Nahum Chapter 1: 1-11
Do you recall the account of Jonah? It is the story of a farmer called Jonah who
lived in Gath-hepher, just north of the New Testament town of Nazareth. God
called this farmer to go and warn Israel’s enemies, the Assyrians in Nineveh,
God is going to bring judgment on them and it was imminent. You will remember Jonah rebelling against
God’s call on his life and the large fish God had prepared as a hotel room to
keep Jonah in until he agreed he would follow the plan laid out for him.
Gene A. Getz and his team have given us some great
information on the Assyrians who lived in Nineveh, I believe it will be helpful
as we look into this prophet Nahum. “From Nahum’s opening statement, it is clear that
his prophecies were directed at the inhabitants of Nineveh, a well-known
Assyrian city. Nineveh is first
mentioned in the Bible in the book of Genesis.
The city was founded by Nimrod, who is identified as “the first powerful
man on earth” (Gn 10:8-12). Centuries
later, the Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser 1(1115-1077 B.C.) expanded the city
substantially and identified himself as king of the world. This happen during the time Israel was ruled
by judges.
During the
ninth, eighth, and seventh centuries B.C., the Assyrian empire grew in power
and attacked surrounding nations, including Israel. Some of the kings of Assyria were the most
wicked and cruel monarchs that ever ruled.
This helps explain why Jonah, who lived during the eighth century, at
first refused to preach in Nineveh and remained reluctant even after having
been swallowed by a huge fish.” (Taken from page 1227 of the Life Essentials
Study Bible)
What should we as Christians take from this judgment of
Nineveh? Maybe verses 2-3 will give us
some insight into God that is often missing from the culture that wants a God
who allows them to live independent of His authority. “ The LORD
is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD
takes vengeance on his adversaries
and keeps wrath for his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger and great in power,
and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty.
His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his
feet. (Nahum 1:2-3 ESV) Nahum
goes on in verses 4-6, making sure we understand God is in total control of
nature and uses storms and other acts to bring judgment on His enemies.
It seems many Christians in the modern culture we live in
have tried to place God into the old mean God of the Old Testament and the good
kind God of the New Testament, how foolish, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
(Hebrews 13:8) Nahum reminds us of this
in verses 7-8, “The
LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take
refuge in him. But with an overflowing
flood he will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue his
enemies into darkness. (Nahum 1:7-8 ESV)
The adversaries of God will end-up in darkness, and we know in
John’s gospel the first chapter and verses 4-5, Jesus is referred to as the
light; “In him
was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.” So
what do the adversaries of God have to look forward to; no salvation, no grace,
no mercy, no joy, no hope, just a place void of good, of laughter, of kindness,
a place of total darkness, is that not hell?
From the Back Porch
Bob Rice
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