Sermon Tone Analysis

A word of consolation to God’s people

Consolation: The comfort received by a person after a loss or disappointment.

That is what we see in this book.

The Set up, the background

Nahum: Name means “Consolation”

Home: Elkosh (1:1)

Contemporary of Jeremiah, Habakkuk and Zephaniah

The message

Dated 630-612 B.C.

During captivity of Israel by Assyria

The fall of Nineveh (Capital of Assyria) fulfilling the prophesy of Jonah.

This is a short book and the can be broken into three-sections that line up with the chapters.

Simple division of the book

Nineveh’s doom declared (chapter 1)

Nineveh’s doom described (chapter 2)

Nineveh’s doom deserved (chapter 3)

Nineveh’s doom declared

The prophesy of Jonah was about the destruction of Nineveh (somewhere on or about 780 B.C.) and this is the fulfillment of that prophesy that turned a nation for a time to God.

Still yet just some years later the doom of Nineveh is being declared again, this time there is no escape.

God’s character and power declared (Nah1:1-8)

What is the purpose of the oracle according to (v.2)?

The vengeance of the Lord is declared

What is the consolation to Israel and promise to Nineveh (v.3)?

Though God is slow to anger, the guilty will be punished.

In summary what do you see about the character and power of the Lord in (vv.3-6)?

The fierceness of his anger is described

Then in contrast there are some words of consolation to His people in (v.7) can you see them?

The goodness, and that He is a stronghold to those who know Him.

And then in (v.8) God is a pursuer of His enemies.

The overthrow, destruction declared (Nah1:9-15)

Can you see the severity, the completeness of the doom declared in (vv.9-11)?

He will make a complete end to it.

They (Ninevites) are bigger, stronger; but they will be cut off and not afflict you any longer and you will be set free (vv.12-13)

Look at (v.14) who is issuing the command that will cut them off?

The Lord did!

There will be an end to the wicked, go ahead you will be able to keep your feasts!

(v.15)

(Transition) so with the doom declared now to getting more into the doom described.

Nineveh’s doom described

Consolation, remember the meaning?

This is a great comfort to Judah, and a dire warning of what was coming to Nineveh as the Prophet continues to lay out now the doom coming in further detail, so it is described.

The seize of the city (Nah2:1-7)

In (v.1) you see some instructions for preparation, look at the words used?

Man the fortress, Watch the road, Strengthen your back, Summon your strength

As He tells them to prepare the reason why is given in (vv.2-4) for the battle is described

What are the results of the battle when you look at (v.7)?

She is stripped, is carried away

In other words they are going into captivity

The Assyrians are falling in their world domination and the Medes along with the Persians who are going to be God’s tools of judgment against Assyria (starting with Nineveh) and they, along with the captives they hold (Israel/Ephraim) will be taken by the Medo-Persian empire and then they by the Babylonians.

Interesting wording in (v.6) about the gates of the rivers are opened, palace dissolved.

In the Believers’ study bible it says that in ancient Babylonian writings (Chronicles) that Nineveh fell because the flooding rivers made breaches in the city’s defences.

- - - just an interesting fact I thought maybe you would enjoy

The plunder of the city (Nah2:8-13)

The inhabitants flee, the city is plundered (vv.8-10)

So, as the people flee, what happens with the city?

(vv.8-9)?

Plunder silver, God, all treasure and wealth from every kind.

Then goes on in (v.10) to say it will be laid desolate and waste

The people will be heart melting, knee knocking and pale faced.

The destruction will be complete (vv.11-13)

Where they thought they were the aggressors and were well protected like a lion over the lioness and the cub in the lions den, now look at (v.13) what is the Lord going to do?

He will burn up their chariots, devour their young lions (army) cut off your prey (food) and your watchers, heralds will be heard no more.

(Transition) From the doom declared to the doom described it is a pretty weary picture for Nineveh but a word of consolation to Judah.

Now through the prophet God does not stop there, there is a little more to get.

Nineveh’s doom deserved

God is a just God and now through the prophet God is going to lay out why the doom is deserved.

Because justice is about to be served.

Because of her sins (Nah3:1-7)

In (v.1) you can see the reason for the doom deserved, can you see it?

The lies and pillage

Then in (vv.2-4) you see it described more

Scan (vv.5-7) and you see some very descriptive words used, go ahead, pick them out?

I am against you, I will lift up your skirts, show your nakedness, show your disgrace,make you vile, set you as a spectacle

The end result please will see, people will not come to your aid, nor to your comfort.

Because they are no better than No-Amon (Nah3:8-11)

No-Amon was the city of the God of Amon and it was destroyed previously by the Assyrians (about 663 B.C.) and the prophet is saying they are no better than them whom you destroyed

The description used in these verses was a good rendition of what the Assyrians had done to them and what is going to be done to them (Nineveh; the Assyrians).

Because her efforts and wealth cannot/will not

save her (Nah3:12-19)

Let’s glean some things from this passage.

What were they relying on (v.12) and what would the results be on them doing such?

(This is spoken in symbolism)

They are relying on their fortifications which will fall.

In (vv.14-15) you see their efforts again, and then the results in (v.15)?

Draw yourself, Strengthen your fortification, make morter, brick mold.

Only for it to be fire consumed and sword cutting down, it will be devastating just like the locust.

Now scan (vv.16-18) and you will see what they are doing, then in (v.19) the results.

Increased your traders, your guardsmen, your marshals, your shepherds, your nobles, your people but in the end there will be no escape, no relief, your wound is incurable.

The leaders are dead and the people scattered (vv.18-19) and there will be rejoicing by those who hear of the fall (v.19)

So, what do we do with all this, is there anything we can grasp and take away?

To the people of God then, and the people of God today Nahum is a book of consolation (Nah1:2-3; Lk18:7-8)

Comfort, assurance that those who afflict God’s people will be judged, held accountable.

Consider

To the people of God , God is a stronghold in time of trouble (Nah1:7; Ps27:5)

Are you trusting the Lord Your God as your stronghold?

The book is a book of warning against those who do evil (consider Rom11:22)

Let us be sure that walk in the truth of His word, in His goodness and lest us have a hard or unbelieving heart that will lead us into destruction.

(Prayer) (Exit)