b. God will destroy Assyria and deliver Judah (30:19-33)

This unit falls into two sections, the first written in prose (vv.19-26) and the second in poetry (vv.27-33). The implication of the prose section is that eventually God’s people will cry to God for help. Yahweh stands ready and eager to respond. When he does, their aimlessness will end and they will cast away their idols. Vv.23-26 are highly figurative and limn God’s blessings in agricultural terms reminiscent of the Garden of Eden.

The poetic section draws on the imagery of worship. The hymnic language anticipates a theophany (visitation) of God, who will come to judge his enemies. He has tolerated Assyria as an instrument of chastisement long enough. Now that nation will receive God’s judgment.