Background
About 100 years after Jonah proclaimed Nineveh’s destruction, Nahum, a prophet from Elkosh, delivers his vision from God regarding the city, which was the capital of Assyria. As those of you who participated in The Story know, Assyria was one of the dominant powers of the ancient world — the northern kingdom of Israel fell to Assyrian forces in 722 B.C.Â
In 701 B.C., the Assyrians invaded the southern kingdom of Judah under Sennacherib’s rule. Rabshakeh, Sennacherib’s general, boasted to Hezekiah how none of the gods of the nations Assyria had conquered had been able to deliver their people (2 Kings 19:10-11). But God did spare Judah — Sennacherib, king of Assyria, returned to Nineveh and died there. However, God still had a message for Judah, which He delivered through Nahum.
At the time of Nahum’s prophecy, Nineveh was the pinnacle of wealth and power, secure behind impregnable walls. Or so she thought. It was Assyria’s turn to feel the force of God’s wrath when the armies of Babylon stormed Nineveh in 612 B.C. The entire Assyrian empire crumbled three years later.
Nahum — whose name, ironically, means “comforter” — teaches the sure judgment of God against those who oppose His will and abuse His people. Although God previously used Assyria as an instrument of His judgment against Israel, Nahum prophesies that He also will judge Assyria by His standards of righteousness and holiness. Nahum writes his fiery prophecy some time before the Babylonians invade Assyria in 612 B.C.
Synopsis
Destruction Decreed
Nahum begins by describing the character of God. Because of God’s absolute righteousness, He is a God of vengeance (1:2), yet He also is characterized by patience (being slow to anger) and power (1:3). He cannot let evil go unpunished (1:4-6), but He is good and gracious to those who take refuge in Him (1:7). However, He will overthrow those who rebel against Him (1:8). The Lord will make an end of evil plotted against Him (1:9). Nineveh stands condemned of her sins against holy God (1:9-14).
Nahum shares the Lord’s command concerning Nineveh: “Your name will no longer be perpetuated. I will cut off idol and image from the house of your gods. I will prepare your grave, for you are contemptible” (1:14). Nothing can stand in the way of Assyria’s judgment, and God — through Nahum — delivers His message of comfort for Judah: “Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; pay your vows. For never again will the wicked one pass through you; he is cut off completely” (1:15).
Destruction Described
Nahum beings chapter 2 by prophesying that Assyria will be conquered and Judah will be restored (2:1-2). He goes on to describe the siege of Nineveh (2:3-7) before launching into a vivid description of the battle that will ensue (2:8-13). He prophesies that Nineveh will be laid desolate and waste, experience tremendous anguish, and be emptied. The Lord Himself speaks in 2:13, declaring “Behold, I am against you.” Nineveh/Assyria has made an enemy of God Almighty, and destruction is assured.
Destruction Deserved
“Woe to the bloody city” (3:1) — Nahum beings the third and final part of his prophecy with these fateful words. He closes the book of judgment with God’s reason for Nineveh’s impending overthrow. The city is characterized by cruelty and corruption (3:1-7), and once again the Lord declares “behold, I am against you” (3:5). Just as Assyria crushed the Egyptian capital city of Thebes (No Amon), Assyria’s capital city — Nineveh — will also be destroyed (3:8-10). Nineveh may be a well-fortified city and think herself impervious to defeat, but defeat will come — “all your fortifications are fig trees with ripe fruit — when shaken, they fall into the eater’s mouth” (3:12).Â
Despite making preparations for battle, there is nothing Nineveh can do to avoid God’s judgment. Destruction is inevitable (3:11-19). Nahum ends his prophecy with a devastating statement about Nineveh’s future: “There is no relief for your breakdown; your wound is incurable. All who hear about you will clap their hands over you, for on whom has not your evil passed continually?” (3:19).
Relevance
Unlike many of the other prophetic books we have examined, Nahum doesn’t offer hope and is one of those “gloom and doom” messages. Who can imagine that a good and gracious God could act vengefully and exercise great wrath? Indeed, who can imagine a God who declares “Behold, I am against you?” We certainly don’t want to, and yet — God is holy and righteous and to be true to His own character, God must judge those that do not turn from their sin and seek salvation and deliverance in Him.
Reading a book like Nahum can serve as a wake-up call for those of us who have become complacent in pursuing God’s righteousness. Not wanting God to declare Himself to be against us, remembering His jealous and vengeful nature can lead us to a higher standard of holiness and even greater appreciation and gratitude for His mercy. And still — so many in our own world are doomed to suffer Nineveh’s judgment unless they repent and turn to God. As Christians, we need to allow God to use us to speak truth into their lives and encourage them to come to God and avoid the outpouring of His wrath, for it is coming.
Food for Thought
Do I believe God is jealous and vengeful (1:2), or do I only acknowledge His grace and compassion? Do I take His kindness for granted?
Can a compassionate person deliver the type of message Nahum (the “comforter”) did? If God were to impress upon me to deliver this kind of message to others, would I do it?
Great Drill, Sarah!
Your mention of Sennacherib reminded me of one of my favorite poems. It’s by Lord Byron:
THE DESTRUCTION OF SENNACHERIB, first published in 1815
The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold,
And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold;
And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea,
When the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee.
Like the leaves of the forest when Summer is green,
That host with their banners at sunset were seen:
Like the leaves of the forest when Autumn hath blown,
That host on the morrow lay withered and strown.
For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast,
And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed;
And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill,
And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still!
And there lay the steed with his nostril all wide,
But through it there rolled not the breath of his pride;
And the foam of his gasping lay white on the turf,
And cold as the spray of the rock-beating surf.
And there lay the rider distorted and pale,
With the dew on his brow, and the rust on his mail:
And the tents were all silent, the banners alone,
The lances unlifted, the trumpet unblown.
And the widows of Ashur are loud in their wail,
And the idols are broke in the temple of Baal;
And the might of the Gentile, unsmote by the sword,
Hath melted like snow in the glance of the Lord!
Ryan Z
July 19th, 2006
That is a great poem, Ryan (or is Pastor Heather’s Husband today?) Thanks for sharing!
Sarah O.
July 19th, 2006