Daily Devotions
Zephaniah
"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!