Despoiling the Despoiler

The prophecy begins:  "Woe to you who are despoiling without you yourself being despoiled, and to you who are dealing treacherously, without others having dealt treacherously with you!  As soon as you have  finished as a despoiler, you will be despoiled. As soon as you have done with dealing treacherously, they will deal treacherously with you."  (Isaiah 33:1)  Isaiah directly addresses the despoiler, Assyria. At the peak of its power, that aggressive nation seems unbeatable. It has 'despoiled without being despoiled,' ravaging the cities of Judah, even stripping the house of Jehovah of its wealth-and doing do with seemingly impunity! (2 Kings 18:14-16; 2 Chronicles 28:21)  Now, though, the tables will be turned.  "You will be despoiled,"  Isaiah bolding declares.  How comforting this prophecy is to faithful ones!

During that frightening period of time, loyal worshipers of Jehovah will need to turn to him for help.  Isaiah thus prays:  "O Jehovah, show us favor.  In you we have hoped. Become our arm [of strength and support] every morning, yes, our salvation in the time of distress.  At the sound of turmoil peoples have fled. At your arising nations have been dispersed." (Isaiah 33:2, 3)  Appropriately, Isaiah prays that Jehovah deliver His people as He has done many times in the past.  (Psalm 44:3; 68:1) And no sooner does Isaiah offer this prayer than he foretells Jehovah's answer to it!  "The spoil of your people [the Assyrians] will actually be gathered like the cockroaches when gathering in, like the onrush of locust swarms that is rushing against one."  (Isaiah 33:4) Judah is familiar with devastating insect invasions.  This time, though, it is Judah's enemies that will be devastated. Assyria will suffer a humiliating defeat, and its soldiers will be forced to flee, leaving behind a great spoil for the inhabitants of  Judah to collect!  It is only fitting that Assyria, known for its cruelty, will experience being despoiled. -Isaiah  37:36.

Next time: The Modern-Day Assyrian

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, 2000