The Lord has granted Assyria’s rise to power (10:5–19). He permitted Assyria to enrich herself as he sent her on his holy mission to reduce those nations that had provoked his wrath. Assyria’s lust for power, however, is unbridled. She is a tyrant who boasts of her victories over cities and nations. The boast displays an attitude of autonomy and evidences no fear of God. Since Samaria has fallen (722 BC) and the Lord did not rescue it, how can Jerusalem expect to be rescued? The …