| Fall From Grace
This prophecy of Nineveh's destruction is a powerful warning to us all. This warning graphically declares that yesterday's grace does not give someone a license to sin today without future consequences. Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria, the greatest military and political power in what has been called the cradle of civilization. Their greatness had given rise to oppressive cruelty, injustice, and sinful excess. Nearly a hundred years before Nahum issued his warning, Nineveh had been on the verge of complete annihilation. Jonah brought Nineveh an earlier warning of judgment, which was averted when the entire population sincerely and deeply repented. This earlier repentance cut across all social and economic levels, from the king down to the common man on the street. In addition to that, they acknowledged the futility of their idols and put faith in the true and living God. Yet within a couple generations, this was all forgotten and forsaken. This return to sin had removed God's protection from Nineveh. They could no longer take confidence in being protected in the stronghold of God in the day of trouble (1:7). And there was no plan or action they could take to avert their doom; that is, except sincere and deep repentance (1:9-11). Nineveh's fall from grace is often repeated in our own lives. We often think we are immune to God's judgment because He has previously passed over our sins and promised to remember them no more. It is, however, one of sin's great delusions. Yesterday's grace and prosperity does not give us a "blank check" to turn our backs on God while avoiding His chastening hand. Whom God loves, He disciplines. We will reap what we sow. Do not take God's grace to be what it is not. Yesterday's repentance and faith is not something you can live upon today. Abide in God, today. There is only enough manna for one day, just as there is enough trouble for one day. Life lived one day at a time in obedient faith and daily repentance will surely keep you from a false hope like Nineveh. | |||
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| Nahum 1:1-3:19 1 The burden against Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.  God's Wrath on His Enemies 2 God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; 3 The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, 4 He rebukes the sea and makes it dry, 5 The mountains quake before Him, 6 Who can stand before His indignation? 7 The LORD is good, 8 But with an overflowing flood 9 What do you conspire against the LORD? 10 For while tangled like thorns, 11 From you comes forth one 12 Thus says the LORD: "Though they are safe, and likewise many, 13 For now I will break off his yoke from you, 14 The LORD has given a command concerning you: "Your name shall be perpetuated no longer. 15 Behold, on the mountains 1 He who scatters has come up before your face. 2 For the LORD will restore the excellence of Jacob 3 The shields of his mighty men are made red, 4 The chariots rage in the streets, 5 He remembers his nobles; 6 The gates of the rivers are opened, 7 It is decreed: 8 Though Nineveh of old was like a pool of water, "Halt! Halt!" they cry; 9 Take spoil of silver! 10 She is empty, desolate, and waste! 11 Where is the dwelling of the lions, 12 The lion tore in pieces enough for his cubs, 13 "Behold, I am against you," says the LORD of hosts, "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 be heard no more." Nahum 3The Woe of Nineveh1 Woe to the bloody city! 2 The noise of a whip 3 Horsemen charge with bright sword and glittering spear. 4 Because of the multitude of harlotries of the seductive harlot, 5 "Behold, I am against you," says the LORD of hosts; 6 I will cast abominable filth upon you, 7 It shall come to pass that all who look upon you 8 Are you better than No Amon 9 Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, 10 Yet she was carried away, 11 You also will be drunk; 12 All your strongholds are fig trees with ripened figs: 13 Surely, your people in your midst are women! 14 Draw your water for the siege! 15 There the fire will devour you, 16 You have multiplied your merchants more than the stars of heaven. 17 Your commanders are like swarming locusts, 18 Your shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria; 19 Your injury has no healing, | |||
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| Nahum 1:1-3:19 v. 1 Nahum – Not much is known about Nahum. He was an Elkoshite according to the scriptures but we are uncertain of the location of the city of Elkosh. It may have been east of Jerusalem, just north of the Dead Sea. the vision of Nahum – This is the second book explaining the judgment of the great Assyrian city of Nineveh. It is believed to have been written in the 7th century BC, during Israelite revival under King Josiah which is approximately 100 years after the Assyrians invaded and took over Samaria. Unlike the book of Jonah, there is no talk of mercy from God toward the Assyrians. against Nineveh – This prophecy is a proclamation of destruction to the Assyrian enemies of Israel. Although the Assyrians were used to judge Israel's rebellion against God, they are not excused from their wicked cruelty towards God's people (Gen. 12:3). Regarding Nineveh, God said, "I am against you" (Nahum 2:13, 3:5). v. 2 avenges and is furious – In Hebrew writings the repetitions and use of parallel terms is an attempt to bring forth the severity or heaviness of the message. reserves wrath for His enemies – God is reserving (storing up) His wrath for His enemies to be brought out in due time. The enemies of God are those who oppose His will and continue in their trespasses against Him (Ps. 68:1, 21). v. 3 slow to anger – This expression refers to God's patience in dealing with the sins of men; God reserves wrath (Nahum 1:2). He is not easily or quickly provoked to wrath against the unrighteous (Jonah 4:2, Ex. 34:6-7). In the whirlwind and the storm – This is a reference to God's power over all things. Many of the ancient Middle Eastern people worshipped gods of nature: gods of storms, clouds, rain, etc. In Canaan this pagan ideology was centered on idols such as Baal, Anat, and Asherah. Nahum is given a different word from God: "The Lord has His way in the whirlwind." The God of the scriptures is the God over nature and all that exists (v. 4-5). v. 4 He rebukes – The seas, the rivers, the mountains, the rocks, and the elements of the earth are all subject to the voice and presence of God. God parted the Red Sea and Israel walked through it on dry ground (Ex. 14:21-22). He stopped the Jordan River and Israel crossed it on dry ground (Josh. 3:14-17). God opened the earth and then closed it again over the rebellious men with Korah (Num. 16:31-35). All of nature is subject to the voice of God. v. 6 The Lord is good – Those that trust in God are safe because He is their refuge. Nothing can stand against His fierce anger, but all who trust in Him can rest safely in His mercy. v. 8 with an overflowing flood – Greek history tells us that the Khosr River (or possibly the Tigris) overflowed and flooded a part of the city and overturned a large portion of the walls of Nineveh, leaving large portions of the city open for easy siege. Chapter 3, verse 13 says, "The gates of your land are wide open for your enemies." Whatever may have happened during the conquest of Nineveh, we know that the city was taken swiftly. v. 9 a second time – God is so fierce in his judgment of the Ninevites that there will not be another chance for them. In 2:13 God says, "the voice of your messengers shall be heard no more." Again in 3:7, "Nineveh is laid waste!" Finally, in 3:19 He says, "Your injury has no healing, your wound is severe." v. 10 while tangled like thorns – The Assyrians were like a thorn to Israel, but according to this prophecy they will find themselves to be useless against God's power. In this era useless thorns were good for nothing but to be thrown into the fire and burned (Heb. 6:7-8). Jesus uses this same kind of analogy regarding useless branches in John 15:5-7. v 11 wicked counselor – Sennecherib, the king of Assyria plotted to overtake Jerusalem during the reign of Judah's King Hezikiah. Sennecherib sent a messenger, the captain of his army, Rabshakeh, to blaspheme God at the gate of Jerusalem and advise the people to doubt Hezekiah's command to seek and trust the Lord for their deliverance (2 Chron. 32) Hezekiah's trust in God gives him victory in the end. v. 12 though they are safe – Or, they have no losses as of yet but have their completeness as an army and a people. It will not always be that way for them. This wholeness will soon be torn to pieces. When he passes through – God once went ahead of Israel and passed through the Assyrian camp during Hezekiah's reign. He cut down "every Assyrian mighty man of valor," over 180,000 Assyrian men (2 Chron. 32:20-21). Their king, Sennacherib, "returned shamefaced" back to Nineveh and would be assassinated by his own two sons (2 Chron. 32:21). I will afflict you no more – This is God's promise of deliverance to His people. The Assyrians were the judgment on Israel for their rebellion against God. Manassah, Amon, and several other kings did evil in the sight of God and the people followed. The zealous prayers of King Hezekiah and the revival under King Josiah were key in Israel's repentance and the Lord's delivery of Israel from the Assyrians. v. 13 I will break off his yoke – The yoke was a chain of bondage under Ashurbanipal, the last great Assyrian Emperor. It was during his reign that this prophecy came forth from Nahum. After the death of Ashurbanipal, the Assyrian Empire did not last much longer. v. 14 Out of the house of your gods – Ancient civilization often made its battles a test of the gods. It was assumed that the victor of the war had the greater god or gods. This verse poses a direct threat toward the annihilation of the Assyrians and their idols. v. 15 behold on the mountain the feet of him – Nahum brings forth an image of a messenger of peace for the region of Judah. It is the same picture of hope brought forth by Isaiah (Is. 52:7). Hope is on the horizon. Nahum 2v. 1 He who scatters – This is a warning to Nineveh. He is referring to the Lord God as "He who scatters." He is the God who overcame in every battle as the Israelites moved into the land of Canaan (Josh. 5:1). Man the fort! – Nahum is facetiously telling the Assyrians to prepare for battle against God. Their destruction is soon coming that Israel might be free (v. 2). v. 2 the LORD will restore – There is an evident pattern of repentance and restoration throughout the scriptures. This is one of the leading verses that would indicate some sort of national repentance among God's people in the time of this prophecy. The nearest candidate is the revival that took place under king Josiah in approx. 622 BC. the emptiers – This refers to the oppressors God gave them over to because of their rebellion against Him. In this case, it is the 117-year reign of the Assyrians over Israel. v. 3 shields…made red – Some report the Assyrian shields to have been dressed with a coat of copper, others suggest that it is the blood from previous battles and still others claim the color was painted on the shields. v. 5 they stumble in their walk – This verse indicates a form of confusion and haste to defend Nineveh's walls. The mightiest warriors are hurriedly sent to defend the broken walls. v. 6 gates of the rivers – It is believed that a nearby river overflowed its banks and had a hand in causing great portions of Nineveh's walls to come down (1:8). Her enemies are now easily let into the city to overthrow it. v. 8 they flee away – Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, is laid waste and pillaged from top to bottom as the Babylonians lay siege to every part of the city. v. 11 where is the dwelling of the lions – The warriors of Assyria are described as ferocious lions, yet the city and people of Assyria will be reduced and scattered. Even their existence will be destroyed and buried until the ruins are uncovered far into the modern future. v. 13 I am against you – The great Ninevite warriors, chariots, and messengers will all fall silent in its utter destruction. It is no man that defeats the Assyrians, but God. He makes known His plan to destroy them as He says, "I am against you." Nahum 3v. 1 the bloody city – Literally "city of bloods." This is the description of a city built and founded on bloodshed. Nineveh's reputation was of a city full of bloodthirsty, violent men who were experienced in torture and all kinds of hostilities towards its enemies. v. 2 rattling wheels…countless corpses – These verses give a vivid description of Nineveh's army in battle arrayed in great armor, swift chariots, and mighty numbers. v. 4 seductive harlot – This refers to the city of Nineveh and her ways. Engulfed in superstitions and pagan practices she seduced many to follow in her ways. Idolatry, sorcery, and the like earned her the name, "The mistress of sorceries." v. 5 I am against you – The Lord makes it clear through his prophet that He has declared the Assyrian city Nineveh to be His enemy. Verses 5-7 speak of her as a shamed and scorned woman who none will miss when she is destroyed. God says He is going to publicly humiliate Nineveh and make it detestable to all. v. 8 No Amon – This was the Hebrew name for the city of Thebes. Thebes was destroyed just a few years before Nahum's prophecy. History tells us that it was rebuilt, only to be destroyed again by the Roman Empire. Are you better – The Lord makes a comparison between Nineveh and Thebes. Thebes would have been a great city, similar to Nineveh. Both had large bodies of water protecting its borders but Thebes would have been more secure because it had the sea protecting it on its sides. Nineveh merely had rivers on three sides. Thebes had great allies such as Ethiopia and Egypt, Lubim, and Put (which is translated "Libya" in Jer. 46:9, Eze. 30:5). Thebes was nearly unstoppable and limitless in its army and it still fell. v. 10 she was carried away – This is another reference to Thebes. Although Thebes had great allies and mighty borders, its defeat was still a recent reality witnessed by the Assyrians in Nineveh. In like manner the Assyrians will not be able to run or hide from God. v. 12 your strongholds are fig trees – Nahum speaks a satirical metaphor comparing their strongholds, which are the places of ready defense and refuge from attacking armies, to a ripened fig tree that gives up its fruit with the mere shake of a light wind. This verse gives us indication of the ease by which the Lord will consume Nineveh (Nahum 1:6). v. 13 your people…are women – Nahum taunts them by taking a stab at their brawn and might by calling their warriors women. This is not in the sense of tenderness and compassion, but in weakness and fear. v. 14 draw water for the siege – The prophet speaks to the Assyrians with such faith and certainty of their coming destruction. He is telling them to prepare to put out the fires and get ready to rebuild the city. v. 15 the fire will devour you – Here through verse 18 Nahum speaks of the utter ruin of Nineveh and the severity of her overthrow. Fire and locust are two elements known for their ability to devour large portions of territory in little time. This shall be done to Nineveh by the sword of the Medes (Babylon). v. 16 the locust plunders and flies away – Nineveh was a key route for any merchants crossing the Tigris and a great city for commerce. These verses compare them to nocturnal locusts who come to plunder and when the sun rises are nowhere to be found. History tells us that the Assyrians who could not flee the city in time were captured and massacred or deported. v. 18 Your nobles rest in the dust – Nineveh would be brought down to nothing. There would be such destruction that it would be a forgotten city until the 19th century when the French Consul at Mosul would discover its remains. v. 19 clap their hands over you – The head of the giant Assyrian empire would be cut off and all who experienced its cruelty would rejoice at its fall. Its utter destruction was finally accomplished at the hands of the Babylonians in 612 BC and the city would never rise again. | |||
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| "God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies; The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked. The LORD has His way In the whirlwind and in the storm, And the clouds are the dust of His feet." –Nahum 1:2-3 Help us to remember, Lord, that those who don't know You will be faced with Your righteous anger and judgment in the end. We enjoy Your love and blessing and thank You for that, Jesus. But remind us that our just punishment is death, and it is only Your salvation that keeps us from that second death. We pray for hearts to speak the truth to those we meet each day. | |||
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Nahum 1:2-3 God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies; The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked. The LORD has His way In the whirlwind and in the storm, And the clouds are the dust of His feet.
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