66 Pride Brings Down Assyria & Egypt

In this section of Scripture the Lord begins to discuss why He brought in the Babylonians to Assyria. It is a conclusion to the fifth prophecy against Egypt. It was because of their wickedness. Continuing in the illustration of Assyria as a tall cedar tree he says it set his top among the thick boughs. As the Lord continues He explains what this means as He describes the Assyrian’s heart is lifted up in his height. This is a clear reference to pride. God judged the nation because like a cedar it towered on high, lifting its top about the thick foliage, and because it was proud of its height. Pride is so offensive to God because it is an attempt to rob Him of His glory as the creator and sustainer (Ezekiel 28:6; Isaiah 14:13-14; Daniel 11:12). It was the Lord who delivered the fate of the wicked Assyrians in to the hands of the equally wicked Babylonians. Sennacherib preserved his prideful recollections of his victories on the cuneiform prism presently on display in the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago. The prideful are following their master Satan from whom pride originated causing his fall from grace and position. The wicked always receive God’s punishment for their sins. The actions of Babylon toward Assyria will be in accordance with their wickedness. Wicked will be aggressive toward the wicked.