1 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 do not look to the Holy One of Israel
or consult the LORD! – Do you really think that horses (even attached to chariots and driven by the best charioteers) are greater than God?
2 And yet he is wise and brings disaster;
he does not call back his words,
but will arise against the house of the evildoers
and against the helpers of those who work iniquity. – You cannot outsmart God! He will win! And remember this He hates evildoers, and to side with evil puts you in His vision!
3 The Egyptians are man, and not God,
and their horses are flesh, and not spirit.
When the LORD stretches out his hand,
the helper will stumble, and he who is helped will fall,
and they will all perish together. – You foolish Jews! You’ve sought the help of Egyptians and their cavalry, turning your backs on Almighty God. You’ve bet on flesh against spirit! You’ve preferred man above God!
4 For thus the LORD said to me,
“As a lion or a young lion growls over his prey,
and when a band of shepherds is called out against him
he is not terrified by their shouting
or daunted at their noise,
so the LORD of hosts will come down
to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill.
5 Like birds hovering, so the LORD of hosts –
will protect Jerusalem;
he will protect and deliver it;
he will spare and rescue it.”
– Two very human illustrations – does mere shouting frighten away a hungry roaring lion? Doesn’t a magpie swoop on anything approaching its young, or an eagle protect its young from a snake?
6 Turn to him from whom people have deeply revolted, O children of Israel. 7 For in that day everyone shall cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold, which your hands have sinfully made for you. – It is time to repent, throw away your idols and turn to the Living God!
8 “And the Assyrian shall fall by a sword, not of man;
and a sword, not of man, shall devour him;
and he shall flee from the sword,
and his young men shall be put to forced labor.
9 His rock shall pass away in terror,
and his officers desert the standard in panic,”
declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion,
and whose furnace is in Jerusalem. – God says, ‘I will deal with the Assyrians, your problem people, in a way that they didn’t expect!‘
Psalm 91: 1-4 – He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
Prayer: Please discipline me, lead me, do what You need to, so that I walk in Your ways, O my Lord!
As I read it! 