Christ Come Down To Fight
Our Bible passage, introduction to Sunday 10th September service and hymns are below. You may listen to an audio recording by clicking above or there is a video link to our YouTube channel at the bottom of this page.
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Our principal verses are:
Isa 31:1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!
Isa 31:2 Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.
Isa 31:3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.
Isa 31:4 For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.
Isa 31:5 As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.
Isa 31:6 Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.
Isa 31:7 For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.
Isa 31:8 Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited.
Isa 31:9 And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.
Christ Come Down To Fight
The big criticism Isaiah had of the people referred to in this prophecy is that they failed to look to the Lord for help in time of trouble. Instead, they sought support from their southern neighbours, the Egyptians. After all their history it is perverse to think of Israel seeking help from Egypt, but here it is. From the earliest days of the nation, from the time of Jacob, Joseph and Moses, God had proved Himself faithful by saving Israel from Egypt. Now, as danger looms, the first thought of materialists is, ‘who has most horses and the fastest chariots?’
Woe repeated
This is the second time a specific ‘woe’ is imposed on the men of Judah who go down to Egypt for help. The Lord noted this lack of faith and Isaiah contrasts the foolishness of forsaking the Lord and trusting in flesh. For judgment God will bring calamity on both parties, the help-seekers and the help-givers. For this slight against God’s glory He will rise against both nations. The Egyptians and the people of Judah shall both fall at different times to show the futility of leaning upon the strength of man.
Let the church take note
There is an important lesson here. The church of Jesus Christ has no right to make alliances with unbelievers for political gain, protection of rights or even for self-preservation. It is an insult against the Lord when the church gets involved in politics, aligns with pressure-groups or lobbies for change. Even if a few little wins are gained along the way the battle already has been lost because God is denied, faith is compromised and the enemies of God’s people are empowered.
The Lord speaks and acts
Isaiah brings a word from the Lord. ‘Thus hath the Lord spoken to me’. How blessed we are to hear the Lord’s word to our soul! It was a message of deliverance and hope for the people of faith. They would endure when the houses of the faithless failed. The Lord would descend personally and powerfully to aid His people, coming boldly and resolutely as a young lion guarding its prey. He will come quickly, as birds fly, hastening to protect their young when danger threatens. The precision of Isaiah’s prophecy is strengthened by reference to the Assyrian falling before a sword wielded not by a man but by the angel of the Lord.
The Assyrians are broken
The prophecy was miraculously fulfilled when the Assyrian army was defeated in a single night in the days of Hezekiah, entirely without Egypt’s involvement. ‘And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses (2Ki 19:35). We learn further that Sennacherib was compelled to flee for his life and return home to Nineveh only to be slain in his temple by his own sons.
Christ’s victory
Isaiah’s prophecy had specific application to Assyria but it has broader significance for all God’s elect. It is a picture of the certainty and speed of the Lord Jesus Christ’s coming to defend and preserve His remnant people and destroy their enemies. When the future looked bleak for the remnant Jews Isaiah reinforced the message of the Messiah. The prophecy’s greatest fulfilment is in Christ. The Lord Jesus contended for us in the days of His ministry. He battled and overcame His enemies on the cross. By His death and resurrection He delivered His chosen people from the captivity of sin.
A call to repentance and faith
Isaiah used this prophecy to call the nation to repentance. Mention of Israel reminded the remnant people of the history of Jacob’s faith and God’s covenant promises. During Hezekiah’s reign the people did indeed return to the Lord and cast away their idols of silver and gold, but again, it is typical of the gospel day when Jews and Gentiles find repentance, faith and conversion in Jesus Christ.
Right up to date
The Lord continues to accomplish His purposes today. As long as this day of grace and God’s longsuffering remains, men and women are called in the gospel to repent of sin and turn to Christ. This call is effectually applied according to God’s sovereign purpose. Isaiah tells us, ‘In that day every man … shall cast away his … sin’. This happens when a sinner casts their sins upon Christ who bears them all away and when the gospel comes with quickening power to cleanse and save. Christ still comes down to save His people.
Amen
Our hymns are below.
Hymn 1
Gadsby selection 560
“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd.” Zech. 13. 7
W. Gadsby 8.7.4.
1
O thou mighty God and Saviour
Give us faith thy works to trace;
Heavenly Warrior, may we never
From thee turn away our face;
May we view thee,
Standing in our wretched place.
2
Armed with wrath and righteous vengeance,
Justice once unsheathed its sword;
Death and hell were its attendants,
And Jehovah gave the word:
“Smite the Shepherd;
Let my wrath on him be poured.”
3
All obeyed with fixed attention,
And in dreadful troops drew near;
Horrors we can never mention
Seized our Lord and Saviour there;
Armed with vengeance,
Free from either dread or fear.
4
Gaze, ye Christians, gaze and wonder;
See the mighty Hero fight;
He has burst their bands asunder,
And completely spoiled their might,
Yes, this Warrior,
Put the hosts of hell to flight.
5
Now the battle’s fought and gainèd;
Jesus, our victorious Lord,
Rushed into the hosts, and stainèd
All his garments in their blood;
But he conquered,
And redeemed the church to God.
Hymn 2
Gadsby selection 972
“King of kings and Lord of lords.” 1 Tim. 6. 15
T. Kelly 8.7.4.
1
Look, ye saints! the sight is glorious!
See the exalted Saviour now,
From the fight returned victorious;
Every knee to him shall bow.
Crown him, crown him!
Crowns become the victor’s brow!
2
Crown the Saviour; saints, adore him;
Rich the trophies Jesus brings!
Saints and angels bow before him,
While the vault of heaven rings;
Crown him, crown him!
Crown the Saviour King of kings!
3
Hark! those bursts of acclamation,
Hark! those loud triumphant chords!
Jesus takes the highest station;
O what joy the sight affords!
Crown him, crown him!
King of kings, and Lord of lords!
Our Lord Jesus Christ fought for His people's salvation on the cross. He won the victory and He has given it to us. Our Saviour told Isaiah, descending He will fight, defending He will deliver, passing over He will preserve. All this He has done and continues to do. Our Husband is a man of war as well as our Prince of Peace.
10 September 2023