Contrast Isa 31:3 & Ps 20:7 on trust.
Compare Isaiah 31:3 with Psalm 20:7 about trusting in God versus human power.

Setting the Scene

Isaiah 31 finds Judah looking to Egypt’s army for security.

Psalm 20 is David’s royal prayer before battle, sung by Israel’s worshipers.

• Both passages spotlight a universal tug-of-war: trusting visible muscle or the unseen, sovereign Lord.


God or Horses? A Closer Look at Isaiah 31:3

“ But the Egyptians are men and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit…”

“When the LORD stretches out His hand, the helper will stumble…”

Key observations

• Egypt’s power is purely human—“flesh,” vulnerable, limited.

• The moment God acts, both the “helper” (Egypt) and the “helped” (Judah) collapse together.

• The verse exposes the folly of trading the Almighty’s protection for military alliances, no matter how impressive.

Supporting echoes

Exodus 14:24-28 – the Lord dismantles Egypt’s chariots in the Red Sea.

Jeremiah 17:5 – “Cursed is the man who trusts in man… whose heart turns from the LORD.”

Zechariah 4:6 – “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.”


Faith on Parade: Reflecting on Psalm 20:7

“Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”

Key observations

• “Some” versus “we”: two distinct camps are always present.

• Chariots and horses symbolize technological edge and speed—the ancient equivalent of tanks and jets.

• The covenant community stakes everything on “the name of the LORD,” shorthand for His character, promises, and proven track record.

Supporting echoes

Proverbs 21:31 – “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the LORD.”

2 Chronicles 32:7-8 – Hezekiah contrasts Assyrian strength with “the LORD our God to help us.”


The Core Contrast

• Human power: tangible, impressive, ultimately fragile.

• Divine power: invisible, immeasurable, unfailing.

• Isaiah exposes the downfall when God’s people lean on flesh.

Psalm 20 celebrates the triumph that follows exclusive confidence in God’s name.


Echoes through Scripture

Proverbs 3:5-6 – trust in the LORD with all your heart; lean not on your own understanding.

Psalm 33:16-17 – a king is not saved by his mighty army; a horse is a vain hope for victory.

Hebrews 11 – a roll call of those who lived by faith, not by sight.


Implications for Today

• Strategies, savings, and strength have value, yet remain “flesh and not spirit.”

• Alliances, institutions, or technology become idols the moment they replace dependence on the Lord.

• Security flows from relationship—knowing His name, obeying His word, and resting in His sovereignty.

• When God stretches out His hand, every prop that rivals Him crumbles.


Quick Takeaways

• The strongest human aid is still only human.

• God delights to show Himself mighty when His people trust Him alone.

• The choice is constant: place confidence in chariots and horses, or in the unshakable name of the LORD our God.

How can Isaiah 31:3 deepen our trust in God's sovereignty today?
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