The City is No More

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Introduction
Queen Victoria was celebrating sixty years on the British throne when Rudyard Kipling published his poem “Recessional.”
Not everybody in Great Britain liked the poem because it punctured national pride at a time when the empire was at its peak.
Queen Victoria was celebrating sixty years on the British throne when Rudyard Kipling published his poem “Recessional.” Not everybody in Great Britain liked the poem because it punctured national pride at a time when the empire was at its peak. “Recessional” was a warning that other empires had vanished from the stage of history and theirs might follow in their train. God was still the Judge of the nations. Kipling wrote:
“Recessional” was a warning that other empires had vanished from the stage of history and theirs might follow in their train.
God was still the Judge of the nations. Kipling wrote:
Far-called, our navies melt away;
On dune and headland sinks the fire:
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
The prophet Nahum would have applauded the poem, especially Kipling’s reference to Nineveh, for it was Nahum who wrote the Old Testament book that vividly describes the destruction of Nineveh, the event that marked the beginning of the end for the Assyrian Empire.
Proverbs 16:18 ESV
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
In his brief book, Nahum makes three declarations about God and Nineveh.

God is Jealous: Nineveh will Fall

In his brief book, Nahum makes three declarations about God and Nineveh.
Nahum 1:1–3 ESV
1 An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh. 2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. 3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
N
Nahum 1:2–3 ESV
2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. 3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
Nahum 1:1–3 ESV
1 An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh. 2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. 3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
Be Amazed 1. God Is Jealous: Nineveh Will Fall (Nahum 1:1–15)

God speaks of Himself (Nahum 1:2–8). Three important words in this paragraph need to be understood because they all relate to the character of God: jealousy, vengeance, and anger.

God speaks of Himself ().
Be Amazed 1. God Is Jealous: Nineveh Will Fall (Nahum 1:1–15)

Jealousy is a sin if it means being envious of what others have and wanting to possess it, but it’s a virtue if it means cherishing what we have and wanting to protect it. A faithful husband and wife are jealous over one another and do everything they can to keep their relationship exclusive. “Jealous” and “zealous” come from the same root, for when you’re jealous over someone, you’re zealous to protect the relationship.

Three important words in this paragraph need to be understood because they all relate to the character of God: jealousy, vengeance, and anger.
Jealousy is a sin if it means being envious of what others have and wanting to possess it, but it’s a virtue if it means cherishing what we have and wanting to protect it.
A faithful husband and wife are jealous over one another and do everything they can to keep their relationship exclusive. “Jealous” and “zealous” come from the same root, for when you’re jealous over someone, you’re zealous to protect the relationship.
When God takes vengeance by judging people, it’s because He is a holy God and is jealous (zealous) for His holy law.
When God takes vengeance by judging people, it’s because He is a holy God and is jealous (zealous) for His holy law.
Be Amazed 1. God Is Jealous: Nineveh Will Fall (Nahum 1:1–15)

God’s anger isn’t like human anger, which can be selfish and out of control. His is a holy anger, a righteous indignation against all that defies His authority and disobeys His law.

God’s anger isn’t like human anger, which can be selfish and out of control. His is a holy anger, a righteous indignation against all that defies His authority and disobeys His law.
God’s anger isn’t like human anger, which can be selfish and out of control. His is a holy anger, a righteous indignation against all that defies His authority and disobeys His law.
God speaks to Nineveh (, ).
He informs the leaders of Assyria that He knows their plots (vv. 9, 11) and will cause all of their plans to fail.
God speaks to Nineveh (, ). He informs the leaders of Assyria that He knows their plots (vv. 9, 11) and will cause all of their plans to fail.
Nahum 1:14 ESV
14 The Lord has given commandment about you: “No more shall your name be perpetuated; from the house of your gods I will cut off the carved image and the metal image. I will make your grave, for you are vile.”
The plotter mentioned in verse 11 is the king of Assyria, and God addresses him in verse 14, making three declarations:
(1) his dynasty will end, because he will have no descendants;
The plotter mentioned in verse 11 is the king of Assyria, and God addresses him in verse 14, making three declarations: (1) his dynasty will end, because he will have no descendants; (2) the help of his gods and goddesses will end, because they will be destroyed; and (3) his life will end, because God will prepare his grave.
(2) the help of his gods and goddesses will end, because they will be destroyed; and
(3) his life will end, because God will prepare his grave.
God speaks to Judah (, ).
God speaks to Judah (, ). Although the Assyrian army outnumbered the army of Judah, and Assyria had more allies to help them fight, that didn’t mean Assyria was bound to win, for God was fighting on behalf of Judah. Yes, the Lord had used Assyria to chasten Judah in the past, but that would not happen again. This time, God would break the yoke and remove the shackles that Assyria had put on Judah, and Assyria would attack them no more.
Although the Assyrian army outnumbered the army of Judah, and Assyria had more allies to help them fight, that didn’t mean Assyria was bound to win, for God was fighting on behalf of Judah.
Yes, the Lord had used Assyria to chasten Judah in the past, but that would not happen again.
This time, God would break the yoke and remove the shackles that Assyria had put on Judah, and Assyria would attack them no more.

God is Judge: How Nineveh will Fall

In 612 b.c., the Medes and the Babylonians united to attack Nineveh, and the Lord used them to judge the evil city.
Nahum 2:13 ESV
13 Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall no longer be heard.
In 612 b.c., the Medes and the Babylonians united to attack Nineveh, and the Lord used them to judge the evil city.

God is Just: Why Nineveh will Fall

God is long-suffering, but there comes a time when His hand of judgment falls.
Genesis 18:25 ESV
25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”
Nahum gives three reasons why Nineveh deserved to be judged.
God is long-suffering, but there comes a time when His hand of judgment falls.
Nahum gives three reasons why Nineveh deserved to be judged.
Their ruthless bloodshed.
Their idolatry.
Their pride and self-confidence.

Conclusion

Like the Book of Jonah, the Book of Nahum ends with a question: “for who has not felt you endless cruelty?” (v. 19, niv)
Nahum emphasizes the same truth that was declared by the Prophet Amos: God punishes cruel nations that follow inhumane policies and brutal practices ().
Like the Book of Jonah, the Book of Nahum ends with a question: “for who has not felt you endless cruelty?” (v. 19, niv) Nahum emphasizes the same truth that was declared by the Prophet Amos: God punishes cruel nations that follow inhumane policies and brutal practices (). Whether it’s practicing genocide, exploiting the poor, supporting slavery, or failing to provide people with the necessities of life, the sins of national leaders are known by God and He eventually judges.
Whether it’s practicing genocide, exploiting the poor, supporting slavery, or failing to provide people with the necessities of life, the sins of national leaders are known by God and He eventually judges.
Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Amazed, “Be” Commentary Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 106.
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