• Home
  • About Us
  • Bible Study
  • Media
  • Giving
  • Knowing God
  • Are You Ready?

Nahum

Nahum 1-3

Nineveh's judge
Nineveh's judgment

Nahum 1

Nahum unburdens himself with the message God gave him.  Not much is known of this man.  He was a prophet, a man called with a message.  It was one that brought relief to the Jews as their oppressers were judged. 

 

The Assyrians were God's adversaries.  He reveals that He is jealous and that He avenges.  While many might have said, "It's about time!"; God shows us his perfect balance of mercy and compassion with justice and holiness.  The punishement of the wicked is a given and the timing of it belongs to God. 

 

The Lord will have His way; the impotent storm gods of the Assyrians stood in contrast to the omnipotent power of God.  It was a dark time for God's people; they were few and a hostile world.  They had to wonder how they could hold on against such a strong enemy; how they could resist the overwhelming odds and stand strong and faithful.  Verse seven seems to be the key of this first section:

The Lord is good,

A stronghold in the day of trouble;

And He knows those who trust in Him.

8           But with an overflowing flood

He will make an utter end of its place,

And darkness will pursue His enemies.

 

The flood of wickedness that threatened God's people would be turned.  The darkness would pursue His enemies.  Historically, Nineveh was partially destroyed by the floodwaters of the Tigris.  The yoke would be broken.  Judah would be delivered from the Assyrians.  God assures the Assyrians he will 'cut off' the idols from the house of gods.  Yahweh would expose their gods and goddesses and powerless images to be broken and buried.

 

The herald that brings good news to the watchman on the wall is seen.  This herald of good news are 'the feet of him who brings good tidings'.  Similar pictures are seen in Isaiah 52:7, Romans 10:15 and Ephesians 6:15.  The words of the herald start with a cry of "peace".   What a fantastic message of hope in light of their present darkness and hopelessness in the face of a wicked and cruel oppressor.  God is certainly God.  

 

The Lord is indeed God.

  • His goodness was more visible as a contrast to the darkness.
    •    The King's star was more visible in the night!

Many had forgotten the goodness of the Lord.  Many had lost their way.  We see Christ reveal hard things to his followers in John 6.  Many walked away.  Jesus asked Peter if he would also leave.  Peter answered:

Peter said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."[1]

 

He is the only stronghold in the day of trouble.  He knows those who trust in Him. 

 

 

Nahum 2

An army was coming, on the horizon; Nahum calls them 'he who scatters'.  They would be a coalition force made of Babylonians and Medes; peoples and armies that were once subjects of Assyria who would rebel against their repression.  We hear a call to arms, prepare for battle, it was a day of reckoning.  This coming day was foretold by others; as Assyria was God's tool of Judgment, Israel was assured that they too would be judged and held accountable for their sins.  That day was coming as sure as if it were today, now!

 

The time of restoration marks the end of judgment.  God adopted Israel, redeemed her and delivered her.  In other places, she is portrayed as this young girl that the Lord raised up as a beuatiful young bride.  Yet, the young bride went astray and became a cheap prostitute, inviting any and all to take part in her wickedness.  Now, with the wickedness of the nation judged, God could restore her.  She could once again rise to the majesty and statliness she had previously held; not because of who she is or was, but because of the God who loved her so much. 

 

The promise to Israel is sure, just as sure as the promise that the Assyrians who brought devastation would be devastated.  In verses three and four, we look with Nahum across time and see this coalition in preparation.  This army is colorful, bold and confident.  They have the finest weapons held by the bravest warriors.  Then in verses five through seven we look into Nineveh.  The pride and arrogance that was once so prominent is hidden behind the sense of panic.  The king looks at his brave warriors who stumble and hurry around in an effort to defend.  

They prepared their defense at the walls.  These are walls that Sennacherib, king of Assyria, built.  They were massive and he named the outer wall "The Wall That Terrifies the Enemy" and the inner wall "The Wall Whose Splendor Overwhelms the Foe."  Yet, these walls would not terrify God, there would be no splendor for those inside when God brought judgment.  During the eventual siege of Nineveh, there were a series of torrential rainfalls that swelled the river and damaged the walls.  Nahum pictures this as their defenses dissolving away.  God's decree would stand.

With the picture of this great and ancient stronghold of wickedness torn down, Nahum offers this song of taunt.  The once fierce and fearless have been brought low.  The Lord of Hosts, commander of the heavenly armies will bring a sword against the young lions.  They will no longer prey on other natios for their provisions.  The messengers that once delivered news of conquest and delivered the kings commands to the army will be silenced.  There will be no king, no army, no messenger and no people to hear the news. 

As sure as the promise of restoration is the promise of justice and judgment against the enemies of God. 

 

Nahum 3

Note the chiastic structure of verse 1-7:

            Accusation (1)

                        Threat (2-3)

                                    Criticism (4)

                        Threat (5-6)

            Accusation (7)

 

The atrocities of the Assyrians living in Ninevey were carried out by people.  While the nation and city was judged, Nahum now talked to the people.  This 'bloody city' was made so by human hand.  They were known for their cruelty and brutality; and they boasted in it.  One Assyrian boasted of dying the side of a mountain red with blood and building a pillar with the heads of their enemy when they cut them off.  Another talked of skinning the captured people and fastening it to the walls of the city.  They were notorious in lying and decieving the people of the cities under siege, making promises they would never keep.  Those taken captive were never released; the victims were lied to and neer released.  This may speak to the captives of Israel.

 

Nahum helps us hear the approach of God's judgment; the whip, horses, rattle of wheels and clatter of charios.  He then helps us see; a bright sword, glittering spear and the multitude of bodies of a great slaughter.  We see men stumbling over corpses.

 

Nahum summarizes the criticism as harlotry; all of this was happening because of her wanton lusts.  Ishtar was the goddess of Assyra and often referred to as a prostitute. 

They worshiped with 'sacred prostitution'.  Their culture was base and lacking in morality.  As the Assyrians prostituted themselves with Ishstar, so they spread that among the nations.  This immorality, witchcraft and idolatry drove them to other nations luring others into the same wicked acts.  They promised protection, wealth and prosperity to the neighboring states.  The poor and weak were enticed by her charms and wealth.   They believed the lies and the façade for a moment of satisfaction.  But joining with this prostitute didn't deliver on the promise; all they received was entrapment, oppression by taxation or robbery.  They became a people demoralized and dependent; sorry for having been taken in this way.

 

We return to the threat in verse five.  Nineveh and the Assyrians would be revealed for who they were.  God would bring shame on them.  All the filth from all the prostitutions would come back to them and make them vile.  They would be put on display among the nations.  This plays out when the Babylonians and Medes grew tired of the Assyrian oppression and rose up. 

 

And we return to the accusation.  The day is coming when no one will run to the harlot but instead run away.  Who will moarn over this city laid to waste?  In a play on Nahum's name, meaning comfort, he asks, "Where shall I seek a Nahum for you?"  Ignoring the message of Nahum in warning leaves them with no Nahum to bring a message later.

 

In the remaining verses (8-19), Nahum reveals to them the dire reality of their situation. Thebes (No Amon) was a great capital city in souther Egypt and the worship center of the god Amon.  The city housed incrdible temples and was known for the Valley of the Dead where the Pharaoh's were buried.  The city was built across the river Nile and thought to be invincible until it was given over to the Assyrians.  Nahum showed the Ninevites they are now like this once majestic city who thought they were once invincible.   The pride of man will lead him to believe the strength of man can subdue the will of God. 

 

Nahum gives the Ninevites five snapshots of this once great city:

Drunk

Hidden; seeking shelter from the enemy

Trembling fig tree

A feeble woman

A city with its gates thrown open.

 The pictures protray a people that are helpless in the state in which they find themselves.  The staggering drunk is a ther mercy of what he drank.  The Ninevites were about to drink the cup of wrath from God.  This once fearless nation will be in hiding, stricken with fear and panic.  They will desire that their enemy offer them refuge when they failed to do so.  The strongholds will will give up all its inhabitants.  They will be like feeble old women.  The enemy will enter as if there were no gates at all.  All that they once trusted in, will be turned on them.

 

When siege was inevitable, water was drawn to assure they had plenty.  The siege of Nineveh lasted three years.  Nahum invites them to go ahead and draw water.  Brick and mortar would be advised to repair and strenghthen the wall, but even that would work against them.  History shows that a great fire broke out in Nineveh while it was under siege.

 

God's wrath came by flood to break down the wall, fire from within and the sword from a coalition of those who were once in subjection.  There was no strength in numbers as they stood in a great multitude.  They held sway over many lands; but the people of those lands flew away.  No help!  The commanders would surely take a stand and deliver hope.  But like grasshoppers when the sun came out, they would flee away and hide.  The leaders were gone, the nobles gone, the people scattered. 

 

Judgment was coming and nothing could change that.  Anyone hearing the news would celebrate, as if to say, "It's about time." 

 

This nation that was once the super power of the world felt they would never fall.  The children of Judah found themselves subject to this nation.  We find the powers of this world waring over our loyalty; each offering a different seduction.  The harlotries of the world call to us; to draw us away and deceive us.  To leave us broken, hopeless and empty. 

 

Nahum offered these points:

  • The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.
  •    To the God's people hope.
  •    To the Enemies of God, a warning
  • That day of is coming; as sure as if it were today, now!
    •    To God's people: justice, deliverance, salvation, light after a dark time
    •    To the enemies of God: Judgment, hopelessness, eternal darkness after apparent light.
  • Be sure of that in which you place your trust.
    •    To God's people:  In God alone – no wealth, no idol, no army; not our armies or wisdom.
    •    To God's enemies:  A warning:  the pride of man will lead him to believe the strength of man can subdue the will of God. 

 

The city of Nineveh stood as a type of sin and rebellion.  It looked good for a time.  It functioned well and was prosperous for a time.  It was beautiful and spritual for a time.  But it was all done apart from God; and its rebellion would only last for a time.  The answers the world offers seem right to our flesh but the answer is always found in Jesus.  Repent and trust in Him; abide in Him to the end.

 

©2017 Doug Ford