Nahum Chapters 1-3

Another book of the Bible covered in one day...we are cooking now!

1:2,3 and 7 - These verses say that the Lord is jealous, avenging, slow to anger, great in power and good - how do those things all apply simultaneously? We have to remember that jealousy is not evil when it is based on committed love...it is right for a husband to be jealous of a wife who has cheated on him with another man. God is jealous for His people, who He is in a covenant relationship with...because they continually reject Him for false gods. Vengeance is God's, because He is ultimately the one and only true judge and authority in all creation. Though He is great in power and could crush people at a whim, He is also slow to anger and treats His deceitful people with mercy. Thus God is good.

1:11 - This verse may be referring to a single particular unnamed Assyrian king, or a long line of corrupt leaders in Assyria. The main point is that they have been given the responsibility of leadership and authority and they have used it to infuse their culture with corruption.

1:14 - This passage is directly addressed to the corrupt kings of Assyria. Nahum says that their power and their gods will be utterly destroyed. This is important for us to understand because in the ancient world, pagan kings believed that their strength was derived from the gods that they worshipped. They built temples and idols for their gods and believed that any victories they had were granted by these gods. When conquering armies came in, they would utterly destroy the temple of the fallen king so that everyone would no that their power was gone and their gods were destroyed. Nahum tells them that this fate is inevitable, and archeology has shown us that there is clear evidence of pagan temples within Nineveh being totally destroyed.

2:3-5 - This is a detailed description of the proud Assyrians assembled for battle. It reminds me of the Spartans from "300" - adorned in red capes with huge shields and spears. This must have been quite an intimidating sight in the ancient world, to see a "sea" of red arrayed before you. Unfortunately for them, their human strength is about to fail...

2:8 - It is not enough that they have powerful armies to protect them. When the judgment of God comes down on Nineveh - the proud warriors in red go running for the hills. They disappear like water draining out of a pool. Their commanders try to tell them to stay and fight, but the once proud army scatters in fear before the Lord.

2:11-12 - The Assyrian kings and their rules liked to refer to themselves as lions. And they lived a great deal like lions - they used their strength to overpower foes and devour the nations around them. They would bring back the spoils of war like a lions drags a carcass back to its den. Nahum mocks them with his prophecy - he says, "Where are your lions now...where is the den filled with plunder? God's wrath will take away all their strength.

3:4 - The whore of greed and idolatry has lured the people of Assyria/Nineveh in with false promises of fulfillment and they will pay for their participation with her. When you choose to believe that more of everything is what you need...more sex, more money, more power, more honor, more...more...more...you will end up unfulfilled and having lived a life that was full of destruction. This tempting prostitute is still alive and well today, and trying to work her charms on any who will give her a chance...fight for freedom from her hold. Find satisfaction in God, not the things of this world...it is the only thing that will ever bring you fulfillment.

3:12 - Fortresses should give the impression of strength, yet Nahum describes the fortresses of Assyria as pieces of ripe, delicious fruit. Ready to be taken and devoured by their enemies. There is no human creation that can stand against the will of God.

3:17 - The leaders have devoured the land and people like a plague of locusts...used them to gain great wealth and influence...left them corrupted and broken. Now at the first sign of trouble, they will scatter. It seems that they are not the lions that they thought they were...they are actually just insects.

3:19 - Nineveh was given a chance to repent and turn back to God through Jonah, but 100 years later this is their legacy...they have poured out evil on everyone who has come in contact with them. This would be a great time to take some time to think about your own legacy...what kind of influence are you having on the people people around you?