Let’s Meet Nahum !
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Just three chapters … only 47 verses … but fasten your seat belts and get ready for a holy tirade against the enemies of God’s people. And when it’s all over you will be “clapping your hands” ( 3:19) at the Lord’s victory !
So a spot of background details
to begin …
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(1) MEET THE PROPHET
* WHO was Nahum ? He was a prophet of God … though
some Liberal theologians have decided
he was actually “ a false prophet.” !! ( C. Martin p. 27)
* WHERE did he come from ? Elkosh. ( 1:1) But no-one is sure these days where
exactly that was. Capernaum means
‘village of Nahum’ ... was that the hometown of our prophet ?
* HOW does he bring God’s
message ? In poetry. We will use the N.I.V. translation that brings this style to the
fore. Hebrew poetry does not rhyme .. there is no parallelism of sound at the
end of each line such as is usual in English poetry. Rather there is a
parallelism of thought … the same thought is expressed in two or or even three lines.
For example ….
3:19 Nothing can heal
your wound; … (A)
your injury is fatal. …………….. (B)
Everyone who
hears the news about you (C)
claps his hands at your fall, …………. (D)
Notice how lines A & B say the same thing in different
words.
Likewise lines C & D .
* WHY does he prophesy ? … because God has given him a word of judgment against the proud and cruel Assyrian empire with its capital, Nineveh. “ Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” ( 2 Peter 1:21)
* WHEN did he proclaim his message ? We know from secular history that Nineveh was destroyed in 612 B.C. And it was still future in Nahum’s day. But we will read that “Thebes”, capital of Upper Egypt, had already fallen. ( Nahum 3:8) That was 663 B.C.
Which puts our prophet in between those two dates.
663 B.C . ……………… Nahum …………….. 612 B.C.
Fall of Thebes Fall of Nineveh.
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(2) MEET THE ENEMY
Assyria … her Splendour ! It looms large in the Old Testament. For 300 years she was a force to be reckoned with. Six of her kings are mentioned in Scripture.
Assyria … her Glory ! Magnificent palaces ! Massive walls 100 feet high ! Eight miles in circumference !
Assyria … her Cruelty ! Captives were skinned alive. Pyramids of human heads were left in destroyed cities. Barbaric tortures were inflicted upon the conquered ones and then depicted in bas relief upon Assyria’s palace walls.
Assyria … her destiny. God says , through His prophet, that he will make an “ utter end” of Nineveh. ( 1:8) And He did. For 2500 years its site was lost to human history. Incidentally, God also said the Jewish nation would not be made “ an utter end” (Jeremiah 5:10-18) and sure enough , they are still with us !
Assyria … her Discovery ! It was Austin Henry Layard who eventually excavated the ruins of Nineveh in 1845-1851 and sent its treasures to the British Museum. There they may be seen , confirming the Book of Nahum. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
(3) MEET THE JUDGE !
( Nahum 1:2-8) ( NIV translation )
(a) He is a God of INFLEXIBLE JUSTICE (2-3a)
In His holy love for His people He can bear no rival. He is a ‘jealous’ God. And He will take vengeance on those who attack them.
2 The LORD is a
jealous and avenging God;
the LORD takes vengeance and is filled
with wrath.
The LORD takes vengeance on his foes
and maintains his wrath against his
enemies.
3 The LORD is slow to
anger and great in power;
the LORD will not leave the guilty
unpunished.
(b) He is a God of INCREDIBLE
POWER. ( 3b-6) … the One who is supreme over all nature. ‘The winds and the
waves obey His will…’
3 His way is in
the whirlwind and the storm,
and clouds are the dust of his feet.
4 He rebukes the sea
and dries it up;
he makes all the rivers run dry.
Bashan and Carmel wither
and the blossoms of Lebanon fade.
5 The mountains quake
before him
and the hills melt away.
The earth trembles at his presence,
the world and all who live in it.
6 Who can withstand
his indignation?
Who can endure his fierce anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire;
the rocks are shattered before him.
(c ) He is a God of INFINITE MERCY (1:7) He
knoweth them that are … rich ? (No !) … that are clever ?( No !) … that are
famous? (No!) … that trust in Him ! ( YES!) ( 1:7)
7 The LORD is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,
(d) He is a God of IRREPROACHABLE PROMISES (1:8) He said He would destroy Nineveh … and He did. He is “ not a man that He should lie !”
8 but
with an overwhelming flood
he will make an end of Nineveh ;
he will pursue his foes into darkness.
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The Word of God is a “ two-edged sword.” It cuts both ways. For Nineveh it was a message of Doom. For God’s people it was a message of Blessing ! And it’s just the same today …
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OUTLINE …
1:2-8 …. Meet the Judge !
1:9-15 … Judgment is Declared
2:1-13 … Judgment is
Described
3:1-19 … Judgment is
Deserved.
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(4) JUDGMENT IS DECLARED ! ( 1:9-15)
The prophet is speaking to different audiences in the verses that follow.
First, he probably stands in the Judean market place addressing
the gathered crowd …
Nahum
1: 9 Whatever they ( the Assyrians) plot against the
LORD
he
will bring to an end;
trouble will not come a second time.
10 They will be
entangled among thorns
and drunk from their wine;
they will be consumed like dry stubble.
Now, still standing on his
soap-box, he faces the north … and
shouts as if the Assyrian can hear him.
He refers to the Assyrian ambassador who has been sent to demand Judah’s
surrender.
11 From you, O Nineveh
, has one come forth
who plots evil against the LORD
and counsels wickedness.
Now he speaks to the Jews
again…..
12 This is what the
LORD says:
"Although they have allies and are
numerous,
they will be cut off and pass away.
Although I have afflicted you, O Judah ,
I will afflict you no more.
13 Now I will break
their yoke from your neck
and tear your shackles away."
Again he cups his hand to his
mouth and shouts in the direction of Assyria …
14 The LORD has given
a command concerning you, Nineveh :
"You will have no descendants to bear
your name.
I will destroy the carved images and cast
idols
that are in the temple of your gods.
I will prepare your grave,
for you are vile."
( “ How you stink
with sin !” … Living Bible trans.)
Then he speaks to the Jews
again. He shades his eyes and points , pretending to see the runner who is bringing the news of
Nineveh’s destruction ….
15 Look, there on the
mountains,
the feet of one who brings good news,
who proclaims peace!
Celebrate your festivals, O Judah,
and fulfil your vows.
No more will the wicked invade you;
they will be completely destroyed.
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(5) JUDGMENT IS DESCRIBED
(2:1-13)
Nahum dramatises the onslaught of the armies of the Babylonians, Scythians and Medes who combined to conquer Nineveh … In mockery he calls for the Assyrians to try and defend themselves. …
1 An attacker
advances against you, Nineveh .
Guard the fortress,
watch the road,
brace yourselves,
marshal all your strength!
The Jews, who have
already seen their outlying villages desolated by the Assyrians, will proper
again ……
2 The LORD will
restore the splendour of Jacob
like the splendour of Israel,
though destroyers have laid them waste
and have ruined their vines.
The armour of the attackers is
described …
3 The shields of his
soldiers are red;
the warriors are clad in scarlet.
The metal on the chariots flashes
on the day they are made ready;
the spears of pine are brandished.
4 The chariots storm
through the streets,
rushing back and forth through the
squares.
They look like flaming torches;
they dart about like lightning.
The Assyrian commander
will call upon his soldiers to fight …
5 He summons his
picked troops,
yet they stumble on their way.
They dash to the city wall;
the protective shield is put in place.
An ancient historian tells that
the River Tigris flooded and washed away some of Nineveh’s ‘impregnable’ wall.
Thus their enemy , after a long siege, were able to enter the city. …
6 The river gates are
thrown open
and the palace collapses.
The Babylonians plunder and
take captives from the doomed city. …
7 It is decreed that the city
be exiled and carried away.
Its slave girls moan like doves
and beat upon their breasts.
8 Nineveh is like a
pool,
and its water is draining away.
"Stop! Stop!" they cry,
but no one turns back.
9 Plunder the silver!
Plunder the gold!
The supply is endless,
the wealth from all its treasures!
10 She is pillaged,
plundered, stripped!
Hearts melt, knees give way,
bodies tremble, every face grows pale.
Assyria, once famous for its
lion hunting as depicted upon its palace walls, will now be hunted and
killed like a lion…
11 Where now is the
lions' den,
the place where they fed their young,
where the lion and lioness went,
and the cubs, with nothing to fear?
12 The lion killed
enough for his cubs
and strangled the prey for his mate,
filling his lairs with the kill
and his dens with the prey.
13 "I am against
you,"
declares the LORD Almighty.
"I will burn up your chariots in
smoke,
and the sword will devour your young
lions.
I will leave you no prey on the earth.
No longer will your messengers
visit conquered lands demanding tribute … Nineveh is doomed !………
The voices of your messengers
will no longer be heard."
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(6) JUDGMENT IS DESERVED ! ( 3:1-19)
In this closing chapter Nahum lashes out at the sins of Nineveh … cruelty , idolatry, immorality, sorcery, pride … it hardly needs any comment.
1 Woe to the city of
blood,
full of lies,
full of plunder,
never without victims!
2 The crack of whips,
the clatter of wheels,
galloping horses
and jolting chariots!
3 Charging cavalry,
flashing swords
and glittering spears!
Many casualties,
piles of dead,
bodies without number,
people stumbling over the corpses-
4 all because of the
wanton lust of a harlot,
alluring, the mistress of sorceries,
who enslaved nations by her prostitution
and peoples by her witchcraft.
Nineveh is compared to a harlot
… God will display her shame to the nations … and place her, metaphorically
speaking , in the stocks where filth is hurled at her…
5 "I am against
you," declares the LORD Almighty.
"I will lift your skirts over your
face.
I will show the nations your nakedness
and the kingdoms your shame.
6 I will pelt you
with filth,
I will treat you with contempt
and make you a spectacle.
None will be sorry at the news
of her destruction …
7 All who see you
will flee from you and say,
'Nineveh is in ruins—who will mourn for
her?'
Where can I find anyone to comfort
you?"
Thebes, in Egypt, also thought
she was an impregnable city … but she
had been conquered. ….
8 Are you better than
Thebes,
situated on the Nile,
with water around her?
The river was her defense,
the waters her wall.
9 Cush and Egypt were her boundless strength;
Put and Libya were among her allies.
10 Yet she was taken
captive
and went into exile.
Her infants were dashed to pieces
at the head of every street.
Lots were cast for her nobles,
and all her great men were put in chains.
11 You too will become
drunk;
you will go into hiding
and seek refuge from the enemy.
Nineveh will fall like figs
shaken from a tree. Nahum mocks their
defenses and warriors again. …
12 All your fortresses
are like fig trees
with their first ripe fruit;
when they are shaken,
the figs fall into the mouth of the eater.
13 Look at your
troops—
they are all women!
The gates of your land
are wide open to your enemies;
fire has consumed their bars.
14 Draw water for the
siege,
strengthen your defenses!
Work the clay,
tread the mortar,
repair the brickwork!
Nineveh will be left like a
field after a locust plague has passed through…
15 There the fire will
devour you;
the sword will cut you down
and, like grasshoppers, consume you.
Multiply like grasshoppers,
multiply like locusts!
16 You have increased
the number of your merchants
till they are more than the stars of the
sky,
but like locusts they strip the land
and then fly away.
The mention of locusts suggests
another illustration …for as the plague of locusts suddenly departs … so the
inhabitants of Nineveh will soon vanish away …
17 Your guards are
like locusts,
your officials like swarms of locusts
that settle in the walls on a cold day—
but when the sun appears they fly away,
and no one knows where.
18 O king of Assyria,
your shepherds slumber;
your nobles lie down to rest.
Your people are scattered on the mountains
with no one to gather them.
19 Nothing can heal
your wound;
your injury is fatal.
Everyone who hears the news about you
claps his hands at your fall,
for who has not felt
your endless cruelty?
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CONCLUSION
So Nahum draws his prophecy to a conclusion …. A happy ending !! Happy ? Yes , for the enemies of God’s people are about to be destroyed. And what was true in Nahum’s day … is true today.
Yet there may well also be an element of sadness as we contemplate unsaved loved ones bound for a lost eternity.
Might we have the opportunity to remind them that the God we know is “ rich in mercy” if they but turn to the Saviour in repentance and faith.
Nahum1: 7 The LORD is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him.
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