Exploring Assyria: Opening our eyes to the drama of the OT

A Christian lady in my Mum’s village was interested in my presentation and asked for a bit of a reading-list to help people get to grips with the role of the Assyrians in the OT. So here goes:

If you find dates difficult, just remember your OT ABC!

The Israelites came into the Promised Land but God said if they worshipped false gods and did not respect human rights, eg by practising child sacrifice, they would suffer the same fate as the Canaanites whom they drove out of Palestine. So God sent 

SSYRIA: 10 of the 12 tribes sent off into exile (N Iraq) 722 BC

ABYLON: Judah and Benjamin sent off to Babylon (S Iraq) 587 BC

YRUS: The king of Persia allows the Jews to return and rebuild their temple (539 BC) 

The Assyrian Empire was a desperately cruel superpower. (Check what they boasted in: see panels in British Museum)  Nahum 3:19

However, I don’t think it’s fair to say that the Bible presents a caricature of the Assyrians.  Human beings are precious to God and therefore Assyria are characterised for their oppression and wickedness (Isaiah 14:25; Jonah 3:8) and their pride (Isaiah 10:12-14).

Interestingly, there is an acknowledgement in the OT of the genius of Sennacherib: he was an amazing statesman and water engineer as well as a warmongerer: see 2 Kings 18:32; 19:23-24).  This accords with the Sennacherib documented so well by Dr Stephanie Dalley from extra-biblical sources.

If I was to preach a sermon series on Assyria (in an Iraqi context where there is particular interest in Assyria), I suppose I might sketch it out as follows:

1. Assyria: Who were they? Only mentioned once in Psalms Psalm 83:8
1. Mentioned in the Table of Nations, Gen 10:22; considering Gen 12:3 they have a bright future as recipients of blessing through Abraham’s offspring 
2. But synonymous with pride (much to boast in: Is 10:18) and cruelty, and God promises to judge them
3. But hope held out for their salvation Ps 83:16
4. Mention Tatian the Assyrian, early Bible translator.  Assyrian Christianity was a remarkable movement spreading as far as China (C.Baumer’s book)
2. Isaiah 10: a key chapter about Assyria
1. Note 9:12- Arameans & Philistines fade from view as Assyria looms large…
2. 10:5 very famous description of Assyria as ‘the rod of my anger’
3. A spiritual feast: it teaches us that God is in control of the likes of Hitler and Daesh and uses them, mysteriously, to achieve his purposes
3. Jonah: sent to preach in capital of Assyria
1. Jonah 4:2  shows how much God loves even Nazis and the like
4. Nahum: this book is the twin of Jonah
1. Yes God is merciful to evil people, but his patience is not unlimited
2. Nahum preached c140 years after Jonah and by that stage they had returned to their cruel ways
3. God’s justice is something to rejoice in
5. Assyria has a special place in God’s plan: Isaiah 19:23-25
1. This text is an object lesson in interpretation of OT prophecy
2. Assyria no more important than Britain, Brazil or Burkina Faso, but an encouragement that the most cruel and idolatrous nations - Egypt and Assyria in this chapter - can be claimed by Christ for his kingdom