The Assyrians and athesists see God as imaginery

Map of Assyria (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Behold, the name of the LORD comes from afar, burning with His anger, and His burden is heavy; His lips are full of indignation, and His tongue like a devouring fire (Isa. 30:27).The judgment of Assyria is emphasized by Isaiah because it was one of the most ruthless nations in the treatment of God’s people. The Assyrians and the Babylonians received harsh judgments from the Lord because they had dared to abuse those whom He loved. Those who attacked the Jews were, in essence, attacking God Himself. The result of such a brash and willful defiance of God would be desolation.

This judgment would come by the name of the Lord. By emphasizing God’s name, Isaiah contrasts divine power with the physical defenses of men. He does this several times, beginning with the “name of the LORD” in verse 27. Then he writes, “His breath is like an overflowing stream, which reaches up to the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of futility.” The power of God’s word is emphasized in these verses as well: “The LORD will cause His glorious voice to be heard,” “For through the voice of the LORD, Assyria will be beaten down,” and “The breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, kindles it.”

Assyria was a country mighty in wealth and military strength. It assumed that nothing could bring it down, and most of the nations around it thought the same thing. But Isaiah says here that by the mere voice of the Lord, by His breath, by the very proclamation of His name, Assyria would be destroyed.

This is an ironic statement because one of the things the Assyrians mocked the Jews about was that they didn’t worship their God with images. They laughed at the Jewish people, saying they worshiped a deity of their imaginations, for they could not make Him into a physical representation. The Assyrians judged the Jewish people, and hence God Himself, according to outward appearances. But Isaiah reminded the Jews of the “name of the LORD.” God revealed Himself by His name, by His power; and though they did not see or feel Him, He was present and would take vengeance on His enemies.

The world relies on physical defenses; it looks to things it can see and touch for remedies and solutions. But the Christian relies on the invisible God and on the Word He has proclaimed in the Scriptures. We can always be assured that the voice of the Lord is more powerful and more reliable than the physical bulwarks and armaments constructed by men.




What do you put hope in when you are in trouble? Is it in the person of God? Physical possessions? A better spouse? Better civic leaders? Or is it in the name of the Lord, in the power of the invisible God who has proclaimed His will in the Scriptures? Rejoice in the overwhelming gift of Jesus’ atonement that God has given to His children.