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“May you and I look to the Lord for help instead of mere humans.” <>< Dona (09/28/20)
Please read Isaiah 31 through 33. If you don’t have a Bible handy just click here -> Biblegateway.com. The Biblegateway website should open for you to use. Type in the chapters you want to read and select the translation you want to read them from. Click search and the chapters should appear. Once you read the suggested chapters close the screen and you should return here.
Isaiah 31 Theme
Relying on Egypt.
Response
Oh! Wow! Lord, Judah looked to other nations for help instead of You (v. 1).
Something to think about
Judah should not have looked to mere human’s for military help. They had far less power than the Lord. God’s protection is always better than man’s (v. 2-3).
Something to experience
When we have problems, we need to seek help from the Lord first and follow His guidance (v. 2-3). Just as the Lord battled for Jerusalem, He will do the same for us (v. 4-5). We are being called to return to the Lord if we’ve strayed (v. 6-7).
Scriptures to hide in your heart
Isaiah 31:1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they don’t look to the Holy One of Israel, and they don’t seek the Lord!
Isaiah 31:2-3 2 Yet He also is wise, and will bring disaster, and will not call back His words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of those who work iniquity. 3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When He stretches out His hand, both he (an Egyptian) who helps shall stumble, and he (an Israelite) who is helped shall fall, and they all shall be consumed together.
Isaiah 31:4-5 4 For the Lord says to me, “As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, if a multitude of shepherds is called together against him, will not be dismayed at their voice, nor abase himself for their noise, so the Lord of Armies will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its heights. 5 As birds hovering, so the Lord of Armies will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver it. He will pass over and preserve it.”
Isaiah 31:6-7 6 Return to Him from whom you have deeply revolted, children of Israel. 7 For in that day everyone shall cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold—sin which your own hands have made for you.
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Isaiah 32 Theme
Righteous kingdom.
Response
Oh! Wow! Lord, You will reign in righteousness (v. 1).
Something to think about
In the future eyes will see, ears will listen, hearts will understand knowledge, and the tongue will speak plainly (v. 3-4). Only the noble will continue to stand (v. 8).
Something to experience
When we abandon God’s purpose for our life, we are turning our back on His help. When we trust God and His Spirit is among us, we can experience fruitfulness, justice, righteousness, peaceful habitation, safe dwellings and quiet places (v. 15-18). All are blessings from the Lord (v. 20).
Scriptures to hide in your heart
Isaiah 32:1 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in justice.
Isaiah 32:3-4 3 The eyes of those who see will not be dim, and the ears of those who hear will listen. 4 The heart of the rash will understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers will be ready to speak plainly.
Isaiah 32:8 But the noble devises noble things; and he will continue in noble things.
Isaiah 32:15-18 15 until the Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is considered a forest. 16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness; and righteousness will remain in the fruitful field. 17 The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. 18 My people will live in a peaceful habitation, in safe dwellings, and in quiet resting places, …
Isaiah 32:20 Blessed are you who sow beside all waters …
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Isaiah 33 Theme
Assyria’s behavior and the Lord’s response.
Response
Oh! Wow! Lord, You are our Strength and our Salvation (v. 2).
Something to think about
The trouble maker is Assyria (v. 1). The Jewish remnant sought the Lord to deliver them from their time of trouble (v. 2). The remnant exalted the Lord, recognized that He dwelt on high, and recognized He filled Zion (Jerusalem) with justice and righteousness (v. 5). The remnant believed there could be stability, salvation, wisdom and knowledge. And to fear the Lord was the key to this treasure (v. 6).
Something to experience
Just as the remnant in Jerusalem, we should walk righteously, speak blamelessly, reject unlawful gain, help those in danger, and keep our eyes from viewing evil (v. 15). For then we will dwell on high, find a place of refuge, and receive bread and water (v. 16). We will experience the presence of the Lord (v. 20-21). The Lord will be our Judge, our Lawgiver, our King and our Savior (v. 22).
Scriptures to hide in your heart
Isaiah 33:1 Woe to you (Assyria) who destroy, but you weren’t destroyed, and who betray, but nobody betrayed you! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed; and when you have finished betrayal, you will be betrayed.
Isaiah 33:2 O Lord, be gracious to us. We have waited for You. Be our strength every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.
Isaiah 33:5-6 5 The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high. He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. 6 There will be stability in your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the Lord is your treasure.
Isaiah 33:15-16 15 He (the one trusting in God) who walks righteously and speaks blamelessly, he who despises the gain of oppressions, who gestures with his hands, refusing to take a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from looking at evil – 16 he will dwell on high. His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks. His bread will be supplied. His waters will be sure.
Isaiah 33:20-21 20 Look at Zion, the city of our appointed festivals. Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a quiet habitation, a tent that won’t be removed. Its stakes will never be plucked up, nor will any of its cords be broken. 21 But there the Lord will be with us in majesty, a place of wide rivers and streams, in which no galley with oars will go, neither will any gallant ship pass by there.
Isaiah 33:22 For the Lord is our Judge. The Lord is our Lawgiver. The Lord is our King. He will save us.
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Prayer