***
Introduction
The book of Nahum is the seventh of what are called “the twelve minor prophets” (Major and Minor Prophets).
Nahum’s book is given entirely to a prophecy of the downfall of the nation Assyria and its capital Nineveh. Jonah had preached in Nineveh about 150 years before this and Nineveh had repented. By the time of Nahum, however, they had hardened their hearts and become known for their cruelty – staking captives to the ground and skinning them alive. Nahum’s message was that God would exact vengeance in due time – which He did. As is often the case, the prophecy of judgment came when it seemed least likely to be fulfilled – that is, when Nineveh and Assyria were very strong.
Nahum was a contemporary of Jeremiah (of the Major Prophets); and he was a contemporary of Habakkuk and Zephaniah (of the Minor Prophets).
The book of Nahum has been described as an outstanding poem irrespective of its spiritual value. Not that we need a reason to read the Bible other than for its spiritual value, this is nonetheless a reminder that we are dealing with poetic speech here. And Hebrew poetry is different from English poetry in ways worth pointing out (Hebrew Poetry).
***
Nahum 1
God’s Power Is Overwhelming
Nah 1:1 – A divine utterance was called an “oracle” just we would called it “a word from the Lord.” ***** A “vision” was part and parcel of being a prophet.
Nah 1:2-6 – The Lord has “wrath,” “anger,” and “indignation.” He takes “vengeance,” and imposes “judgment.” Many people consider these to be exclusively “Old Testament phenomena, but, if nothing else, the book of Revelation should have taught them otherwise. At the second coming, Jesus became “King of the nations” – that is, judge of heaven and earth.
Acts 10:42 “And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.
***
Acts 17:30 “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,
Acts 17:31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
***
Rom 2:14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,
Rom 2:15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
Rom 2:16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
***
John 5:22 “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,
John 5:23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
People tend to not think of Jesus judging the world and exacting vengeance such as what we see described here in Nahum and in many other Old Testament books, but this is because they’ve been conditioned to think that the second coming has not yet occurred and therefore that Jesus has been sitting idly on the right hand of the throne of God with regard to that role. But we have to recognize that the Son took over judgment of the world just as all the scriptures above say.
Nah 1:4 – “He rebukes the sea”
Matt 8:23 When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.
Matt 8:24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep.
Matt 8:25 And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!”
Matt 8:26 He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.
Matt 8:27 The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
Nah 1:7 – Finally, a breath of fresh air! There is a place of “refuge” when “the day of trouble” (the day of the Lord) comes. Jesus came to provide us the way of escaping it. We see the same concept expressed with different words in the next book: “in wrath remember mercy.”
Hab 3:2 LORD, I have heard the report about You and I fear.
O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years,
In the midst of the years make it known;
In wrath remember mercy.
In order to have a reasonable hope for finding refuge in the day or trouble” or “mercy in the midst of wrath,” we must heed the exhortations we have received to not fall away from Him.
For more expressions of this type, see The Eye of the Storm.
Heb 2:1 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.
***
Heb 5:11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
***
1 John 5:21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.
***** “He knows those who take refuge in Him”
John 10:14 “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,
***
2 Tim 2:19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.”
The Lord knows those who seek Him…and He will give them refuge in the midst of judgment.
Nah 1:8-14 – No individual and no nation is beyond the reach of God’s judgment.
Nah 1:15 – Another breath of fresh air. Who receives “good news”? Those who’ve been at the mercy of Assyria – emblematic of those who show no mercy. Therefore, mercy comes to those who show mercy, those who look for and long for the God of righteousness.
Nahum seems to be quoting from Isaiah here (or maybe it’s the other way around):
Is 52:7 How lovely on the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace
And brings good news of happiness,
Who announces salvation,
And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
In any case, the Lord is bad news for evildoers and good news for those who seek freedom from evil.
***** “Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news”
Rom 10:14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!”
Paul is using this Old Testament quote to stress the role of preachers like himself. People need to hear the good news from someone who believes and has been sent by God to preach it. We today who have ready access to the Bible are able to read the words of prophets (Old Testament) and apostles (New Testament) who believed in the God for whom they wrote – the God who commissioned them to communicate the good news. Therefore, our faith rests on the most secure foundation.
2 Tim 3:14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
2 Tim 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2 Tim 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
2 Tim 3:17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
***** Nahum’s phrase “Pay your vows” in this verse is interesting in that it evokes memory of something the prophet Jonah wrote. Recall that God had sent Jonah to Nineveh to repent. Jonah initially recoiled at the idea, but during his experience in fleeing his assignment, had this to say:
Jon 2:8 “Those who regard vain idols
Forsake their faithfulness,
Jon 2:9 But I will sacrifice to You
With the voice of thanksgiving.
That which I have vowed I will pay.
Salvation is from the LORD.”
Jon 2:10 Then the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land.
When Jonah finally preached to Nineveh, Nineveh repented. It’s as if Nahum was reminding himself that as Jonah had to be faithful to his ministerial vows so Nahum had to follow suit. Neither man had the right to forsake his vows to preach whatever the Lord put in his mouth and wherever the Lord sent him.
***
Nahum 2
The Overthrow of Nineveh
Though Assyria, and its capital Nineveh, seemed impregnable at the time Nahum spoke this word for the Lord, the Lord was promising swift, certain, and fierce justice for their sins.
***
Nahum 3
Nineveh’s Complete Ruin
When the judgment came, it was complete and final. Assyria had conquered and vanquished the northern kingdom in 722 BC (Keys Date for Ancient Israel). Nineveh’s fall came in 612 BC. Nahum gave his prophecy between these two dates, when Assyria was still considered unassailable. No earthly kingdom is strong enough to stand against God’s judgment. It’s been that way ever since the days of Babel (Gen 11) and Sodom (Gen 19).
A Bible Reader's Website 