Introduction to Nahum’s Prophecy

Series: The Minor Prophets

Text: Nah 1:1-15

Introduction: (What?)

Nahum means “Comfort” which is interesting given the severity of his prophecy. His message is a comfort to Judah, but not so much to Nineveh. His book is somewhat of a sequel to the book of Jonah. Jonah was called by God to prophesy against Nineveh (capital of Assyria). Instead of judging them, God relented because of a citywide revival. However in later years Nineveh forgot the mercy of God and reverted to their evil ways. Nahum’s message for Judah is “Don’t despair. God is still on His throne and He will deal with Nineveh. The application for us today is that just because we were once “a nation under God” does not mean that we have a “get out of jail free” card that allows us to revert to sinful ways and still have God’s blessings shed on us.

Examination: (Why?)

1. God of Vengeance (vv 1-6)

Nah 1:1-6 “1 The pronouncement concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. 2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is fierce in wrath. The Lord takes vengeance against his foes; he is furious with his enemies. 3 The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will never leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath his feet. 4 He rebukes the sea and dries it up, and he makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither; even the flower of Lebanon withers. 5 The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt; the earth trembles at his presence— the world and all who live in it. 6 Who can withstand his indignation? Who can endure his burning anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; even rocks are shattered before him.”

We love to talk about the God of mercy, love and blessing, however that is just one part of who God is. He is the God who vehemently hates sin and will not allow it to go unpunished. The punishment for sin will either fall on the sinner or, if the sinner repents, on the Advocate for the Sinner…Jesus Christ.

Recall that in the Book of Jonah we saw where Jonah reluctantly obeyed God and preached a sermon of judgment upon the city of Nineveh. Actually he only got part way through his sermon, eight words to be exact, (“In forty days Nineveh will be demolished.”) when the entire city, including the King, repented and God relented. However, rather than continuing in their repentant state of revival, Nineveh reverted back to their sinful ways. Nahum comes on the scene in @663 BC to reaffirm God’s judgment on sin and unrepentant sinners. His message is called an oracle of doom. To set up this message Nahum first presented the side of God that they (and we) would just as soon forget.

In vv 2-15 he enumerates this side of God.

Jealous and avenging (v 2) This is not new news. God announced in the 10 commandments that He is a jealous God who will not tolerate worship of any other God.

Fiercely wrathful (v 2)

A God of vengeance (v 2)

A God who, though slow to anger, is not at all weak when it comes to punishing sin. (v 3)

A God who will never overlook sin (v 3-5)

A God before whom no one can stand once judgment is enacted. ( v 6)

If we, like Nineveh, are depending on our past repentance and obedience to God while drifting into the sin of idolizing self (me, my, mine) we will just as surely face judgment.

2. Complete Destruction of Nineveh (vv 7-11)

Nineveh became the capital of Assyria, and under King Sennacherib (Isa and Jer) was the base of operations for the overthrow of Judah. It is Modern day Mosul in Iraq.

Nah 1:7-11“7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in a day of distress; he cares for those who take refuge in him.

8 But he will completely destroy Nineveh with an overwhelming flood, (the Tigris river overflowed and partially destroyed Nineveh) and he will chase his enemies into darkness. (Sheol, the place of the dead) 9 Whatever you plot against the Lord, he will bring it to complete destruction; (The Medes defeated the Assyrian Empire and totally destroyed Nineveh in 612 BC @56 years after Nahum’s prophecy) oppression will not rise up a second time. 10 For they will be consumed like entangled thorns, like the drink of a drunkard and like straw that is fully dry. 11 One has gone out from you, who plots evil against the Lord, and is a wicked counselor.” (some translations say “counselor of Belial” or Satan. This probably referred to Sennacherib who had invaded Judah in 701 BC) The ruins of Nineveh were discovered by British archeologists in 1874.

3. The Deliverance of Judah and the End of the Assyrian King (vv 12-15)

God, through Nahum, now spoke to the people of Judah.

Nah 1:12-15 “12 This is what the Lord says: Though they are strong and numerous, they will still be mowed down, and he (the king) will pass away. Though I have punished you, I will punish you no longer. 13 For I will now break off his yoke from you and tear off your shackles. 14 The Lord has issued an order concerning you: (the king of Assyria)There will be no offspring to carry on your name. I will eliminate the carved idol and cast image from the house of your gods; I will prepare your grave, for you are contemptible. 15 Look to the mountains— the feet of the herald, who proclaims peace. Celebrate your festivals, Judah; fulfill your vows. For the wicked one will never again march through you; he will be entirely wiped out.”

God’s judgment against Assyria and her king was fulfilled in 612 BC. Up until that time the inhabitants of Judah had been unable to go to Jerusalem to celebrate the festivals and feasts. Now God told them to go up to the festivals and to fulfill the vows they had made during the siege against them. Evidently they had prayed some “foxhole” prayers, and now God was calling them to make good on their promises.

Application: (How does this apply to me/us today?)

We love to speak of America as being a “Christian Nation” blessed by God and under the rule of God. However, what may have been at one time is no more. A recent poll shows that between the Reagan presidency and today the % of people in America claiming to be Christian has decreased from 91% in 1976 to 64% in 2022. (46 years) That is in our lifetime. The bottom line is that we are NOT making disciples of all nations. Our open borders are welcoming people of various religions (and non-religions) constantly and we are not reaching them with the gospel of Christ. Failure to do God’s will always results in judgment. God has been patient with us and has given us ample time to repent and fulfill our assignment. We can’t presume that His patience will continue.

I’m not a prophet, but my prediction is that before Jesus returns America will be judged. I think that accounts for the fact that no where in scripture is THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA mentioned. However, we can take solace in the fact that when Jonah preached and Nineveh repented God relented in His planned judgment. Our only hope is 2 Chron 7:14 “14 and my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” Turning from our evil ways means turning TO obedience to the commands of God…specifically the Great Commission.