Isaiah 31 “The folly of Not Trusting God”

“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord.” (v.1)

The first three verses of chapter 31 deal with the folly of Judah for not trusting in God. They represent a description of all the places they turned to for deliverance. And by leaving God out of the picture, they would suffer the same fate as those whom they turned to.

The heart of the matter here is that we usually seek our own way. We work out of our own (limited) strength. We try everything we can think of first. We rely on our own insight. We’ll do anything and everything except what is needful…admitting that we are weak, limited, totally dependent upon someone outside of ourselves, the LORD. He is the ONLY source of strength that can meet our needs, and the One whom we should turn to first.

Therefore, learn from the folly of Judah and seek the LORD for your deliverance. Trust in Him and turn your burdens over to the One who never slumbers nor sleeps. May you always look up first before you start looking around for help.

The Truth: “My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:2)

Isaiah 30 “The Key to Strength”

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”(v.15)

Clearly God is calling us to trust Him, to be still, quiet, and rest in Him. Nevertheless, man always charges ahead on his own, moving forward in his own efforts, even to the point of relying on others before seeking God. Isaiah warned against such actions; “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord” (Isaiah 31:1).

God promises to give us His strength (Isaiah 58:11), to help us and uphold us with His righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10). He is mighty to save (Isaiah 63:1), and will be our strength every morning (Isaiah 33:2). So much frustration, along with "could of's or should of's can be avoided if we would but rest in Him and His Word. Just remaining still for a time seeking to hear conformation on a decision within our hearts, instead of moving ahead in our own strength. This would truly strengthen our resolve through trusting in His guidance and lead to greater peace in our lives.  

The Truth: “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. "Be silent before me, you islands! Let the nations renew their strength! Let them come forward and speak; let us meet together at the place of judgment.”  (Isaiah 40:28-41:1)

Isaiah 29 “Woe To Jerusalem (Ariel)”

“Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! Add year to year; let feasts come around. Yet I will distress Ariel; there shall be heaviness and sorrow, and it shall be to Me as Ariel.” (vv.1-2)

Ariel, which means “Lion of God,” is another name for Jerusalem. It can also mean, “God’s altar hearth,” suggesting the place where a burnt offering was consumed by fire. The woe foretold here in chapter 29 by Isaiah the prophet warns that Jerusalem, the City of David, was going to be besieged by a foreign nation. It would be the place where God would consume them by fire, where His people would be disciplined for their continued sin.

At the time Isaiah wrote this, the Jew’s faith had deteriorated to a level of almost purely ritualistic. God was saying, year after year, you bring all these sacrifices, but you lack of true repentance. You go through the rituals but you do not seek Me. You sing your songs to Me, but your hearts are far from Me. And to make matters worse, they thought God did not know their hearts, nor see their thoughts (vv.14-16).

Many people today are the same way. They play church, they are there, they smile, they say and do all the right things, but their heart is far from Gods. Scripture tells us that, "God does not see as man sees, He looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). That means He knows us inwardly, our very thoughts. Nothing is hidden from Him (Luke 8:17). Better to come clean and repent, than to think God does not see and will not punish.

The Truth: “For the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child” (Hebrews 12:6).

Isaiah 28 “The Crown of Pride”

“Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one, like a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, like a flood of mighty waters overflowing, who will bring them down to the earth with His hand. The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, will be trampled underfoot, And the glorious beauty is a fading flower.” (vv.1-4)

The crown of pride mentioned here in our text is a Hebrew expression denoting a proud or haughty crown. Some believe the prophet mentions this crown of flowers (which use to be worn by the drunkards in their parties), to convey a strong idea of the universal depravity and folly of the nation.

Ancient Samaria was truly one of great beauty. But, having many excellent vineyards within its borders, the people were prone to drinking, and were frequently guilty of over indulging (drunkenness), specifically the leadership; leaders, priests, and prophets (vv.7-8). With the imminent invasion by Assyria pending and Isaiah’s warning clearly delivered, God’s people should have been praying, not partying. They should have been listening to the words of His prophet, instead of the impaired judgment of their leaders.

Today, when it comes to clear, and unimpaired thinking, this country is truly way off base. Redefining terms, blurring lines, creating loopholes, declaring evil to be good and good to be evil. The “Crown” has become the end that justifies all means of getting it. So sad, and yet scriptural, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:12-13).

What love grew cold? The love for God and His Word. And just as this was the downfall of Ephraim, so it will be with any nation that turns its back on God. But, he who perseveres to the end, will be saved.

The Truth: “For as it was in the days of Noah so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” (Luke 17:26-30)

Isaiah 27 “The Restoration of Israel”

“Those who come He shall cause to take root in Jacob; Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.” (v.6)

The prophet Isaiah was describing what Israel will be like in the last days, at the second return of the Messiah. Today, we have seen the Lord put a desire into the hearts of Jews around the world to return to the Promised Land. Even though the land of Israel was completely run down, Jews returned, wanting to buy back the land. These new owners planted trees by the millions, drained the swamps, totally reclaiming the land. And now Israel, as this verse declared, is the second largest exporter of fruits in the world and the third largest exporter of flowers.

This promise of physical blossoming and budding has a spiritual meaning as well. Someday soon, this restored Israel will suddenly see that the Messiah has returned for a second time to rule and reign from the Mount of Olives. And He will fill the earth with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, righteousness, and peace. The millennial reign of the Messiah will be a time of God’s goodness filling the whole earth.

 The Truth: “In that day the Branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious; and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing for those of Israel who have escaped.” (Isaiah 4:2)

Isaiah 26 “Perfect Peace”

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.” (v.3)

Back in Isaiah 9, we saw the first mention on the subject of peace, “For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this” (vv.6-7). Note that peace and a Person are integrally linked. You can’t have the first without the second.

Our text, is an often quoted verse. Simply put, if we have a steadfast mind and trust in God, He will keep us in perfect peace. Furthermore, in one of the clearest statements in Isaiah, God establishes peace: “Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us” (v.12). Real peace, perfect peace, has no other source. God establishes it on our behalf. Praise the LORD!

The Truth: “For to us a child is born…. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor… Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end." (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Isaiah 25 “Praise to God”

“O LORD, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.” (v.1)

Isaiah 24 and Isaiah 25 form a contrasting pair of chapters. Isaiah 24 is about destruction, as the earth will be ruined and devastated by the Great Tribulation. After the church is taken up (raptured), God’s wrath will come down and for seven years, and this world will experience His judgment for rejecting His Son. But not all will be destroyed, as there will be a remnant of believers that survive.

Isaiah 25 on the other hand is about re-creation. The heaviness, darkness, and destruction of the Tribulation will be swallowed up by the joy of the LORD (vv.8-12). And despite the devastation and judgment, Isaiah recognized that God would deliver a remnant and be utterly faithful to His promises (Isaiah 25:1, 9). The prophet also records the triumphant song of praise which will break forth from the many glad spirits, when the hope of the Church will be realized, and her long patience rewarded: “It shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God: we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation” (v.9)

Therefore, keep your eyes on the things that matter and your minds on the things above, for His return is coming. Then all will be made new and we will rule and reign with Him in righteousness from Mt.Zion.  "Praise to the LORD."

The Truth:  “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” (2 Peter 3:10)

Isaiah 24 “Impending Judgment on the Earth”

“Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty and makes it waste, distorts its surface and scatters abroad its inhabitants” (v.1).

After reading this chapter most people might be quick to ask, “What caused God to get so mad?” Why is He doing this?” Well, actually, this destruction is self induced. It is a result of man’s depravity. “The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed God’s laws, violated His statutes and broken the everlasting covenant” (Is 27:5). “Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt…” (Isaiah 27:6).

However, good news is found in verse 23, “For the LORD Almighty will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before its elders gloriously.” Meaning once again a faithful remnant will emerge. Then He will rule and reign over all the earth from Mt. Zion in Jerusalem.

The Truth: “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:22-24)