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Daily Devotions

Zephaniah

Zephaniah 
Day 
Day 27

"Destroy Assyria"

Text: Zephaniah 2:13

THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE

Assyria was once a mighty empire. It conquered Israel and other nations. But because of its wickedness and arrogance, a prophetic word of judgment was pronounced against Assyria.

“And He will stretch out His hand against the north,
Destroy Assyria,
And make Nineveh a desolation,
As dry as the wilderness.”
Zephaniah 2:13

1. “And He will stretch out His hand against the north”

a) This is a reference to God stretching out His hand.
b) Against the north.
i) The route the Assyrians took was from the north.
ii) The same route was taken by the Babylonians.
iii) The word “north” refers to the route the invaders took when they came to the Middle East.

2. “Destroy Assyria”

a) This is not just the country itself.
b) But the entire Assyrian empire.

3. “Nineveh”

a) This was the proud capital of Assyria.
b) It would become a desolation!
c) It would become as “dry as the desert”.

WHAT WERE THE SINS OF ASSYRIA THAT BROUGHT SUCH A JUDGMENT

Many were the sins of the Assyrian empire. But perhaps the time when Sennacherib threatened Judah best illustrates the arrogant heart of the Assyrian king. The Rabshakeh, one of the chief ministers of Sennacherib was sent to speak to Judah (Isaiah 36:2). His speech reflected a strong tone of high arrogance!

1. Disparaging regard for Egypt

Egypt was dismissed as “a broken reed” (Isaiah 36:6).

2. A false claim of being sent by God

“The LORD said to me, ‘Go up against this land, and destroy it.'” (Isaiah 36:10).

3. Despising any attempt to speak of Divine help

“Has any one of the gods of the nations delivered its land from the hand of the king of Assyria?” (Isaiah 36:18).

“Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their countries from my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem from my hand?” (Isaiah 36:20).

4. Gloating at the success of the Assyrian kings

“Look! You have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by utterly destroying them; and shall you be delivered?” (Isaiah 37:11).