AUGUST 2 NAHUM: Nineveh Again The book of Nahum has clear purpose. Nahum begins by announcing that the book is an “oracle concerning Nineveh” (1:1). Although Nineveh repented when God sent the prophet Jonah to warn the city of impending judgment, Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire, had since returned to her wickedness. Because of Nineveh’s cruelty and idolatry, God announced to Nahum that He was going to destroy the city. The book of Nahum was not given to Nineveh but to Judah. Instead of being a warning intended to produce repentance among the Assyrians, the book of Nahum was an encouragement to the Judeans that God would not “leave the guilty unpunished” (1:3). Nahum depicts Assyria at the height of her power, the prophecy was most likely composed before the death of Ashurbanipal (627 B.C.), after which Assyria’s power started to decline. Because Judah is not rebuked in Nahum’s prophesy, the prophecy may have been given during the time of Manasseh’s reforms (650-642 B.C.) (2 Chronicles 33:10-20). The Announcement of God’s Judgment: Nahum 1 Before the Lord announced His specific judgment against Nineveh, He exalted His character in dealing with the wicked (1:1-6). He described Himself as “jealous,” unwilling that anyone else should get the glory that He deserves. Because He is jealous for His glory, the Lord “takes vengeance and is filled with wrath” upon those who defame His Name with their selfishness, wickedness and idolatry (1:2). Although the Lord is “slow to anger,” His patience with the wicked has a time limit and eventually He “will not leave the guilty unpunished” (1:3). In Chapter 1:3-5, Nahum graphically describes what the Lord’s power looks like when it is unleashed in judgment. Because God’s “wrath is poured out like fire,” Nahum rhetorically asks, “Who can withstand His indignation? Who can endure His fierce anger?” (v.6). When God is finished being patient, the wicked have no hope of resisting His just wrath. After exalting His character in dealing with the wicked, the Lord revealed that Nineveh was the specific recipient of His wrath (1:8-15). God is not arbitrary in His judgment. Those who “trust in Him” have no reason to fear because the “Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble” (1:7). Although Nineveh had at one time turned to the Lord, the city had returned to its wickedness in the century since Jonah’s mission. Because of Nineveh’s sin, Nahum prophesied that the Lord “will make an end of Nineveh” (v.8). Even though the city and her king plotted against God, they would be helpless before God’s wrath (1:9-11). The Assyrians’ plans, allies, and armies would be of no use in delaying God’s judgment (1:12). The king, his descendants, and his gods would all be destroyed (1:14). Nineveh finally fell, never to rise again (1:12-13, 15). The Description of God’s Judgment: Nahum 2 In Chapter 2, Nahum describes the future downfall of Nineveh. The section begins with a call to Nineveh to ready itself for the approaching invasion (2:1-2). Although the Assyrian forces are guarding the fortress, watching the road, bracing themselves and marshaling their strength, they stand no chance against the Lord, who through this victory will enable Israel to return to splendor. In the next scene, Nahum pictures how the soldiers and chariots of the invading army (the Babylonians and Medes) look to the Assyrians inside the city walls (2:3-4). Nahum skips forward to describe the battle for Nineveh, both the scurrying of the Assyrian troops to defend the city and the flooding of the city walls (2:5-6). The flooding of the city in verse 6 allows the invading army to enter and plunder the city (2:7-10). Some of her inhabitants are taken into captivity (v.7) while others flee the city (like water draining from a pool) (v.8). Before the invading army is finished, the city has been stripped of all its treasure (v.9). Nahum describes how the Assyrians respond to the city’s destruction: “Hearts melt, knees give way, bodies tremble, ever face grows pale.” Having refused to obey the Lord, the city is left with no hope. How much better it would have been for them to humble themselves as they had done during the days of Jonah than to try to brave the storm of God’s wrath! In Chapter 2:11-13, Nahum continues the description of Nineveh’s destruction with a picture. Once the Assyrians were like lions, known for their skill as hunters and their cruelty to their pray (v.12). But with the destruction of Nineveh, the lions’ lair had been destroyed (v.11). The lion of Assyria, the great hunter, had become the hunted and its lion cubs were killed (v.13). What a dreadful thing to have God announce, “I am against you” (v.13)! (In verse 13, the Lord promised that Assyria’s messengers would be heard no more. Assyria’s messenger had once been on the doorstep of Jerusalem boasting about the weakness of Israel’s God before God destroyed Sennacherib’s army (Isaiah 36-37).) The Certainty of God’s Judgment: Nahum 3 In the third chapter of Nahum, the Lord gives several reasons why Nahum’s judgment was unavoidable. The first major reason is Nineveh’s sins (3:1-7). Nineveh was characterized by violence, lies, theft, and sorcery; the nation lusted for power and rejoiced when its subjects looked to it for spiritual, financial, and material guidance (vv.1, 4). Because of its violence, the city was going to suffer violence (vv.2-3), and because of its pride, the city was going to be shamed and revealed for what it was (vv.5-7). The only reward Nineveh received for its wickedness was opposition from God. The second reason given by Nahum was that if the powerful kingdom of Thebes could be destroyed by Assyria (663 B.C.) then the powerful kingdom of Assyria could also be destroyed (3:8-1). Thebes had felt invincible but she was not and neither was Nineveh (v.11). No amount of fortresses or troops could stop the Lord’s hand from striking (vv.12-13). The final reason the Lord gave for the certainty of Nineveh’s defeat was that it did not have enough strength to save itself (3:14-19). Even if Nineveh prepared for the, the king of Assyria would not recover from the outpouring of God’s vengeance and because of his cruelty, the nations would rejoice in his downfall (v.19). APPLICATION Confess that you deserve God’s wrath for your sin. One of the dangers of reading Nahum is only to look outward at the wicked Assyrians and not to look inward at our own sinful hearts. Although the Assyrian’s wickedness was great, our sin is also offensive to God. Reading about Nineveh’s judgment should lead us to humble ourselves and admit that we, like the Assyrians, deserve God’s wrath. Do not try God’s patience by refusing to repent. In Nahum 1:3, the Lord is described as “slow to anger and great in power.” Even though God is patient with the unrepentant and graciously grants them time to humble themselves, it is foolish to try God’s patience and not repent. No one knows when God will either punish His enemies or discipline His disobedient servants. Look forward to God spreading His fame by punishing sin. If the Lord did not punish sin, people would not know that He is holy and just. When God punished the sins of Nineveh, he revealed His character to a watching world. We can continue to look forward to the day when all accounts are settled before God and He glorifies His Holy name. Thank God, that He provides refuge for those who trust in Him. Although the Lord’s wrath is fierce, those who trust in Him can be confident that God will show them grace. Nahum explains that the “Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he know those who take refuge in Him” (1:7). It is in God’s good character to rescue those who rely upon Him.
Posted on: Fri, 02 Aug 2013 17:23:37 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015