The Message of Nahum
Judging Nineveh part 2
01/11/09 PM
Text: Nahum 1:1-3:19
Introduction
The Book of Nahum is one of two books of the Minor Prophets that centers on Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria. In the Book of Jonah, written in the eighth century BC, we behold a man of God who was called to preach to Nineveh. He was one of the few prophets who despaired when his listeners heeded his warning. The people of Nineveh repented, and God demonstrated his great compassion by not judging the city.
During this same approximate period of time, the people of the northern kingdom of Israel had been sinning grievously against God and ignoring the warnings of punishment given through God’s prophets. Finally God used the nation of Assyria, with its capital city in Nineveh, to destroy the nation and carry the people into captivity.
In the Book of Nahum, written in the seventh century BC, we find another prophet called by God to preach to Nineveh. Evil again reigned in the capital. Tragically, the people of Nineveh this time ignored Nahum’s warning.
I.The Messenger
A.The prophet was Nahum, whose name means "Consolation"
1.His name is certainly symbolic of the message given by the prophet.
a.His home was Elkosh, of which little is known - Nahum 1:1
b.Some think that Capernaum (lit., "village of Nahum") may have been his birthplace
c.He was contemporary with Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah
B.The theme of the messenger
1.His message is usually dated around 630-612 B.C.
a.The northern kingdom of Israel was already in Assyrian captivity
b.Assyria itself was past the peak of it’s glory but still a world power.
2.The theme of his message is simple: "The Fall Of Nineveh"
a.This makes his work a complement to that of Jonah
b.Though by this time no mercy would be shown, judgment would be final
[The book of Nahum can easily be divided into three parts which coincide with the three chapters. In the first part we find...]
II.The Message For Nineveh
A. THE CHARACTER AND POWER OF THE LORD...
1. God's vengeance, even though He is slow to anger - Nahum 1:1-3a
2. The fierceness of His anger described - Nahum 1:3b-6
3. The goodness of the Lord, as a stronghold to the faithful - Nahum 1:7
4. The pursuer of His enemies - Nahum 1:8
B. THE COMPLETE OVERTHROW OF NINEVEH...
1. She will not afflict again, despite her plotting against the Lord - Nahum 1:9-11
2. Judah will be delivered from Nineveh's affliction - Nahum 1:12-13
3. Nineveh's destruction has been commanded by the Lord - Nahum 1:14
4. There shall be good tidings in Judah, she can keep her feasts - Nahum 1:15
[Having "declared" Nineveh's doom in the first section, we now find...]
C. THE SIEGE AND CAPTURE OF THE CITY...
1. Furious preparation for the battle is described - Nahum 2:1-4
2. Resistance is futile, captivity has been decreed - Nahum 2:5-7
a. Note verse 6: "The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace is dissolved"
b. "The Babylonian Chronicle tells that Nineveh fell because the flooding rivers made breaches in the city's defenses." (Believers' Study Bible)
D. THE UTTER SACK OF THE CITY...
1. Her inhabitants flee, the city is plundered - Nahum 2:8-10
2. Her destruction will be complete, Nineveh as a dwelling of devouring lions will be no more - Nahum 2:11-13
[Thus far, Nineveh's doom has been "declared" and "described" by Nahum.
In the third and final section, we find him saying...]
E. BECAUSE OF HER SINS...
1. Her woe will be due to her sins - Nahum 3:1-4
2. The Lord will uncover her shame and make her a spectacle - Nahum 3:5-7
F. SHE IS NO BETTER THAN NO-AMON...
1. Nineveh is no better than No-Amon (Thebes in Egypt) - Nahum 3:8
2. Who despite her strength, was carried away into captivity - Nahum 3:9-10
3. So it will be with Nineveh - Nahum 3:11
G. HER STRENGTH AND WEALTH WILL NOT SAVE HER...
1. Her strongholds will fail - Nahum 3:12-13
2. All her efforts, her wealth, her army, will be futile - Nahum 3:14-17
H. HER END HAS COME...
1. Her leaders are dead, her people scattered - Nahum 3:18-19a
2. Those who hear of her fall will rejoice - Nahum 3:19b
III.The Message For Us
A.UNDERSTAND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD
1.Application of the message of Nahum for us begins with understanding the sovereignty of God.
a.God judges (and blesses) our actions according to His will - cf. Jeremiah 18:1-10
b.A century after the fall of Samaria in 722 BC (the captivity of the northern kingdom of Israel,) the Book of Nahum was written to express a major truth of the prophets.
c.Even when God uses a nation for His own purposes of judgment, this does not excuse that nation from its own guilt before the Lord.
2.In the conquest of the ancient world, the Assyrians were merciless and cruel.
a.Their atrocities included everything from burning children to death to chopping off hands.
b.Nineveh had an international reputation for bloodthirsty acts of repression, destruction, and wantonness.
B.UNDERSTAND THE GOODNESS OF GOD
1.God could not be good if He failed to call such an evil nation to account.
2.The theology of the Book of Nahum is a theology of the goodness of God in bringing about the final destruction of those who oppose His will and abuse His people.
3.Although the Lord Jesus certainly spoke of loving one’s enemies (see Matthew 5:43–48),
a.He strongly warned of the inevitability of judgment (see Matthew 5:21, 29, 30; 7:13, 23).
b.He said that “all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (see Matthew 26:52).
c.If ever the words of Jesus concerning the sure destruction of those who live by violence had a direct application, it was to Nineveh.
4.The Assyrians were not the only ones under judgment.
a.Nineveh was not only a city in the ancient world that received the promised judgment of God; it is also a prototype for the coming judgment of God on all workers of wickedness.
b.Those who know that the Lord is good may rejoice in the fact that He avenges aggressive acts against His people (1:7, 8).
c.The seriousness of coming judgment is never a call for complacency among God’s people.
5.Implicit in any announcement of doom there is a call for holy living on the part of God’s people and an urgent call for them to bring the message of salvation to those who, apart from salvation, will experience the wrath of God.
a.Judgment is God’s “unusual task” (see Isaiah 28:21), but it ultimately arises out of the goodness and justice of God.
b.Hebrews 10:30 - 31 (NASB) For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
C.UNDERSTAND THE GRACE AND HOPE OF GOD
1.Romans 5:8 - 10 (NASB) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
2.Titus 2:11 - 14 (NASB) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Conclusion
1. The message of Nahum for the people of God is one of consolation...
a. That those who afflict God's people will be judged - Nahum 1:2-3
2. The message of Nahum for those who do evil is one of warning...
a. Don't rely on what mercy was shown to others(e.g., as in the days of Jonah)
b. The Lord may be merciful and slow to anger, but the Day of Judgment does finally come!
This message of Nahum is summarized in the words of Paul:
Romans 11:22 (NASB) Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.
