos a aquel contra quien os habéis profundamente rebelado, oh hijos de Israel.

7 Porque en aquel día arrojará el hombre los ídolos de su plata, y los ídolos de su oro, que os hicieron vuestras manos pecadoras.

8 Entonces caerá el Assur por espada no de varón; y cuchillo, no de hombre lo consumirá; y huirá de la presencia de la espada, y sus jóvenes desmayarán.

9 Y de miedo se pasará a su fortaleza; y sus príncipes tendrán pavor de la bandera, dice el SEÑOR, al cual hay fuego en Sion, y al cual hay 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.