Today let’s look at chapter 31. What Assyria was coming to attack and Israel was in a very tense situation, God calls Israel, Southern Judah, “obstinate children” (30:1) because the Israelites made plans that were not from God. They didn’t ask for God’s direction, but went “down to Egypt” (30:2) looking for “Pharaoh’s protection, to Egypt’s shade for refuge.” (30:2) However, the result was “shame and disgrace.” (30:5) It was “hardship and distress”. (30:6) It was accompanied by a lot of danger and risk. There was only one solution. That was to depend upon the Lord. “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” (30:15) Even so they didn’t want to have anything to do with it. In today’s passage the Lord is once again talking about how foolish Israel was for depending upon Israel.

I. Seek the Lord with all your heart (vs. 1-3)
First please look at verses 1 to 3.
Vs. 1-3
“Woe” is a word God uses when he prophesies disaster. This repeatedly appears many times in the book of Isaiah. It appeared in 29:2, 15 and 30:1 too. However, it is not just a prophecy of disaster. First of all it is a warning, and advice. God who does “not want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance, (II Peter 3:9) to be saved, has already prepared a way for salvation. Therefore, when there is a prophecy of disaster, we must not miss seeing that God always prepares a promise of God’s salvation.
God is lamenting because they “do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD.” (1) However, they sought help from Egypt. When Assyria attacked from the North, they sought an alliance with Egypt. They went “down to Egypt for help.” (1) They sought the military strength of Egypt. They tried to overcome their predicament by seeking the military strength of Egypt. They tried to depend on the strength that you can see with your eyes.
When we have some problem, we quickly seek strength that we can see with our eyes. We try to depend upon human strength that we can see, things like human ability, human skillfulness, people that we can depend upon, someone who is a specialist, an expert in the field, a person with qualifications, and famous people. That is our tendency. Judah was also the same and depended upon Egypt. They trusted “in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen.” (1) They trusted in their military strength. They thought they were safe if something happened. In the Bible Egypt is an expression of the world. Egypt symbolizes the world. Even though Israel had been set free from Egypt when Israel fell into a predicament they quickly returned to Egypt. In the same was there is the danger that Christians too when they are in a predicament, they will back slide into this world. We must not do that.
Please open you Bibles to Phil. 3:3.
Phil. 3:3
Here it tells us what Christians are like. Christians are people “who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh-. “ This time Israel depended on fleshly things. They trusted in horses, “in the multitude of their (Egypt’s) chariots and in the great strength of their (Egypt’s) horsemen.”(1) They trusted in human strength and military strength. It was the plans of man. Their eyes were on such things. However, Christians aren’t to depend upon such things. Christians must depend upon Jesus Christ. They “serve God by his Spirit”（Phil. 3:3）This is the way of believers.
Please open your Bibles to Proverbs 3:5. This is a famous Bible passage.
Proverbs 3:5
We must “trust in the LORD with all your heart.” (Prov. 3:5) We must not depend upon our “own understanding.” (Prov. 3:5) Israel depended on her “own understanding”. (Prov. 3:5) They thought if they made an alliance with Egypt, then they would be taken care of. However, that brought “shame and disgrace,” (30:5) “hardship and distress”, (30:6) and danger and risk. We must not depend upon our “own understanding.” (Prov. 3:5) We must “in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Prov. 3:6)
David who was well trained, didn’t depend on his war potential or his military strength, but rather depended upon the Lord. In Psalms 20:7 he sings, “Some trusts in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” David trusted “in the name of the LORD our God.” (Psalms 20:7) He trusted in the Lord with all his heart. As a result the Lord made his “paths straight.” (Prov. 3:5) He was able as Israel’s king to firmly build up the kingdom.
300 years after that in the age of Isaiah, Israel was not like this. They did “not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD.” (1) They put their eyes upon horses and chariots. They should have learned from David. They were in such a condition that they really should have looked “to the Holy one of Israel.” (1)
The age that we live in is such that the true value of our faith is determined. When there are hard times, where the person is looking, what is important for him can be seen. That means it can be said that the trials are a test of faith. If in times of trial, the person goes directly to God, then it can be said that person’s faith is genuine. However, in times of trial if that person doesn’t seek the Lord, but other things, then those are the things that he really believes in. When trials come by where a person is looking, and what he is depending on you can know what he really believes in. Therefore, God deliberately sent Assyria to them. It was to see where they would look and what they would depend upon. Trials are sent to test our faith. Trials are deliberately sent to make clear what we a really believing in, what we are depending on and where we are looking. When we are surrounded by Assyria is the time we need to “look to the Holy One of Israel” (1) and “seek help from the LORD.” (1)
Pleas look at verse 2.
Verse 2
The reason we need to “look to the Holy One of Israel” (1) and “seek help from the LORD” (1) is the Lord “is wise and…he does not take back his word.” (2) we humans can’t even predict are limited future, but the Lord is an eternal being, and is not constrained by time, foresees all things, and instantly, accurately, and precisely makes judgments. The Lord “is wise”. (2)
Also here it says, “He does not take back his word.” (2) What he says, he actually does. Therefore, it is strong. People’s words are not so. Even if they say something, they don’t put it into action. Even in the political world, no matter how much they say they are going to do in the manifest, they don’t put it into action. No matter how wonderful a policy they display, part way through they come to a deadlock. It’s because they have no power. Man’s words are irresponsible, and powerless. Egypt too was only a spoken promise, and in reality whenever it was even a little of a disadvantage to themselves, they completely changed their attitude. They take back their words and abandon them. However, the Lord is not like this. The Lord will definitely “not take back his word.” (2) What He says he will do, he definitely does. This is real strength. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active.” It will be 100% fulfilled. Therefore, there is no greater security and relief than to fix our eyes on the Lord who “is wise,” (2) listen to him, and depend upon him. There is no greater reliable security
Please look at I Cor. 1:18 to 25.
I Cor. 1:18-25
“The foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” (I Cor. 1:25) “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (I Cor. 1:18) There is nothing more certain that this. Depending on Egypt is foolish. That is because we have someone even greater than Egypt who is backing us up. Even if we are surrounded by enemies of the whole world, we have someone who is even stronger than that with us. Therefore, we must depend on Him.
Verse 3 is explaining this by comparison. “The Egyptians are men and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit.” This is something that everyone knows. However, through this comparison God wants us to realize that man is nothing more than flesh. Flesh will certainly rot and perish. However, the spirit is different. The spirit does not perish. God is spirit. Therefore God will not rot or perish. Also flesh changes. You thought someone could be depended upon, but all at once he says that he can’t. At times you are deceived. Someone you thought was your friend all at once abandons you. However, God is not like this. He never changes. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Heb. 13:8) Jesus Christ is the same forever. “If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” (II Tim. 2:23) Even “if we are faithless,” (II Tim. 2:23), Jesus Christ, God, “will remain faithful”. (II Tim. 2:23) He will always do what he promised. He is who we need to fear, not Assyria, not Egypt. Jesus said in Matt. 10:28. “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul, Rather be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” We must “not be afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul.” (Matt. 10:28) More than that we must fear “the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt. 10:28)
What do you fear? What is your Assyria? No matter how great a thing it is, you mustn’t fear it. And you mustn’t depend upon flesh like Egypt. “The Egyptians are men and not God.” (3) They are flesh, not spirit. What you must fear is God.
When Aram tried to capture　Elisha, the king “sent horses and chariots and a strong force” (II Kings 6:14) to Dorath where Elisha was and “surrounded the city”. (II Kings6:14) When Elisha’s servant saw that he became very fearful, but Elisha said to him, “Don’t be afraid…Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (II Kings 6:16) Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” (II Kings 6:17) Then the servant’s eyes were opened and he could see “the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (II Kings6:17) God was protecting them with the might of the heavenly host. The servant hadn’t seen that, but when his eyes were opened he could see it well.
Therefore, we must not fear. We shouldn’t look at the situations we are facing and fluctuate between hope and despair, or be fearful of each voice of news that we hear, but fear “the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt. 10:28) We must depend upon Him with all our heart.
II. The Lord who watches over Jerusalem (Vs. 4,5)
Next, please look at verses 4 and 5.
Verses 4, 5
The “lion” (4) or “great lion” (4) is Assyria. Therefore, “As a lion growls, a great lion over his prey-“(4) means when Assyria is heading toward Southern Judah to attack, the “shepherds” (4) are Egypt. Here Egypt is a similitude to shepherds. When a shepherd is taking care of his sheep and wild animals like a lion attacks, he shouts and drives them away. It is the same condition as when Assyria attacked Southern Judah. Then Judah’s shepherd, Egypt, tried to help by shouting and driving them away. However, the “lion” (4) or “great lion,” (4) Assyria, was “not frighten by their shouts or disturbed by their clamor-“(4)
However, the next it says, “so the LORD Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on it heights. Like birds hovering overhead, the LORD Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will ‘pass over’ it and will rescue it.” (4, 5) Even though Assyria attacked Mount Zion, Jerusalem, here “the LORD Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion.” (4)
It is said that the “lion” (4) or “great lion” (4) refers to Assyria. However, in the back God maneuvered Assyria. The Lord used Assyria as a tool to punish Judah. However, Assyria became proud and tried to destroy Judah. They didn’t understand what position they had been given and went above it and tried to completely destroy them. However, this was not God’s will. It must be remembered that the Lord was only using them to punish Judah. Even though the purpose was so that Judah would repent and return to the Lord, they strayed from the Lord’s will and they were as proud as if they were kings. Therefore, the Lord will judge Assyria, and will punish their great pride. That is written in verse 5.
“Like birds hovering overhead, the LORD Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will ‘pass over’ it and will rescue it.” (5)
When Assyria surrounded Jerusalem to destroy it, in the morning when they woke up and looked outside 185,000 Assyrian soldiers were lying dead. God answered the prayers of the Judah king at that time, Hezekiah, who had humbled himself and prayed. In the night the Lord’s angel went to the Assyrian army and in one night killed that many soldiers. Here it says, “Like birds hovering overhead, the LORD Almighty will shield Jerusalem.” (5) The Lord came “like birds hovering overhead” (5) and shielded Jerusalem.
Here it says, “He will ‘pass over’ it and will rescue it”. (5) The same words, “pass over” (5) are used in Exodus 12:13, 23, and 27. Exodus 12:13 says, “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.” Here it is written how Israel was protected from God’s judgment on Egypt. By slaughtering a lamb without any defects, and taking its blood and “put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses.” (Exodus 12:7) the Lord will see it and pass over their houses. By doing this God’s judgment didn’t come upon Israel. This is the Passover. Here the same word is used. This means Southern Judah who was making an alliance with Egypt remembered this event. It was an assurance that the Lord who “Like birds hovering overhead, the LORD Almighty” (5) shielded Jerusalem. He passed over it and rescued it then. Therefore, this time too, “Like birds hovering overhead, the LORD Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will ‘pass over’ it and will rescue it.” (5) Like this the Lord in 701 B.C. shielded it and delivered it from the hands of Assyria.
In reality, this is not only that the Lord in 701 B.C. shielded it and delivered it from the hands of Assyria. At the end of the world, the same thing will occur. At the end of the world the last war of mankind will occur. That is called the war of Armageddon. All the armies of the world will gather at the mountain of Megiddo, Har-Magedon and for battle with God. At that time “Like birds hovering overhead, the LORD Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will ‘pass over’ it and will rescue it.” (5) Christ will reappear, coming down from heaven and will reign in Jerusalem. He will slay His enemies with the sword of His mouth and destroy them. It will be exactly “Like birds hovering overhead, the LORD Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will ‘pass over’ it and will rescue it.” (5)
Also not only in 701 B.C. did the Lord like this “shield it and deliver it”(5) and also at the end of the world will the Lord come again and “shield it and deliver it”(5) from those that are enemies of the Lord, but in all ages this happens repeatedly over and over again. In every age “Like birds hovering overhead, the LORD Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will ‘pass over’ it and will rescue it.” (5)
For example in 1917 this actually occurred. In 1917 was in the middle of World War I. At the Jerusalem (Israel) was controlled by the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire was an Islamic country. Israel was part of it. At the time of World War I England was fighting with the Ottoman Empire. By England having victory over the Ottoman Empire England gained control of Israel. A that time the General