Isaías 31

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

2 Mas él también es sabio, y traerá el mal, y no retirará sus palabras. Levantaráse pues contra la casa de los malignos, y contra el auxilio de los obradores de iniquidad.

3 Y los Egipcios hombres son, y no Dios; y sus caballos carne, y no espíritu: de manera que en extendiendo Jehová su mano, caerá el ayudador, y caerá el ayudado, y todos ellos desfallecerán á una.

4 Porque Jehová me dijo á mí de esta manera: Como el león y el cachorro del león brama sobre su presa, y si se llega contra él cuadrilla de pastores, no temerá por sus voces, ni se acobardará por el tropel de ellos: así Jehová de los ejércitos descenderá á pelear por el monte de Sión, y por su collado.

5 Como las aves que vuelan, así amparará Jehová de los ejércitos á Jerusalem, amparando, librando, pasando, y salvando.

6 Convertíos á aquel contra quien los hijos de Israel profundamente se rebelaron.

7 Porque en aquel día arrojará el hombre sus ídolos de plata, y sus ídolos de oro, que para vosotros han hecho vuestras manos pecadoras.

8 Entonces caerá el Assur por cuhillo, no de varón; y consumirálo espada, no de hombre; y huirá de la presencia de la espada, y sus mancebos serán tributarios.

9 Y de miedo pasará su fortaleza y sus príncipes tendrán pavor de la bandera, dice Jehová, cuyo fuego está en Sión, y su horno en Jerusalem.

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.