Judgemental Grace

Introduction

Good evening! My name is Brenton, and I am on staff here at Apostles Downtown. If this is your first time at Apostles or you are just beginning to check us out here, I want to welcome you. We are so glad you decided to join us.

Tonight, we are continuing our series called Reviving Grace. Over the past 5 weeks, we have been studying the books of Jonah and Nahum. We have seen the journey of Jonah to preach the message of repentance to the Ninevites including a short detour through the belly of the whale, and now in the book of Nahum, just 150 years after Jonah entered the gates of Ninevah, God is pouring out his wrath on the people of the city.

I want to admit to you that this text has not been an easy text to process as I have prepared for tonight. As I have read the text, I have wrestled with the idea that a God so full of love and grace could take out so much wrath on a people. I’m sure many of you are wrestling with this idea yourself, or you have found yourself in a discussion with someone about how a God of love could allow things to happen like the events that we just read aloud in want you to know that this place is a place where we can ask hard questions and process these hard ideas together. Where we can discuss these difficult topics together in a community.

And, I know a passage with this much vivid imagery of death and destruction can draw up a multitude of emotions, and I want to let you know that I want to be sensitive to those emotions tonight. As we dive deeper into this text, you may find yourself sensing emotions that you did not expect to have to encounter tonight. I want you to know that it is ok to sense emotion as we discuss these verses tonight. Don’t let those emotions tonight divide you from hearing the word of the Lord, but rather, let them be moments where you allow God to speak to to certain things in your heart tonight through the emotions you may feel.

So before we begin, can we go to God and ask him to guide us through this difficult passage tonight?

Father, we come tonight asking for your divine wisdom as we process your scriptures together tonight. May you guide us as we discuss topics such as wrath and destruction. May you continually remind us that you are slow to anger. That you love us and you are with us. Father, we ask tonight that you would allow us to look more deeply into your character to see the depths of your love for your people. We commit ourselves and this time to you. Amen.

Some of my favorite movies growing up were movies with epic battle scenes. I am not sure this was the best thing for my young mind as it formed, but I vividly remember several movies that I watched more times than I can count. These movies captivated me.

Now before you begin to judge my choice of movies, there was usually a theme that flowed through these movies and battle scenes. There was usually a great army of power. One side was always much stronger or more evil than the other side. This was the side that was expected to win the battle and plunder the other side. This was the side that had all the chariots, weapons, and manpower. They looked and acted the part of conquering warriors.

But then there was the other side. Usually, a smaller army with less weapons, less skill, and less manpower. Or there was an opressed people looking to break away from the greater evil force that had been holding them captive. This was the underdog.

I watched these scenes each time on the edge of my seat. Waiting for the underdog to rise up against the evil army and defeat them. My emotions rode this roller coaster as the less skilled army in the end rose up to defeat the other, more skilled, side.

At the end most of the time, the small army would be standing on the battle field looking out over the sprawling field of death and destruction, breathing heavily, and processing their miraculous victory. And most of the time, there was this miracle moment where this smaller force was able to take hold of the battle and complete the stunning victory.

These moments brought about a certain emotion for me. The oppressed had beat the oppressor.

For us a westerners, we usually take the viewpoint of the oppressed. Just as I watched these movies, through the viewpoint of the underdog. We connect with the oppressed and Vulnerable.

This prophecy was written for the Israelites.

So you may be asking tonight why God would pour out his wrath upon the Ninevites. Well, Nineveh was the oppressor. The strongest of the strong in Assyria. Nineveh was feared. For anyone in the region, nothing would have been worse than Nineveh marching troops toward your gates of your city. Nineveh was evil. They had no regard for human life, and they took no mercy on their enemies. They were proud. They showed no mercy. And the people of Israel was one of Nineveh’s main targets. For years, the people of Israel had been the enslaved and exploited at the hands of the Ninevites.

In our passage tonight, Nineveh was the oppressor. The strongest of the strong in Assyria. Nineveh was feared. For anyone in the region, nothing would have been worse than Nineveh marching troops toward your gates of your city. Nineveh was evil. They had no regard for human life, and they took no mercy on their enemies. They were proud. They showed no mercy. And the people of Israel was one of Nineveh’s main targets. For years, the people of Israel had been the enslaved and exploited at the hands of the Ninevites.

In our western culture, we have a predominately compassionate people. For most all of us, we cringe at the thought of evil and death. We want to

So as the people of Israel heard this prophecy from Nahum. You can imagine that there was a bit of elation from the Israelites. For a people that had been at the hands of these evil people, God’s wrath being poured out on the Ninevites was welcome news.

This was not an unjust judgement for Nineveh. This was not God raging out against the Ninevites for no reason. We had just encountered a few weeks ago when God sent Jonah to Nineveh to preach to the people of the city. And they repented. But now just generations later, they had turned their backs toward God. They had went back to doing the same things that they were doing before Jonah showed up. And God’s grace that we saw in Jonah is now turning to wrath in Nahum.

We see in scripture: in that God is slow to anger. God had been patient with the Ninevites. He had watched them turn away from his commandments and teaching. And now the wrath of God would be poured out upon the city. Nineveh, and its proud and boastful evil, was about to be no more.

So lets look at . And see how God’s wrath was turned towards Nineveh.

See, I watched these movies from the viewpoint of the oppressed. I longed to see the lesser army win.

In our westernized culture, we have a sense of compassion about evil things. For most all of us, we cringe at the thought of evil and death. We wrestle with anyone dying, even the

NINEVEH’S WARNING (VS. 1-2)

Nahum 2:1–2 ESV

1 The scatterer has come up against you. Man the ramparts; watch the road; dress for battle; collect all your strength. 2 For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob as the majesty of Israel, for plunderers have plundered them and ruined their branches.

Chapter two begins with a warning. A warning from Nahum to the people of Nineveh. The armies are preparing to have their day with Nineveh. Nineveh should begin making preparations because they are about to meet their fate. This mighty and powerful city of evil is about to be brought to its knees.

Verse 1 says “the scatterer has come up against you”. Not only has the babylonians and Medes come upon the gates of the city, but the wrath of God is about to be poured out upon the city. For all of the evil that Nineveh has done to the people of Israel, God is about to scatter the people of Israel. None will be left.

Verse 2 shows the restorative quality of God. This battle is not an outpouring of God’s wrath for no reason. For more than two decades, the city of Nineveh has been oppressing the people of God. Violent acts of evil had been done to the people of Israel. Nineveh had showed no mercy to the people. They had been plundered and ruined. And now God is restoring his people. He is breaking free the oppressed.

It is this quality of God that helps us to see why this is happening to Nineveh.

God has not forgotten his people. He will break the chains that are put on the oppressed. He is breaking the chains that Nineveh had put on the the people of Israel. No longer will they fall victim to the Nineveh. No longer will they fear captivity, because the scatterer is coming upon the powerful city of Nineveh.

The day for the oppressor Nineveh has arrived.

THE BATTLE (VS. 3-10)

1. Assembling of the Troops

Assembling of the Troops

Nahum 2:3 ESV

3 The shield of his mighty men is red; his soldiers are clothed in scarlet. The chariots come with flashing metal on the day he musters them; the cypress spears are brandished.

While Nahum never specifically name the approaching army toward Nineveh, we know for other sources that the enemy coming upon the walls and gates of Nineveh was the Babylonians and Medes.

Nahum vividly describes this oncoming army with chilling detail. As we read this verse, we picture this mighty conquering army coming toward the city of Nineveh.

Shield…red - whether painted red or from the red of the blood of past enemies, this army is coming with great might and power.

Chariots…flashing metal/cypress spears - the chariots are coming to ruin the city. Fast and powerful, loaded with skilled soldiers, the people of Nineveh will meet their doom at the coming chariots with sharped weapons ready for battle

2. Advance toward the city

Advance toward the city

Nahum 2:4 ESV

4 The chariots race madly through the streets; they rush to and fro through the squares; they gleam like torches; they dart like lightning.

Now these chariots are racing to and through the city. You can imagine these chariots rushing to and fro through the places where the people are. Nothing can escape their speed, and no area of the city is safe as they search out the Ninevites for their spoils. They madly dash through the city square; the place where the Ninevites gathered. The city is now officially under seige. There is no turning back now. The walls have been breached. The assault is now on. The speed of the conquering army cannot be matched.

3. Launch of the Assault

Nahum 2:5–6 ESV

5 He remembers his officers; they stumble as they go, they hasten to the wall; the siege tower is set up. 6 The river gates are opened; the palace melts away;

Not only are the chariots darting around the city, but now we see the foot soldiers approaching the wall of the city. They hastily move toward the wall of the city. Looking to break down the walls of the city and plunder it. They stumble as they go over the city’s fortifications.

Nineveh had massive walls. Not just one singular wall, but inner and outer wall that protected the city. According to records, when Sennacherib was king of Assyria he built a massive outer wall that he said was “The wall that terrifies the enemy”. We could assume this wall could be seen far and wide. Tall and overpowering this wall kept most armies from even attempting to take Nineveh. But this “terrifying” wall would be no match for the approaching army.

Verse 6 mentions the palace melting away. Most likely the approaching armies opened the gates in the rivers that controlled water flow, and the city began to flood. Some records show that part of the downfall of Nineveh was a flood. As the flood waters came rushing into the city, the palace of power in Nineveh began to be overtaken by the waters and melted away into the rushing water. No longer would Nineveh have power in the land.

4. Prisoners are taken

Nahum 2:7 ESV

7 its mistress is stripped; she is carried off, her slave girls lamenting, moaning like doves and beating their breasts.

And as the doors of the palace are swung open, the people are being carried away. Not only are the walls, structures, and city being ruined, but the armies are taking and capturing the Ninevites. We see the pain in verse 7, as the armies carry off the people off from the city, there is moaning and lamenting. The women of the city are being carried off as slaves.

5. City is plundered

City is plundered

Nahum 2:8–10 ESV

8 Nineveh is like a pool whose waters run away. “Halt! Halt!” they cry, but none turns back. 9 Plunder the silver, plunder the gold! There is no end of the treasure or of the wealth of all precious things. 10 Desolate! Desolation and ruin! Hearts melt and knees tremble; anguish is in all loins; all faces grow pale!

Verse 8 is the first time that Nineveh is talked about by name. This is the final blow for Nineveh. As the walls have crumbled, as the palace has been destroyed, and the people sent running from the city, now the armies plunder the vast riches of the city. All of the treasures that have been gathered from the ruins of other cities is now being carried out on the chariots of the invading army. No more gold, no more silver, only desolation and ruin is left in the city of Nineveh.

NINEVEH DEFEATED (VS. 11-13)

NINEVEH DEFEATED (VS. 11-13)

Nahum 2:11–13 ESV

11 Where is the lions’ den, the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion and lioness went, where his cubs were, with none to disturb? 12 The lion tore enough for his cubs and strangled prey for his lionesses; he filled his caves with prey and his dens with torn flesh. 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.

Nahum 2:11–12 ESV

11 Where is the lions’ den, the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion and lioness went, where his cubs were, with none to disturb? 12 The lion tore enough for his cubs and strangled prey for his lionesses; he filled his caves with prey and his dens with torn flesh.

Nahum 2:11–13 ESV

Where is the lions’ den, the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion and lioness went, where his cubs were, with none to disturb? The lion tore enough for his cubs and strangled prey for his lionesses; he filled his caves with prey and his dens with torn flesh. 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.

Verse 11 and 12 change from a description of the desolation to a taunting of the city of Nineveh. The lion of Nineveh has now been defeated. No longer will does the lion of Nineveh roar in power, but rather it cowers in defeat. Nineveh was known to release lions on its victims to let the lions prowl and destroy whatever or whoever was left behind. Now no longer does the lion roam because Nineveh is now the victim. Nothing is left. Everything has been looted and carried away. All power has been stripped away.

But verse 13 holds the declaration that we never want to hear from the God. “Behold, I am against you”. God is the ultimate warrior coming to the city of Nineveh. While the destruction is being done at the hands of the Babylonians and Medes, it is God who’s wrath is being poured out. Nahum is clear that this destruction is at the hands of the Lord of Host. No longer would the Lion of Assyria roar and hunt throughout the land for God had shut its mouth.

he Message to the Opressor

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.

Conclusion

So how do we deal with such a vivid and devastating piece of scripture. Is there something inside these verses for us tonight? Or is this just a piece of ancient history?

I believe there is something for us tonight. So lets look at a couple of ways that we can see this passage in ourselves?

What does this mean for us today?

A. Warning

First, this passage will serve as a warning for some here tonight. Some of you have been living like the Ninevites, proud and arrogant. Thinking that you are to powerful and cunning for God to get at you. Or there are some that have forgotten the grace that God gave you. You forgot the message that has been given to you before. Just as the Ninevites disregarded the message of Jonah years before. We have begun to live our lives our own way, negating the grace that God has. We don’t think that God will have wrath for us. After all, he is a loving and patient God. He is slow to anger as we see in . But like the passage, we know that there will be a moment where God will get his wrath. His patience will not last forever.

B. Call us to Himself

But Jesus stood in our place. He took the punishment.

Tonight, the gospel is here for us. We deserve the same wrath that Nineveh recieved at the hands of the Babylonians and Medes. We deserve the wrath of God upon our lives. Romans - for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. This is not comfortable for us. To receive wrath isn’t a comfortable moment.

But God didn’t leave us in our destress. He didn’t leave us without hope beyond destruction. Because Jesus took our place on the cross. Because he was pierced for our trangessions and crushed for us as we see in Isaiah, we can have peace with the father. Because Jesus is our advocate with the Father, we don’t have to fear the ultimate wrath that God will pour out on the unjust. Because Jesus took on our sin, we can now enter the presence of God the justifier.

God is a God of goodness and justice. He will not forget the deeds of the wicked, but he will comfort the ones that are covered by the blood of Jesus. Find rest and peace in the arms of the father tonight.

Lets pray!

Nahum is a challenging book as we compare the message of teh

Communion

On the night Jesus was betrayed, he took a loaf of bread after he gave thanks he broke it saying

“this is my body broken for you. Take this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took a cup

and said “this cup is the cup of the new covenant between God and you, sealed by the shedding

of my blood.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup you are announcing the Lords

death until he returns.

Jesus’ death on the cross shows us our deepest need for it. He came to give us his kingdom, he

came to change us and transform us.

If you are a Christian, come forward as one community and proclaim Jesus’ death for you! Tearing

off a piece of the bread, which is his body broken for you and dip it into the juice or wine

(whatever your conscious permits), which is his blood shed for you and you eat it proclaiming

Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection until he returns again.

If you are not a Christian then please stay in your seat as others come forward. It’s not to point

you out or be exclusive but this is a sacred act for the those who profess Jesus as their king—for

members of Christ’ kingdom.

But instead, let me encourage you to take Jesus. Recognize that you are spiritually bankrupt but

God has made a way for you to be in relationship to Him through His son Jesus Christ who died

on a cross. This can be an opportunity for you to confess your sins to him and ask him to make

you new because this act of communion is sacred and reserved for Christians.

::GIVING::

This is also a time for us to continue our worship by giving back to God what he has already given

you. We have a baskets in the front and a big black box by the back door so that you can give

and drop your connect cards in those as well. You can also give online through the church app

and our website. We ask that you give out of blessing and joy and not out of obligation and guilt.

Let’s Stand and engage in these prayers together as we prepare ourselves for communion and

giving...

L: Jesus' death brings us life and this meal reminds us that we are fed by Jesus and forgiven

because of Jesus.

C: We rejoice that You have died, have risen, and are now with the Father advocating for us.

Amen.

L: With our money, time, and talent we give generously, knowing that through Your Son, Jesus,

You have generously given to us.

C: We rejoice that You have given everything and we joyfully give everything back to Your care.

Amen.

Myself, other pastoral candidates and deacons available here to your left for pray during

communion if there is anything we can pray for you. Let’s come forward in celebration...