Text: NAHUM 1,2 & 3
By: OGUMOR, SUNNY (BISHOP)
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The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite contains a prophecy that Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria Empire, would be destroyed because of its people’s wickedness.
A vision directed to the Assyrians about the complexity of their life style, waywardness and wickedness, their evil against the true God, idol worshippers they are. Their destruction will bring freedom to the Children of Israel who they have oppressed for many years. 2 Kg 17:1-41
The burden of Nineveh. Nahum 1:1,
A burden of Nineveh in this context is a heavy message of weighty importance, heavy in the sense that it produces sorrow or grief.
Jonah once preached repentance in Nineveh some years before and they repented. Jonah 1:2, 3:5-8, 10.
Probably the people of Nineveh did not pass on the lessons of Jonah to future generations. Soon they forgot about the God of creation, and moral decay set in. The once-repentant city fell into a state of spiritual deficiency.
Peter said; Those who backslide; Their end is worse than their beginning. 2 Pet 2:20-22. It happened unto them according to the true proverb; The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Nahum 1:2–7. The Second Coming
Like the second coming of our Lord and Saviour will be, Nahum foresaw the judgment that is coming to Nineveh and the devastation that will follow and the children of God will hive a sigh of relief from oppression. Assyria would be burned down like harmattan dry grass in a field. Human and materials will be lost.
The anger of the Lord is kindled.
The anger of the Lord did not just appear over night. The Assyrians had been an oppressive (world) power for many years. The city slipped back into sin, oppression and idol worshipping with full force.
Prophet Nahum had a vision to declare the city’s “full end” Nahum 1:8,9. You must not continue in sins.
Nahum began his prophecy by considering the character of the God who brings judgment. God is jealous but His jealousy is love in action for those who love Him. The essence of this is for us to know who God is, His power and mercy His judgments are just.
God is jealous, Ex 20:3-5 thou shall, have no other gods before me; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.
The LORD is slow to anger because he is great in power.
He was lenient with the children of Israel so do he for us today if we repent. Neh. 9:17 But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.
God is slow to anger, but it does come when there is no repentance. Those who did not like to retain God in their knowledge, He gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient. Romans 1:28.
Understanding this should make man quick to repent of immoralities and not play on God’s patience. Nineveh fall short of this. No one who has ever resisted Him and come out free, and safe. Job 9:4
Nahum reminded us that God will not at all acquit the wicked: Sin must be accounted for. Every sin not repented from will be paid for in hell. Know that sin has destructive consequences.
Also know that the LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble. to those who love Him and trust Him; Nah 1:7, Psm 46:1:
He will never leave you nor forsake thee in time of trouble, a refuge in the time of storm.
How Nineveh will be destroyed and Israel free. Nah 1:8-15.
Nahum saw someone conspiring against God. There is one amongst you who plots evil against the Lord. He will put an end to this. Nahum 1:9, 14.
He is a wicked counsellor plotting against the Lord. King of Assyria. 2 Kg 19:20-23.
The decision of total destruction to come upon the city was because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God with no sign of repentance. They are oppressors, idol worshippers and all type of immoralities there.
For a similar reason God turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly. 2 Peter 2:6.
Freedom for Judah; Nah 1:15.
God said trouble will not rise up a second time for Isreal.
Behold! upon the mountains the feet of him who brings good tidings [telling of the Assyrian’s death], who proclaims peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; perform your vows. For the wicked counsellor [the king of Assyria] shall no longer come against you or pass through your land; he is utterly cut off.
Isa. 52:7; Rom. 10:15 As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! Those who preach the word of God today are the ones with beautiful feet going about with the good news telling people to repent.
The Overthrow of Nineveh; Nahum 2:1-13
A call to battle, Nineveh to get ready. Nahum 2:1-12
The verdict on Nineveh is sure. God looks upon proud cities, and brings them down. Get ready the one who will scatter you is here, fortify your powers and watch the road because the Lord wants to retore the dignity of Jacob, when God destroys our enemy, we will be free from trouble.
To the children of God; Luke 19:9 And Jesus said unto him, this day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. The avenger is here to destroy you and set the Children of Jacob free from your trouble.
Nineveh must fall. No matter how much Nineveh prepared for the war the army will be busy running to and fro for nothing because they cannot war with God. It is time to restore the excellence of Jacob says God. If God say yes nobody can say no.
The battle decided.
The prophet did not only saw the battle, but he also saw the outcome.
Isa 31:8 Assyria will fall by no human sword; a sword, not of mortals, will devour them. They will flee before the sword and their young men will be put to forced labour. Nah 2:7 It is decreed that Nineveh be exiled and carried away. The same way we are looking at the end time, what will be our faith.
Nineveh’s defeat.
Nineveh shall drain like a pool of water.
She is empty, desolate, and waste! The heart melts, and the knees shake; Much pain is in every side, And all their faces have changed colour.
The kings of Assyria had long been terrible and cruel to their neighbours, but the Lord will destroy their power. They are not worthy to be heard again; they have spoken reproachfully of God. Those that fear the Lord, get honestly what they want. Let us then come to God upon his mercy-seat, that having peace with him through our Lord Jesus Christ, we may know that he is for us, and that all things shall work together for our everlasting good.
Thus said the Lord Nah 2:13
Behold I am against you Nineveh, everything about you will be brought to Zero. What a terrible message to hear from God. Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Then the opposite if God be against us who can be for us?
Same thing God said to Pharaoh king of Egypt Eze 29:3. Say to him, thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great monster that lies in the midst of his streams, boastfully declaring, My river Nile is my own and I have made it for myself. This is how men fell out of favour with their utterances.
Judgement on Nineveh; Nahum 3:1-19.
Nahum 3:1-7 When proud sinners are brought down, others should learn not to lift themselves up. The fall of this great city should be a lesson to private persons, who increase wealth by fraud and oppression. They are preparing enemies for themselves; and if the Lord sees good to punish them in this world, they will have none to pity them.
Every man who seeks his own prosperity, safety, and peace, should not only act in an upright, honourable manner, but with kindness to all. (Mathew Henry)
The sins of Nineveh: Nah 3:1-4
Woe betides, used as a threat to indicate that somebody is going to regret something or be punished in some way.
Woe to the city of blood, full of lies and robbery that is busy with violence, oppression, deception and idolatry non stop. Killing and maiming becomes the order of the day.
Security personnel busy oppressing and subduing inhabitants. Dead bodies are a common sight, harloting became a lucrative trade. Nineveh like the harlot is enticing the world with idolatry.
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