Zephaniah 2:13-15 - Folly of self-reliance

Scripture:

Zephaniah 2:13-15
13 And He will stretch out His hand against the north
And destroy Assyria,
And He will make Nineveh a desolation,
Parched like the wilderness.
14 Flocks will lie down in her midst,
 All beasts which range in herds;
Both the pelican and the hedgehog
Will lodge in the tops of her pillars;
 Birds will sing in the window,
Desolation will be on the threshold;
For He has laid bare the cedar work.
15 This is the exultant city
Which dwells securely,
Who says in her heart,
" I am, and there is no one besides me."
How she has become a desolation,
A resting place for beasts!
 Everyone who passes by her will hiss
And wave his hand in contempt.
NASU


Thoughts:

These verses are such a reminder of the sinfulness and foolishness of pride.  The first half of verse 15 is the prideful statement of  Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria.  The rest of these verses document its coming desolation due to God's judgment against it.

Assyria was a brutal nation and world empire for over 100 years, known for its vicious treatment of its captives.  They had conquered the northern kingdom of Israel in roughly 722 B.C. 

And Nineveh was indeed an impregnable fortress.  It had several surrounding walls, the outermost having a circumference of 60 miles.  Eight miles inside this outer wall was an inner wall which was 50 feet thick and 100 feet high!

However, the Babylonians in partnership with the Medes set out to invade the city.  Although initially repelled, they eventually prevailed with the help of a natural disaster.  Unseasonable rain caused the Tigris river to flood and damage the inner wall which then collapsed, amazingly as the prophet Nahum had predicted:

Nahum 2:6-8
6 The gates of the rivers are opened
And the palace is dissolved.
7 It is fixed:
She is stripped, she is carried away,
And her handmaids are moaning like the sound of doves,
 Beating on their breasts.
8 Though Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her days,
Now they are fleeing;
"Stop, stop,"
But no one turns back.
NASU

The city fell as did the nation's king.  Around 609 BC, the Assyrians were defeated.  As predicted, the city then was laid waste.  In fact, it became so desolate that its existence began to be doubted, until it was rediscovered by archaeologists in the 19th century.  And indeed, the site is now inhabited by wild animals and sheep pasture there.


Prayer:

God, forgive me for my pride, often expressed in self-reliance.  Like Nineveh, the "walls" of protection around me can also fall. 

Instead, I must put my confidence in You.  Though everything around me may fall, as a follower of You, my future is secure in Your hands.  Thank You!

Amen

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.