Nahum is short and concise. Nineveh is the main subject, but as I was reading, I made an interesting discovery about this wonderful book which I hope to share as you read through this study.
Nineveh is a sour subject. It had once been offered the mercy of God at the hands of a reluctant Jonah, and now Nahum delivers a message about the removal of that mercy. Nineveh’s acts of war against Israel and Judah are the primary reasons – they went beyond God’s plan to bring justice against Israel and turned God’s anger against them.
The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. Nahum 1:3 (NIV)
God, who is slow to anger according to verse 3, will only allow injustice to go so far. He pronounces His wrath and vengeance against those on whom He had once had compassion. They forsook His love and angered Him.
God, who is great in power, would now act on behalf of those who trust Him. God’s power shakes the foundations of the earth. Rocks explode in His presence! The unjust cannot put up any defense against God’s indignation – His anger aroused by the unjust, offensive, and insulting behavior of Nineveh. Those who anger God face a “fierce anger” that is relentless. I can’t imagine facing the relentless anger of God, who desires to show love instead. What could anyone be thinking to push God that far?
The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him… Nahum 1:7 (NIV)
The key verse in this passage is verse 7. Yes, God is slow to anger and great in power. God is also good. He knows which people are making an effort to live a righteous life. To those who trust Him, He is a refuge – especially in times of trouble. Too many times people invite trouble into their lives and forget where to seek refuge. Others forget to stay in the refuge and face troubles without God. Only through God can we face troubles and remain standing when they are over.
God wants us to grow and be mature but true maturity comes and grows when we realize how much we need God and how futile life becomes without Him. He is our refuge so we can grow and reach our full potential. He cares!
God cares so much that He pursues the enemy into the darkness. There is always time for justice, and God brings it. God leaves His enemy without resources. God’s enemy doesn’t have a refuge, and they will be crushed under His great power.
In verse 11, the one who plots evil (possibly Sennacherib, the Assyrian ruler) is called out because the plot is against God and his counsel led people to evil. A nation faces a sad state of affairs when its leader is the instrument of evil counsel (Read my series of posts about proper political leadership). God will thwart the efforts of this leader.
There is not one leader who can overpower God, even in great numbers. Any leader who leads his people back to God, however, can experience mercy from affliction. God tears away the things in life that shackle us or keep us yoked. Judah, in this instance, was paying tribute (money) to Nineveh – a heavy price and a loathsome burden.
Nineveh can represent the afflictions, addictions, poverty, and sin that overwhelm our lives. God can and does shut the doors of these problems from mankind, but He has chosen the church to be the vehicle of reconciliation. The same way God deals with Nineveh is the same way He conquers the difficulties in our lives – He chases them back into the darkness and has prepared a day for their final destruction!
Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, O Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed. Nahum 1:15 (NIV)
The people of Judah awaited Good News about peace and needed to hear about relief from their struggles. Through Christ, wickedness cannot prevail. He sent His Comforter to empower us and strengthen us. There was a time when I also needed to hear the Good News and someone dared to take a chance and share it. Christ proclaims peace – a peace that surpasses all understanding. People are looking for good news.
- Can they expect to see our feet coming to them?
- Are we the ones they will see coming over the mountains (their mountains of struggles and problems and pain) to bring such news?
The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him Nahum 1:7 (NIV)
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