Nahum

Oracle against Nineveh

The book of Nahum (read on Day 216) gives us very little information about the prophet Nahum and the time in which he wrote. Since it was written after the fall of No-amon, referred to in Nahum 3:8, and before Judah’s prophesied exile to Babylon, it was likely written during the reign of King Manasseh of Judah (see the summary of the kings of Judah and the kings of Israel).

When we read Jonah, I was struck by the grace of God to place a people that had repented before Him in Nineveh prior to the exile of His people Israel there, offering them hope that they would find a remnant of people faithful to Him there. It would just be remnant, however. Despite the repentance of Nineveh in Jonah’s time, the Assyrian kingdom, known for its cruelty and brutality, returned to cruelty and brutality. Nahum prophesies their overthrow by Babylon, which did occur.

Nahum, the oracle against Nineveh, demonstrates a recurring cycle of events employed by God in the course of history. He used Assyria to discipline the kingdom of Israel (Israel was exiled to Assyria), and then he disciplined Assyria. He used Babylon to destroy Assyria, and to discipline the kingdom of Judah (Judah was exiled to Babylon), and then he disciplined Babylon.

Nahum reassures that though God may use a kingdom or people to punish, He will then also justly punish those He uses. The remedy is to take refuge in Him.

A jealous and avenging God is the LORD;
The LORD is avenging and wrathful.
The LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries,
And He reserves wrath for His enemies.
The LORD is slow to anger and great in power,
And the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.

Whatever you devise against the LORD,
He will make a complete end of it. 

We all have a choice whether to meet this God, or to repent and take refuge in Him:

The LORD is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble,
And He knows those who take refuge in Him.

He reassures His people that though they are to endure what will look like hopeless destruction, there still will be hope as Israel is restored and Babylon is ultimately destroyed.

“Thus says the LORD,
‘Though they are at full strength and likewise many,
Even so, they will be cut off and pass away.
Though I have afflicted you, 
I will afflict you no longer.
So now, I will break his yoke bar from upon you, 
And I will tear off your shackles.’

“The LORD has issued a command concerning you: 
‘Your name will no longer be perpetuated.
I will cut off idol and image
From the house of your gods.
I will prepare your grave,
For you are contemptible.’
Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace!
Celebrate your feasts, O Judah;
Pay your vows.
For never again will the wicked one pass through you; 
He is cut off completely.

“For the LORD will restore the splendor of Jacob
Like the splendor of Israel,
Even though devastators have devastated them…”

The rest of Nahum is full of frightening imagery, likely the visions that the LORD showed Nahum.

We know the prophecy of Judah’s exile came to pass. We know the fall of Nineveh and Assyria to Babylon came to pass. God is gracious to warn us in His word. We know He has warned us of more days of trouble before the end of time. He graciously reassures us that He “will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.” In the meantime, He will be our “stronghold in the day of trouble.” He is good. May we take refuge in Him.