Day 200: Egypt, Assyria, and Israel

Isaiah 18:1-7 The Ethiopians (Kushites) came to Judah seeking an alliance and bearing gifts, which seem to have been their generous custom. The final verse of this prophecy suggests that the Ethiopians would one day become part of the people of God. 


Ch 19:1-25 Egypt was an advanced and accomplished kingdom that was disintegrating. The prophecy depicts the Egyptian royalty and sorcerers as fools and predicts that Judah would become greater than Egypt. The author states that both Egypt and Assyria, like Ethiopia, would eventually come to acknowledge the one true God. 


Ch 20:1-6  The Image of Isaiah walking naked symbolizes what might happen to the people of Judah if they put their faith in Ethiopia and Egypt in their battle against Assyria. They would be stripped of their possessions and homeland and become displaced as refugees of war. The teaching here is that God’s power wins battles rather than military strength and numbers.


The Book of Nahum

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(*The Didache Bible RSV-CE Ignatius Edition, 2006)


Nahum 1-3 Nahum used a form of legal rhetoric and irony to counter doubts about God’s sovereignty and justice. His primary theme was the prophet of the fall of Nineveh, which he described in some detail. He also had a message for Babylon and any foreign power that oppressed the Jews.


Ch 1:1-8 The first half of this chapter recalls the theophanies (“theophanies” means the physical manifestation of God to humankind) and powerful acts of God on behalf of his people and shows that his anger was part of his goodness. (CCC 697, 707)


Ch 1:9-15 This sharp prophecy answered those who ridiculed the Jewish people on account of their longstanding oppression. They considered the plight of the Jews as a sign of God’s absence or weakness. The historical context of that time and a later reference to the Assyrians made it clear that the city to be destroyed was Nineveh. 


Ch 2:1-13 The fall of Nineveh was a step along the path of the restoration of Israel since its enemies had to be vanquished first. Nineveh’s destruction-ironically at the hands of Babylon, another enemy of Israel-was as terrifying as it was thorough.

(*The Didache Bible RSV-CE Ignatius Edition, 2006)




Prayer by Fr. Mike: “Father in Heaven we give you praise and glory always. Every single day, Lord, we get to once again lift up your name. We get to declare your mighty deeds. We get to declare what you have done for us. So Lord, let this be a day like all those other days where we get to declare your works and praise you and praise your name. Let’s speak of your name to those around us and speak of your name to those who know you and those who do not yet know you. Because you are a God of redemption. You are a God of mercy. You are a God who can enter into this broken world and you can bring healing. Lord God, we ask that you please bring us healing. Bring our hearts healing this day and every day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”