Nahum 5

Nahum 3 (part2)

Lesson of history: (8-10) [v.8]Who is no better than No-Amon? - Nineveh. We need to remember that this prophecy is not against God's people but against Nineveh which was the capital of the cruel, aggressive, wealthy empire of Assyria which had taken over nearly the whole world. I have suggested that Assyria is a picture of assertive man who gets his own way through aggression and oppressing the helpless. Last time I showed that this chapter mirrors very closely the prophesy against Babylon in Rev 17-19 – which is the last empire of man, man ruling by his might, worshipping his own strength and ability, proud and pervasive. This is the empire that is headed by the anti-christ and is destroyed by Jesus at His coming. Assyria was so proud. None could stop her or resist her power. None could withstand her, there was no stopping her advance – and this went to her head. She thought that she was supreme, invincible. She did not realize that she prevailed only because she was an instrument in יהוה's hand. She did not heed the lessons of history. Few do. We are concerned with the now, with no thought for what happened before and little for what lies ahead. Present day man thinks he is superior to what those who preceded him, that we are advanced, that what happened to others in the past will not happen to us. We think that we will go on getting better and better, that our society will continue on for ever, making ever increasing advances in knowledge and technology. Oh the arrogance with which we scorn the mistaken ideas of men in the past – I mean, now we understand how the universe functions – we forget that science books are out of date as soon as they are published and that we are continually proving previous ideas wrong. We don't learn from history! Nineveh should have learned from what had happened to other "invincible" empires! So should we! Look at what happened to Egypt. Egypt ruled the world. No-Amon, or Thebes, was [1] intermittently the capital of Egypt from 2000–661 B.C. It was named after the Egyptian sky-god Amon, whose cult was centred there. It fell to the Assyrians in 661 B.C.. Now, some 50 years later, Nineveh, the Assyrian capital, must fall in similar horror. The "sea" refers to the waters of the Nile on which No-amon was built. It was perhaps Egypt’s most important city for almost 1500 years. The magnificent city straddled both sides of the Nile river which formed a defense around her. But it had proved no protection. Similarly, Nineveh was situated on a river which formed a defense on two sides of the city and three sides of the royal district. Like No-amon, the river defenses would prove no security and destruction would come despite them. Just as it was in No-Amon, so too it would now be in Nineveh. What they had done to No-amon would be done to them. If it happened to others it could happen to them. They shouldn't be arrogant but fear, they should heed the lesson of history. [v.9] Like No-Amon on the Nile, the capital of Egypt, Nineveh on the Tigris, the capital of Assyria would fall in יהוה’s judgement. Her position, greatness, defences, would prove to be no obstacle to the decreed destruction of יהוה - similarly her alliances would prove futile - no help from man can avail against צְבָאוֹת יְהוָה! No-Amon fell, Ethiopia fell, Put and Lubim - none were immune to יהוה’s judgement - neither would Nineveh be. "Ethiopia" was the region south of Egypt i.e. northern Sudan. "Lubim" is Lybia and "Put" is in north Africa, these were neighbours and allies. The mighty Egyptians nation and her allies around her were unable to save No-Amon. Likewise, all the resources Assyria could must would not be able to deliver Nineveh from the coming wrath of יהוה. [v.10] All No-Amon’s might and the help of others proved to no avail - that great city was led away captive, went into exile. Terrible distress and calamity overtook her - her young, innocent, defenseless children were cruelly dashed to pieces. But her great and noble men were no better off - they were carried off as slaves - the invaders casting lots to see who would get whom. They were led off in chains into a life of base slavery. Where was their greatness now? And who did No-Amon fall to? Who exacted these cruel atrocities? - Ashurbanipal in 663 B.C.. It was Assyria who did this! Now what they did to Egypt would be done to them. They were intimately aware of what went on in No-Amon (its destruction and Nineveh’s being less than 50 years apart). Its memory would be vivid. Now they were going to experience it themselves! The same is going to happen to you as you have done to others. Those that have persecuted God’s people will have it returned on their own heads. That is a message of comfort for God's oppressed people.

Ripe for judgement: (11-15) [v.11] Precisely what happened to No-amon would now happen to Nineveh, she was ripe for יהוה's judgement. Assyria was going to be judged. Nineveh, Assyria, had done it to No-amon – it would now be done to them! יהוה is a God of retribution. "You too will become ...."; "You will be ...."; "You too will ..." - it will happen to you! The very same thing you inflicted, will be inflicted upon you in poetic/Divine justice. Nineveh was ripe for judgement. She would reel under invading armies as one drunk. They would be dissembled, hidden, unable to be found - scattered, a city no more, hiding in terror from the invading army in order to preserve their lives. Desperately searching for refuge, a place of safety from their enemies. Where is the military might and terror of Assyria now? They will search for a protection but will not find it, their defences prove useless. [v.12] All Nineveh’s fortifications, of which she was so proud and in which she relied, will not save her. They are like figs - ripe figs that fall off the tree as soon as it is shaken. Ripe for judgement, they will fall into the mouth of the one shaking them - to be consumed by the Medes and Babylonians who would invade them. Trusting in man, in human strength and the works of his hand, is futile! We have our means of security, insurances, investments, contracts, alliances and agreements. There is no security in them. We trust in the security men’s plans promise but it will let us down in the end - we will be shaken and all those things we relied upon will prove to be no defence at all. Nineveh would be shaken – as will all the world. (cf. Hebrews 12:25-29 See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.). [v.13] Like the capital of Egypt, which she had laid waste, so too the capital of Assyria would suffer the same fate. She was so sure of her defences and military might, yet like ripe figs she would be shaken from the tree into the mouths of the devouring armies. Her mighty army will prove to be a pack of women in the day of battle, frightened, fleeing, unable to stand against the onslaught. The enemy will rush into the city, it is laid open before it, they set the great city ablaze and it is utterly consumed. Nineveh’s people are women within her - all those trapped in the besieged city, even the soldiers, are frightened, timid, defenceless, without strength. The city is completely open before her enemies - defenceless - they can just enter straight through the gates - no battering rams and siege engines. They enter right into the city and set it on fire and the great city is consumed! They set the gates on fire and thus they could enter right in, pour in through the gates. [v.14] יהוה warns of the impending invasion - prepare for a siege, store up water, strengthen the defences, build up the fortifications. In Mesopotamia there was no stone for building - they only material available was clay - so construction was from mud bricks - clay was trampled then placed in moulds and dried or, for extra strength, baked in ovens. There is a last minute attempt to make bricks and strengthen the defences. To the east of the city was a series of defence walls - frantically they are to bolster these fortifications at the last moment. But all these human energies, efforts and plans prove futile. They will not stop the invaders that יהוה has sent. Human strength will prove futile in the last analysis. Yet still we rely upon it.

Transient locust: (15-17) [v.15] All these preparations will prove to be of no avail - the city would be set ablaze - it would be consumed! - nothing left! The fire would consume and the sword would cut down, slaying the inhabitants. No matter what they do it cannot prevent what יהוה had decreed. They can multiply themselves like locusts but they would be consumed as the locust does and be scattered and flee. This simile of locusts extends over three verses - picturing the (1) destruction, consuming of the locusts, the stripping, (2) the multiplying of their forces, multiplying of trade, (3) their fleeing, the swarming of military forces then the sudden departure to who knows where – scattered. [v.16] Just as Nineveh is condemned for her prostitution (v.4) so she is condemned for her trading, her merchandising – exactly the same sins as seen in Babylon. Assyria multiplies like locusts her traders by which she gains wealth - they are like stars of heaven in number. Trade is multiplied - what a picture of post WWII civilisation. But no matter how much trade is multiplied it will all fly away just like the swarm of locusts suddenly moves on. The commercial materialistic capitalistic system that we take assume will go on forever will collapse (cf. Revelation 18:10-20 'Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’ And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more— cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble, and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives. The fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and men will no longer find them. The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls; for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!’ And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood at a distance, and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What city is like the great city?’ And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!’ Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her.”), God has no love for trading and merchandising – this is the basis of our society and the traders will be judged [Zechariah 14:21 Every cooking pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to the Lord of hosts; and all who sacrifice will come and take of them and boil in them. And there will no longer be a merchant in the house of the יהוה of armies in that day.]. No matter how numerous and large the organisation becomes, still it will be stripped bare - for, like locusts, the invaders will come and strip bare, leaving nothing - then they will depart leaving devastation and desolation in their wake. The picture of the devastation caused by locusts was a familiar one to those in this part of the world - but now it would happen to them, not just their crops! [v.17] The simile of locust was used to describe Nineveh - both the multiplying of their numbers, forces, trade and wealth; and of the total annihilation that would come upon them - stripping them of everything they had. Like locusts too, though they were a mighty swarm, suddenly they would be gone, scattered, to no one knows where. Hoards upon hoards of locusts in great swarms settle on the heat retaining walls on a cold day - but the next day,when the sum comes out, they are gone - who knows where? Similarly, the vast hoards of Assyrians who overran the world would vanish and no one would know what had happened to them. How mighty Nineveh had made herself, she exalted herself – but in a moment she would be gone. The mighty Assyrian empire would be no more. Who knew of the Assyrian greatness until the archaeological discoveries of the 19th Century? Their vast organisational structure, with its myriads of officials and military commanders would completely disappear. They thought they were the greatest empire to rule the world and that would endure forever but they were as transitory as the locust. Let us beware of the same arrogant pride that thinks we will continually go on getting bigger and better forever without any end.

Just desserts: (18-19) [v.18] This is the end of Nineveh. She has received what she deserved for all her cruelty, violence, greed and pride, her arrogant rejection of יהוה. Assyria has disintegrated, the structure, the administration that held it together had fallen apart. The reason it fell was because the leadership had abdicated from their responsibility - they took things easy - everything was set up, so they no longer led the people - they were asleep, unprepared! So despite the outward appearance of strength, Nineveh was a house of cards because there was no leadership, no preparedness, watchfulness. Attacks could be prepared and no one bothered to do anything about it until it was too late. So the people were scattered because they had no leaders to lead them nor to re-gather them once they were scattered. Nineveh fell because of יהוה’s judgement but the tactical reason was the failure of Assyrian leadership. In their wealth, affluence, luxury, greatness and pride they had got fat and lazy and no longer led the people under them as the leaders had in the days when the empire made its conquests. There is a moral for us - don’t rest on your laurels, don’t ease up, relax or take it easy, sit back and live off your achievements and what you’ve gained - immediately you do you are vulnerable to enemy attack. When leaders fail, the people are lost. [v.19] Assyria’s condition is terminal! She will not rise again. There will be no relief for her distress, no healing for the mortal blow she has received. Her wickedness is so great, has accumulated so much that her condition is incurable. All look upon her and the calamity that has befallen her with horror – like those we read of in Revelation 18 who cry "woe to the great city". The righteous rejoice over her downfall. Her evil continued forever, continually - so too will be the evil, the bad, that comes upon her - it will pass over her always. She will get what she deserves. She will never be able to raise herself to be a city again! Nahum keeps his final word for the king of Assyria. His leaders are asleep. They no longer care. His people are dispersed. The damage is final and irreversible. Nineveh has at last suffered the fate she so richly deserved. יהוה has spoken! The sentence is final! Nineveh is no more! This is the end of those who selfishly, in great pride, pursue their own interests through violence and corruption, who amass wealth through the oppression and destruction of others - who thumb their nose at God and made themselves great. They will get what their deeds deserve. A comfort to God's people – the proud oppressor will be no more – the meek will inherit the earth.

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