"Therefore thus saith The Lord GOD of Hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian..." [Isa 10:24]

Jesus, when speaking of Himself as The Rock, said to Peter,

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” [Mt 16:18]

When Jesus said, “the gates of hell shall not prevail against” His church, that living entity which would be built “upon this rock,” Jesus was speaking of Himself. The word for “rock” is “petra,” which word refers to a great mass of connected rock or stone, such as a cliff or ledge or boulder. Peter’s name, on the other hand, refers to a single pebble or stone: much smaller in comparison to the Greek word, petra. And truly, we find this to be very accurate: for the church does not find its strength in Peter, but in Christ Jesus, who is “the Rock of [our] salvation.” [2 Sam 22:47] And if the church is granted strength to resist evil, that strength and victory is found solely in Christ Jesus. As John tells us,

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than He that is in the world.” [1 Jn 4:4]

Paul further confirms this to us, admonishing us to “be strong in The Lord, and the power of His might,” [Eph 6:10] and not in another’s strength or might; for “the horse is prepared against the day of battle: but victory is of The LORD,” [Prov 21:31] according as the Psalmist confesses,

“For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them…Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.” [Psa 44:3, 5-7]

Most assuredly, the church stands today because of the power of God and of His Christ, Jesus, our Savior and Lord. The very LORD of the Heavenly Armies, who said to Joshua, “as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come,” [Josh 5:14] is to us a defense and strength. And if He, then who can stand against? What power can possibly prevail against He, The Glorious and Eternal One, The Christ of Almighty God, of whom it is written that He is, “far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come?” [Eph 1:21] As Paul said rhetorically,

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” [Rom 8:31]

And as Jehoshaphat prayed,

“O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?” [2 Ch 20:6]

So then, for us who dwell in Zion, who are among the church of Christ, let us take heed to the comfort and encouragement The LORD offers in our passage for today, “be not afraid of the Assyrian.” [Isa 10:24] In context, the Assyrian refers to that man whom we generally term the Antichrist, who in “the Day of Visitation,” shall be used of God, sent “against [Israel], an hypocritical nation.” [Isa 10:2-6] But who also, after being used of God and “when The Lord hath performed His whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem,” will punish and judge Him. [Isa 10:7-13]

Even though the Assyrian, (and we may easily say any enemy which comes against us), “shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem,” [Isa 10:32] (or again, we might say when the enemy shakes his hand at us as to attack and destroy), we do not need to fear. Yes, though our enemies, who may be stronger and more numerable than us in the flesh, yet have no power against us in the Spirit, for Christ is on our side. Though they taunt and shout, though they, as the Assyrian, shake their fists at us in a rage, yet Christ our King and Defender stands unshaken and mighty. And truly, as it is written so it is true, “The LORD is our defence.” [Psa 89:18] Therefore, brethren, do not be afraid of the Assyrian; do not be afraid of the enemy. In Jesus we shall always find victory. “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.” [2 Cor 2:14] Over those spiritual enemies and powers, Jesus reigns as chief, having utterly spoiled them. It says in Colossians,

“And having stripped [all] principalities and powers of their armaments, he openly exposed them, in [His cross], leading them as prisoners in a triumphal procession.” [Col 2:15]

What a glorious and dear truth it is for us who are in Christ, that He has obtained a full victory; and by trusting in Him we may freely obtain the same – for God says, “who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” [1 Jn 5:5] So then, if we dwell in Zion, if we be among the church, the called of Jesus Christ, of those who have taken refuge in His home and under His protective hem, let us not fear our enemies, whosoever and whatsoever they be. Because our God is far greater and far better, and it is He who is with us always.

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” [Deut 31:6]

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