Isaiah Chapter 31

Last Sabbath during the lunch hour, some of the Zamarians (members of the Ukulele fellowship) had an impromptu singalong and this sister chose the song inspired from Psalm 121. It was in Chinese:

我 要 向 山 举 目 ； 我 的 帮 助 从 何 而 来 ？

² 我 的 帮 助 从 造 天 地 的 耶 和 华 而 来 。

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

Even though the people of Judah ought to know this Psalm, when faced with impending danger, they were thinking of seeking the help of man and not of God.

Prophet Isaiah warns them in verses 1-2 of chapter 31:

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
And rely on horses,
Who trust in chariots because they are many,
And in horsemen because they are very strong,
But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel,
Nor seek the Lord!

The 10 tribes of Israel had already been taken captive by the mighty Assyrian king and now, Judah was threatened to be their next target.

Faced with the fearsome army, the counsellors of king Hezekiah advised him to set up an alliance with Egypt so that together, they would look more formidable to the Assyrians. But Isaiah warned Hezekiah not to go to Egypt for help but to wholly trust in God.

Back in Moses’ time, God already gave the Israelites this warning:

¹⁶ But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’
~ Deut 17:16 ~

But the king and the people seemed to have forgotten this.

Now what Hezekiah did by seeking advise from so called experts and getting advice that did not come from God is an example for us today.

In the Western society, many problems are now taken to so called counsellors in the world who operate and dish out advices – many, if we are not careful, goes against the teachings of the Bible.

And such practices are also creeping into Singapore.

For a Christian, what do we do?

There is no help or protection to be found in Egypt. Instead, our first thought should always be that of God. He alone is our refuge, an ever present help in our time of need.

Looking elsewhere would only bring harm upon ourselves.

Don’t. Look. At. Egypt!

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