No. 21. >> Is there a contemporary application for the message found in Chapter 30 Verses 1 through 5 and 31:1 through 3? >>DR. R. REED LESSING: The contemporary application of these two sections in Isaiah will be quite pronounced. But to understand contemporary application, first we have to go into the world, the political, theological, textual world, of the prophet Isaiah. In other words, before we can know what a text means, we have to know what a text meant. So let's get an overview of a very important biblical theme in the Old Testament. And that has to do with the role of horses and chariots. Now, before we enter this world, we need to understand that horses and chariots were like having nuclear bombs. Nuclear war heads. If you had horses and chariots, you would be successful in a military way of speaking. Now, we also need to understand that within the Old Testament, Israel's request for a king was not bad. Quite often people read I Samuel Chapters 8 through 10 and come away thinking that somehow Israel's request for a king was evil, sinful. And God just kind of gave in and said: Well, okay, if you want a king, have a king. But they weren't really getting God's best. Well, this is a misreading not only of I Samuel Chapters 8 through 10 but also neglect of earlier text in the Old Testament. All that is to say is God's original plan was for Israel to have a king. We've already noted in this course on Isaiah this text in Genesis Chapter 17 where God tells Abraham that kings will come forth from you. So obviously the call to Abraham was also a call to kings. We've also made mention of Deuteronomy Chapter 17. Again, you know, predating Saul, David, Solomon and Israel's kings. But in Deuteronomy 17, as we've already mentioned, have a job description for a king. So this is God's original plan, for Israel to have a king. Specifically within Deuteronomy 17 Verse 16, the text reads: The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them. For the Lord has told you you are not to go back that way again. Well, it's fairly clear. Don't get horses. And whatever you do, don't go to Egypt to get more horses. Well, this is exactly what Isaiah is preaching against in Chapters 30 and 31. But before we get into those texts specifically, let's develop a little bit more of this idea of horses and chariots. At the ascension of Elijah in II Kings Chapter 2 Verse 12 as well as at the death of Elisha in II Kings 13 Verse 14, we have this phrase: The chariotry and the horses of Israel. These are very, very important texts to understand the entire prophetic movement in Israel. What's going on? When Elijah catches his one-way ticket to heaven, this chariot and horses that are surrounded by fire, Elisha says: There goes the chariotry and the horses of Israel. It means that there went the nuclear power. There went all of the dynamism and the strategy and the strength from Israel. Notice that the power lays in the prophetic word and not in the king's accumulation of actual horses and chariots. Again, the same articulation is made when Elisha dies in II Kings 13. The chariotry and the horse of Israel. This means that as the prophet and the king, as God's spokesman and the monarchy played off of each other and quite often were in tension with each other, where was the real power? Was it in the king's accumulation of horses and chariots? Or the prophetic word? It's very easy to see in II Kings Chapters 2 and 13 that the real power laid with the prophet. That when push came to shove, it was the prophetic word that trumped the king's word. In Psalm Chapter 20 Verse 7 we have this theology stated in its classic form. Some trust in chariots. Some trust in horses. But we trust in the name, the characteristic, the promises of Yahweh our God. In setting up this understanding of horses and chariots, we really enter into the center of prophetic ministry. The all-encompassing power of Yahweh's Word as opposed to monarchial plans to accumulate literal horses and chariots. David put it classically this way in I Samuel 17 when he confronts Goliath, that uncircumcised fellow from the Philistine city of Gath: You come at me with sword and spear. But I come at you in the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel. Swords, spears, horses, chariots, none of them will work in Israel to bring about lasting peace for the people. So having said that, let's now look at these specific verses mentioned in Chapters 30 and 31 of Isaiah. Woe 30 Verse 1 says. Death to the sons who are disobedient says the Lord. Those who make a plan. But it's not from me. Those who pour out drink offerings. But it's not my Spirit. He goes on in Verse 2: Those going down to Egypt. But they don't ask my mouth or consult from me. For help in the strength of Pharaoh. For a refuge in the shadow of Egypt. Those who are going down, Isaiah says, to Egypt will not find refuge or help. Well, what are they going down to Egypt for? Why is Isaiah so against this? Well, in Chapter 31 we see what the people are up to. Verse 1: Woe to those going down to Egypt for help who are trusting on horses. Who trust in chariots. Indeed, a great number of chariots. Upon horsemen and a great multitude of them. Who lean or are looking for support not on the Holy One of Israel. And in Yahweh the Lord they do not seek. This helps us understand not only much of the prophetic movement vis-a-vis against the monarchy. But specifically one of Isaiah's main messages. This is the message he gave back in Chapter 7 with the Immanuel Prophecy. Remember when Ahaz was confused in the Syro-Ephraimitic Crisis of 735 BC. Should he align himself with Rezin of Syria, Pekah of Israel? Or should he align himself with the Assyrian monarch Tiglath-pileser III. Or another option is not to trust in horses and chariots. Not to somehow make alliances with foreign nations. But simply trust in the Immanuel Prophecy. God is with you, Ahaz. Well, you also may remember that through our study of II Kings 16 Verse 7 that Ahaz says to Tiglath-pileser III: I am your son. He trusted in horses and chariots to come to his rescue. We also said at that point that Hezekiah some 30 years later faced with the same dilemma would simply place his trust in the Lord God of Israel. So how does this have any contemporary application? Every day the baptized are faced with this choice. Do I trust in the horses and chariots of this present evil age? Do I trust in my own wisdom, cunning and understanding? Or do I trust in the sure and certain promise of the prophetic Word. That Word made flesh in Jesus our Lord. That's the temptation. And that's the decision every day that the baptized make living in this world. That great hymn "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus" has these words in it: The arm of flesh will fail you. You dare not trust your own. In one way that's the message of Isaiah Chapters 1 to 39. Should the arm of flesh be our trust, that's what Isaiah says as he looks at Egypt in 31 Verse 3. Egypt are people and not God. Their horses are flesh and not Spirit. Isaiah's message is relevant for believers in every age. Where do I go for help and safety and comfort and peace? That's a radical message Isaiah has to not stockpile armament and horses and chariots. But alone trust in Yahweh, Who saves not by sword and shield but saves by the prophetic Word? That Word that Isaiah says in 55:10 and 11 will never return void but will bring about God's protection and plan for his people.