Isaiah 14:27

It is worth noting that in this book God calls Himself "the Lord of hosts." We first find this title in the first book of Samuel. It was the time of the judges, when every man did what was right in his own eyes, much as it is today. … Many of the prophets use the name, above all in days of weakness and failure. It is good to know that, despite man's failure, there is an all-sufficient God with unlimited resources at His disposal.

That God has His own purpose before Him should always be remembered. Behind everything He does lies His purpose. It stands behind His outward acts towards His ancient people Israel, behind His dealings with the nations of the earth, and behind His discipline of the saints who form the church. God makes everything bend to this purpose. Everything is in some way working towards it, however hidden that work is from human sight… He did not form this purpose because events turned out as they did in the world's history. The events that have happened serve to bring about God's purpose, and His purpose is an eternal purpose.

The Assyrian is no less senseless in rising up against Christ joined with Israel, the Prince of princes. The indignation ends then, and God owns Israel, long chastised… He will trample down the Assyrian in His land, because He owns Israel for His people.

The Assyrian is neither Antichrist nor the beast, but the chief of the north-eastern hordes of that day, of whom the prophets have much to say.

This prophecy stands here afterwards for a reason. It marks the order of events. When the complete fulfilment comes, and the day of the Lord arrives not in part but in full at the end of the age, the last Assyrian will fall after the destruction of the one who finally represents "the beast," the system of power that began with Babylon. In the past it had been the reverse, for Assyria fell long before Babylon. But in time the beast will be destroyed from above. Then the Lord will tread the Assyrian under foot on His mountains, which did not literally happen in the past.

It is God's fixed purpose to teach all the nations of the earth that Israel has a special place in His heart, and that He has destined Israel for the first place on the earth. If nations forget or oppose, so much the worse for them. It is useless for them to try to thwart God's purpose, for they may be sure that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will confound every scheme formed against the people of His choice. Men may think, in their pride and folly, that their hand is high, but they will have to learn that God's hand is higher still.

The enemy may oppose. But God will always prove Himself above him. All we need is a spirit of simple, childlike confidence and rest in the divine purpose. Unbelief will look at the enemy's efforts to thwart God rather than at God's power to accomplish. Faith fixes its eye on the latter.