Isaiah 31-32

In this portion, continues rebuke South for trusting in Egypt to help against Assyrians instead of Lord.  Last week read Isa 30:1-3 With that as background…

31:3  Dt 17:16  not return Egypt (represents world system) for protection. It used to enslave and control you.  May have wonderful horses, but can’t trust them.  Now that in trouble, exactly what doing.  God may be good for personal struggles, but this was a national struggle.  Lord telling them, He is also strength of the nation.  Warning about when people will trust military rather than Him.  Humanism always says, turn to man not God, defeat your enemies with horses rather than the Spirit.  God warning us that Egypt guaranteed to fail along w/ all those who trust the world system.  Partnering up with ungodly a terrible idea.    

31:7     This ultimately fulfilled in Millennium when whole world learns God alone is our protection.  When God delivered from Assyria it caused them draw close, but only for one generation.  In archaeological digs around time captivity (100 yrs from this writing), in unearthed burned out homes; thousands of idols.  Idols of Egypt.  Idols that hadn’t helped, idols that just stood there while their worshippers starved.  But, when people returned from Babylon 70 yrs later, never again looked to idols for help.  Yet, even right now as same countries coming against Israel, they looking to one nation to help…God, once again calling them to turn to Him. 

31:9     Stating that Assyrians not fall by sword of Egypt, but hand of God!  When surrounded Jerusalem, Sennacherib sent out ambassador to terrify city by mocking helplessness of God, 2 Kg 18:33-35.  Hezekiah ran to God (don’t know if anyone else did) and God ended siege overnight (Eze 22:30 was written during the next siege).  Assyria learned that mocking God is unwise as they fleeing back to Nineveh, where Sennacherib’s own sons killed him while worshipping his false god. 

Again, we have a dual fulfillment, because repeatedly in Isa, the Assyrian king is symbolic of antichrist and his army, which shall be destroyed to bring in Kingdom age. 

32:8     In this present age, deceivers do fairly well…business, politics, even religion.  We try to stop them with Better Business Bureau or fraud depts..  Who would’ve ever believed we would have identity theft insurance agency?  In kingdom age everything open and if anyone deceptive, immediately dealt w/ by righteous government.  Violence will not be allowed, deception, not allowed, lying, not allowed.  Oh, how my heart yearns within me (Job).

32:11   Self confidence and complacency are a bad thing.  Alliance w/ Egypt had given false security.  Even women getting caught up in this relaxed attitude of trusting Egypt.  Isa now talking to MOM!  “Wake Up!”  In just over a year, Assyria cut off family’s food.  But, even MOM wasn’t listening.  They too living in fantasy world and didn’t want hear Isa’s warnings.  We must know days living in.  Can’t bury heads, but need to hear  warnings of God for our nation.  And if government won’t hear, Mom at least needs to.  JC rebuked Pharisees Mt 16:3.

32:13   Things may look good now, but like a bend in the road, just out of sight…judgment. These relaxed prosperous people only concerned w/ the economy will be in despair.  And they will be in shock!  “How could this have happened?  We spent hours listening to the Egyptian talk show hosts, who convinced us that they knew how to protect us.”  And when they did listen to their spiritual mentors, they weren’t asking for Isaiah.  Isa 30:9-10.  Happy thoughts don’t protect happy homes! 

32:15   Shifts from Assyrian attack around 700 BC in which God supernaturally intervened to the subsequent Babylonian attack around 600 BC which utterly destroyed Jer.  But then Isa looks right past into Millennium, where according Ezek 37…bones.  Will be an outpouring = or > Pentecost, when everyone filled w/ Spirit.  Not only the people, but the land as well.  Deserts shall bloom. 

32:17   Today, Paul tells us Rm 12;18 If it is possible…But in Kingdom age righteousness  fill and the effect?  When our relationship w/ God is right, then our relationship w/ each other can be too.  When our relationship w/ God wrong?  Hard as try, we will wrong each other and be filled w/ unforgiveness.  In this age, we are commanded let the peace of God rule (Col 3:15).  We are commanded to fight for peace.  Eph 4:3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  It’s hard work to be at peace w/ others, but not when righteousness fills land. 

32:20   The “hail” will come 1^st.  God’s wrath is coming upon wicked world.  Assyrian army had to be destroyed before Judah was free.  Just as the antichrist has to be destroyed before peace will be attained.