Isa 31:6 | KingComments | STEP | Isaiah lets the believing remnant know Who the LORD is to them. To them He is like a lion, “the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah” ( ), who watches over his prey. A hungry lion does not let his prey be robbed by anyone and regardless of their number ( ; cf. ). Thus the LORD does not let Himself be robbed of Jerusalem, but descends from heaven to protect it. This is one of the clearest texts in the Old Testament about the coming of the Lord Jesus to earth (cf. ). It is about His appearance to rescue Israel and thereby to fulfill the promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We have to distinguish this apparition from His coming to take the believers home ( ). The LORD is not impressed by the clattering of arms and screaming to heaven of the enemies of His people, who are also His enemies. He will come down from heaven and judge them ( ). He watches over Jerusalem as a bird protects her young, while He delivers her with the speed of a bird ( ). Here the picture of a lion changes into that of a bird, but the message remains the same. First the LORD is compared to a strong lion, brave, fearless, powerful. Thus He sets Himself up against the enemies of His people. Then He is compared to a caring bird that defends and protects its nest (cf. ; ; ). In this way He stands up for His beloved city. The closing line of is reminiscent of the Passover in Egypt. There the judgment of the LORD has passed by the houses where the blood has been done on the doorposts and He delivers the houses of His people from the power of Egypt ( ). When Isaiah presented the LORD in this way to them, the heart is made receptive to hear the call to repentance and to answer it ( ), for the LORD gives salvation only after their conversion. If they heed the call, then the idols will be cast away by them ( ). True repentance is proven by the removal from the life of every serving and honoring of anything or anyone other than God ( ). The day will come when Israel has nothing more to do with idols, but will live only for the true God. This should already be the case in the life of the Christian.

‏ Isaiah 31:6

The Sure Protection

Isaiah lets the believing remnant know Who the LORD is to them. To them He is like a lion, “the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah” (Rev 5:5), who watches over his prey. A hungry lion does not let his prey be robbed by anyone and regardless of their number (Isa 31:4; cf. Jn 10:28-30). Thus the LORD does not let Himself be robbed of Jerusalem, but descends from heaven to protect it.

This is one of the clearest texts in the Old Testament about the coming of the Lord Jesus to earth (cf. Zec 14:4). It is about His appearance to rescue Israel and thereby to fulfill the promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We have to distinguish this apparition from His coming to take the believers home (1Thes 4:14-18).

The LORD is not impressed by the clattering of arms and screaming to heaven of the enemies of His people, who are also His enemies. He will come down from heaven and judge them (Psa 2:1-6). He watches over Jerusalem as a bird protects her young, while He delivers her with the speed of a bird (Isa 31:5). Here the picture of a lion changes into that of a bird, but the message remains the same.

First the LORD is compared to a strong lion, brave, fearless, powerful. Thus He sets Himself up against the enemies of His people. Then He is compared to a caring bird that defends and protects its nest (cf. Rth 2:12; Deu 32:11-12; Mt 23:37). In this way He stands up for His beloved city.

The closing line of Isa 31:5 is reminiscent of the Passover in Egypt. There the judgment of the LORD has passed by the houses where the blood has been done on the doorposts and He delivers the houses of His people from the power of Egypt (Exo 12:13 ; 23 ; 27).

When Isaiah presented the LORD in this way to them, the heart is made receptive to hear the call to repentance and to answer it (Isa 31:6), for the LORD gives salvation only after their conversion. If they heed the call, then the idols will be cast away by them (Isa 31:7). True repentance is proven by the removal from the life of every serving and honoring of anything or anyone other than God (1Thes 1:9). The day will come when Israel has nothing more to do with idols, but will live only for the true God. This should already be the case in the life of the Christian.