"STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS"
Nahum - The Fall Of Nineveh (1:1-3:19)
INTRODUCTION
- At the same time Jeremiah and Zephaniah were pronouncing judgment
against Judah, another prophet was directing his attention at one of
her enemies
- The prophet was Nahum, whose name means "Consolation"
- The name "is in a sense symbolical of the message of the book,
which was intended to comfort the oppressed and afflicted people
of Judah" (Eiselen)
- Concerning the MAN
- His home was Elkosh, of which little is known - Nah 1:1
- Some think that Capernaum (lit., "village of Nahum") may have
been his birthplace
- He was contemporary with Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah
- Concerning his MESSAGE
- His message is usually dated around 630-612 B.C.
- The northern kingdom of Israel was already in Assyrian
captivity
- Assyria itself was still a world power, though in a state
of decline
- The theme of his message is simple: "The Fall Of Nineveh"
- This makes his work a complement to that of Jonah
- Though by this time no mercy would be shown, judgment would
be final
[The book of Nahum can easily be divided into three sections which
coincide with the three chapters. In the first section we find...]
- NINEVEH'S DOOM DECLARED
- THE CHARACTER AND POWER OF THE LORD...
- God's vengeance, even though He is slow to anger - Nah 1:1-3a
- The fierceness of His anger described - Nah 1:3b-6
- The goodness of the Lord, as a stronghold to the faithful
- Nah 1:7
- The pursuer of His enemies - Nah 1:8
- THE COMPLETE OVERTHROW OF NINEVEH...
- She will not afflict again, despite her plotting against the
Lord - Nah 1:9-11
- Judah will be delivered from Nineveh's affliction - Nah 1:12-13
- Nineveh's destruction has been commanded by the Lord - Nah 1:14
- There shall be good tidings in Judah, she can keep her feasts
- Nah 1:15
[Having "declared" Nineveh's doom in the first section, we now find...]
- NINEVEH'S DOOM DESCRIBED
- THE SIEGE AND CAPTURE OF THE CITY...
- Furious preparation for the battle is described - Nah 2:1-4
- Resistance is futile, captivity has been decreed - Nah 2:5-7
- Note verse 6: "The gates of the rivers are opened, and the
palace is dissolved"
- "The Babylonian Chronicle tells that Nineveh fell because
the flooding rivers made breaches in the city's defenses."
(Believers' Study Bible)
- THE UTTER SACK OF THE CITY...
- Her inhabitants flee, the city is plundered - Nah 2:8-10
- Her destruction will be complete, Nineveh as a dwelling of
devouring lions will be no more - Nah 2:11-13
[Thus far, Nineveh's doom has been "declared" and "described" by Nahum.
In the third and final section, we find him saying...]
- NINEVEH'S DOOM DESERVED
- BECAUSE OF HER SINS...
- Her woe will be due to her sins - Nah 3:1-4
- The Lord will uncover her shame and make her a spectacle - Nah
3:5-7
- SHE IS NO BETTER THAN NO-AMON...
- Nineveh is no better than No-Amon (Thebes in Egypt) - Nah 3:8
- Who despite her strength, was carried away into captivity
- Nah 3:9-10
- So it will be with Nineveh - Nah 3:11
- HER STRENGTH AND WEALTH WILL NOT SAVE HER...
- Her strongholds will fail - Nah 3:12-13
- All her efforts, her wealth, her army, will be futile - Nah
3:14-17
- HER END HAS COME...
- Her leaders are dead, her people scattered - Nah 3:18-19a
- Those who hear of her fall will rejoice - Nah 3:19b
CONCLUSION
- The message of Nahum for the people of God is one of consolation...
- That those who afflict God's people will be judged - Nah 1:2-3;
cf. Lk 18:7-8
- That God is a stronghold in time of trouble - Nah 1:7; cf.
Ps 27:5
-- Are you trusting in God as your Stronghold?
- The message of Nahum for those who do evil is one of warning...
- Don't rely on what mercy was shown to your ancestors (e.g., as in
the days of Jonah)
- The Lord may be merciful and slow to anger, but the day of
judgment does finally come!
-- Are you trusting in what your parents or ancestors may have done,
to escape the judgment of God?
This message of Nahum is reminiscent of the words of Paul:
"Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who
fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His
goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off." (Ro 11:22)
Let us be sure to "continue in His goodness", lest we too experience
the "severity of God"!