Isaiah 31
Pastor Tim Brown, Calvary Chapel Fremont, Wednesday February 25, 2009
ISAIAH 31
1 Here’s the problem: Judah is in a day of trouble (advancing threat of Assyrian Empire) and in a day of trouble you look for someone/thing that can be a strength to you. When you need money you look for someone who has money/love/counsel. But in looking for protection against the enemy, Judah allowed her fear to drive the agenda. Judah needed protection and they thought that their security would be found in horses/chariots/horsemen. A country w/ infantry would be impressed w/ a country w/ chariots/trained cavalry.
“We need to be stronger than our enemy. We need more firepower. They have what we don’t have. Let’s get them on our side. We need them standing with us.”
In allowing fear to drive the agenda Judah compounded the original problem by leaning on their own understanding/not trusting in the word of God/turning to Egypt. I counseled trust in God alone.
Problem #1: Assyrian Empire is breathing down their neck
Problem #2: They panic and don’t trust God
It’s easy to understand Judah’s thinking/panic – just put yourself in their shoes. Imagine a nuclear China/Russia/Iran/Cuba – all pointing their long range rockets at America. Not only this, but they have already launched nuclear attacks against Germany/France/ England w/devastating results. Then Billy Graham stands and prophesies to the American gov’t and people to do nothing – God will defend us. Don’t deploy troops, don’t retaliate w/ our nuclear arsenal – let God do what God will do. What would happen?
Like Judah, fear, not faith, would guide our actions. The hard facts of the real world and not the mutterings of a prophet would lead us. It really is easy to understand Judah’s groping for solutions in seeking an alliance w/ Egypt.
When you are impressed w/ what someone has it is easy to covet what they have. “I know what makes them so powerful – and if it works for them it ought to work for me.” So goes our reasoning.
This happens all the time in the ministry. MY CHURCH WILL GROW IF…
This happens in life. I WILL BE MORE HAPPY IF… cosmetic surgery/divorce…
When man’s solutions become the measure, the Word of God is forgotten or it is adjusted to say what man says - reason reigns and revelation retreats.
The essence of the problem isn’t going down to Egypt, but departing from the Word of God. Judah was leaning on their own understanding instead of listening to God’s Word. When you are leaning on your own understanding - not learning God’s Word. Woe to those who go down v go up. When fear drives you, you’re going down
This wasn’t condemned as sin because the Egyptians were fickle and would change their minds or because they were insufficient against the Assyrians or because they might turn and become Judah’s enemy. No – God had ordained Assyria to come against Judah and humble her so that she might cry to God.
Is. 10:5-7. Note: sent against a godless nation. God wanted Judah to be a nation full of God. Judah was trying to escape the discipline of God. God wants you to be full of God - E3:19. What God is doing is to bring you to this place of being filled w/ His love. Like Judah, we often seek to escape the dealing of God. But human scheming is powerless against the purposes of God.
God sent Assyria to discipline Judah, but their intent was to destroy Judah only saw the hand of Assyria and not the hand of God. Apply to Satan - Job/Peter/you – 1P5:8
2-3 He is wise – not angry/vengeful. God’s opposition to the Egyptian alliance is motivated by His desire that His people not rely on the flesh. If He allowed this to go forward uncontested, it would be more difficult next time for the people to heed and obey. God doesn’t want His people becoming comfortable in Egypt. God doesn’t want you to think that a life lived apart from His counsel is a life that will prosper. When Moses came to Egypt, Israel was slow to respond to his message of deliverance – it took a lot to convince them. A life lived in Egypt, a life lived leaning on your own understanding is a life not learning the heart of God and growing dull to the voice of God.
In His wisdom He decrees disaster – best medicine. It is not Egypt or Assyria that is afflicting them, but God. If you are being blocked from reaching a goal, stop – could this be the Lord? Not getting paid @ Christian Chapel
4 As a lion is not frightened off by shepherds, so the Lord is not run off by Assyria. The Lord is not frightened by the things that frighten you – financial/relational/emotional/vocational/health… Psalms 93:3-4
5 The angel of the Lord and the 185,000 – not planes now.
6-9 Indication of return – idols = spiritual crutches – thrown away drugs/money/pleasure/recognition. Why are all these things thrown away? Because now they are living by faith and not in fear. They are filled w/ God. They are in the place God would have them to be.
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ISAIAH 31
1 Here’s the problem: Judah is in a day of trouble (advancing threat of Assyrian Empire) and in a day of trouble you look for someone/thing that can be a strength to you. When you need money you look for someone who has money/love/counsel. But in looking for protection against the enemy, Judah allowed her fear to drive the agenda. Judah needed protection and they thought that their security would be found in horses/chariots/horsemen. A country w/ infantry would be impressed w/ a country w/ chariots/trained cavalry.
“We need to be stronger than our enemy. We need more firepower. They have what we don’t have. Let’s get them on our side. We need them standing with us.”
In allowing fear to drive the agenda Judah compounded the original problem by leaning on their own understanding/not trusting in the word of God/turning to Egypt. I counseled trust in God alone.
Problem #1: Assyrian Empire is breathing down their neck
Problem #2: They panic and don’t trust God
It’s easy to understand Judah’s thinking/panic – just put yourself in their shoes. Imagine a nuclear China/Russia/Iran/Cuba – all pointing their long range rockets at America. Not only this, but they have already launched nuclear attacks against Germany/France/ England w/devastating results. Then Billy Graham stands and prophesies to the American gov’t and people to do nothing – God will defend us. Don’t deploy troops, don’t retaliate w/ our nuclear arsenal – let God do what God will do. What would happen?
Like Judah, fear, not faith, would guide our actions. The hard facts of the real world and not the mutterings of a prophet would lead us. It really is easy to understand Judah’s groping for solutions in seeking an alliance w/ Egypt.
When you are impressed w/ what someone has it is easy to covet what they have. “I know what makes them so powerful – and if it works for them it ought to work for me.” So goes our reasoning.
This happens all the time in the ministry. MY CHURCH WILL GROW IF…
This happens in life. I WILL BE MORE HAPPY IF… cosmetic surgery/divorce…
When man’s solutions become the measure, the Word of God is forgotten or it is adjusted to say what man says - reason reigns and revelation retreats.
The essence of the problem isn’t going down to Egypt, but departing from the Word of God. Judah was leaning on their own understanding instead of listening to God’s Word. When you are leaning on your own understanding - not learning God’s Word. Woe to those who go down v go up. When fear drives you, you’re going down
This wasn’t condemned as sin because the Egyptians were fickle and would change their minds or because they were insufficient against the Assyrians or because they might turn and become Judah’s enemy. No – God had ordained Assyria to come against Judah and humble her so that she might cry to God.
Is. 10:5-7. Note: sent against a godless nation. God wanted Judah to be a nation full of God. Judah was trying to escape the discipline of God. God wants you to be full of God - E3:19. What God is doing is to bring you to this place of being filled w/ His love. Like Judah, we often seek to escape the dealing of God. But human scheming is powerless against the purposes of God.
God sent Assyria to discipline Judah, but their intent was to destroy Judah only saw the hand of Assyria and not the hand of God. Apply to Satan - Job/Peter/you – 1P5:8
2-3 He is wise – not angry/vengeful. God’s opposition to the Egyptian alliance is motivated by His desire that His people not rely on the flesh. If He allowed this to go forward uncontested, it would be more difficult next time for the people to heed and obey. God doesn’t want His people becoming comfortable in Egypt. God doesn’t want you to think that a life lived apart from His counsel is a life that will prosper. When Moses came to Egypt, Israel was slow to respond to his message of deliverance – it took a lot to convince them. A life lived in Egypt, a life lived leaning on your own understanding is a life not learning the heart of God and growing dull to the voice of God.
In His wisdom He decrees disaster – best medicine. It is not Egypt or Assyria that is afflicting them, but God. If you are being blocked from reaching a goal, stop – could this be the Lord? Not getting paid @ Christian Chapel
4 As a lion is not frightened off by shepherds, so the Lord is not run off by Assyria. The Lord is not frightened by the things that frighten you – financial/relational/emotional/vocational/health… Psalms 93:3-4
5 The angel of the Lord and the 185,000 – not planes now.
6-9 Indication of return – idols = spiritual crutches – thrown away drugs/money/pleasure/recognition. Why are all these things thrown away? Because now they are living by faith and not in fear. They are filled w/ God. They are in the place God would have them to be.
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