Bible Study - Minor Prophets - Nahum: A Message of God's Judgment - Nahum 1, 2and 3 - January 6, 2013

Bible Study – Minor Prophets – Nahum: A Message of God’s Judgment – January 6, 2013

Well, well here we are in the year 2013. We begin a new series of study entitled “Minor Prophets: Major Messages.”

Our scripture for this lesson is Nahum 1:7-9, 12-13; 2:8-13; 3:18-19.

During the next four weeks we will study:

-         Nahum: A Message of God’s Judgment

-         Habakkuk: A Message of Faith

-         Obadiah: A Message of God’s Justice

-         Haggai: A Message of Hope

Why are they referred to as “minor prophets?” It is straight forward. Augustine dubbed them “Minor Prophets” because they wrote less than the other prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. However, the message from GOD for the people and their leaders was major.

If you are like me, I used to glaze over when I heard about studying the minor prophet’s. The LORD had to work with me to see the importance of the minor prophet’s in HIS plan. Just as all people, including religious leaders, are accountable to HIM, so are leaders of countries and nations. GOD’S message through these prophets reveals to us today the activity of GOD in the lives of people, religious and government leaders in the countries in which they live. GOD’S message is just as relevant today as it was for that time.

When we study the activity of GOD in the lives of people or countries, it reveals HIS activity in both revealing HIS love and HIS sternness.  HE says what HE means and means what HE says. Still people do not get it that GOD warns, reveals the consequences if people/countries/nations do not change and gives the people and leaders time to change. If they do not, then HE does what HE says HE will do. Those who believe that GOD has some secret plan to allow them into HIS heaven have a rude awakening. JESUS is the only way to heaven. Either a person accepts HIM and eternal life or rejects HIM and eternity without HIM.

America, we had better wake up. What is GOD’S message to us? Are our pastors, preachers, evangelists and teachers turning a deaf ear to GOD’S message for America? As we study these four (4) prophets we will see that GOD reaches out to the people, the religious leaders and to those who govern.

In our studies, we have the privilege of seeing the complete history. GOD told them what would happen and it did. Those to whom GOD was appealing only saw the immediate activity, life was good. It is the same in our lives today. We cannot see the complete plan GOD has for our lives and why HE allows certain circumstances to come into our lives. What happens in our lives may seem harsh at times but GOD’S plan is to redeem and to guide us toward HIS plan and purpose for our lives. This is true for individuals and countries.

Our lesson today focuses on GOD’S judgment of Assyria and its capital city, Nineveh. GOD brought judgment upon them because of their wickedness, rebellion and acts of injustice. Yes, this was the same Nineveh that GOD spared about 150 years earlier when HE sent Jonah there to preach to them. He did and they repented. Even the king repented and GOD did not destroy them. But here we are again, years later, and they have gone back to their old ways. GOD said HE will destroy them this time. HE removed HIS protection, which results in their destruction.

In these studies, we will see the wrath of GOD, which depicts HIS intense dislike for sin. We can see HIS love in attempting to get the people to change. HE gave freewill to all people. HE did not make them robots. We all have choices to make. This lesson reveals what happened when GOD calls people to repentance and they refuse.

The Old Testament depicts both the love of GOD and HIS wrath as graphically demonstrated when HE allowed nations to be destroyed. The New Testament depicts the love of GOD through JESUS and HIS passion. JESUS not only took our sin upon Himself but GOD’S wrath as recorded in Romans 5:9:

9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

As Christians, we have a new covenant with GOD through the shed blood of CHRIST as our Savior. We have been forgiven for our sins and spared the wrath of GOD.

We are still accountable to GOD. When we sin, we still can suffer the consequences for our sin. But never, ever forget, that GOD loves you and CHRIST gave HIS life for you. You have been bought with a price. Once you have been born into HIS family, you will never become unborn. That is GOD’S promise to all who place their faith in CHRIST.

As we study these lessons keep in mind that these are very graphic examples of GOD’S activity in the lives of HIS chosen people, including their enemies. HE established HIS authority and displayed HIS wrath against sin and disobedience. It is a vivid contrast to GOD as revealed by JESUS in the New Testament - HIS love, care, concern, forgiveness and the list goes on. JESUS established a new covenant through HIS passion, resurrection, ascension and GOD sending the Holy Spirit to earth to indwell all who accept CHRIST as their Savior.

So who was the Prophet Nahum? We do not know much about him. His name in Hebrew means “comfort.” He was an Israelite prophet. His hometown was Elkosh in Israel. Nahum referred to himself as an Elkoshite (el KAHSH ight). The location of Elkosh is not known but some believe it was the ancient name for Capernaum. His prophetic ministry was likely between 663 B.C. and 612 B.C. because the Babylonians and the Medes destroyed Nineveh in 612 B.C.

Let’s read Nahum 1:1:

1 The •oracle concerning Nineveh.a Jnh 3:3-4; 4:11; Nah 2:8; Zph 2:13 The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

An oracle is a message from GOD.

Nahum was called by GOD to deliver HIS message to Judah and the Assyrians. He was articulate and bold. GOD’S message gave Judah hope because they were paying the Assyrians protection money.  GOD was going to destroy Nineveh, which would give relief to Judah. Assyria was a powerful nation and ruled the region ruthlessly. No one dared to go against them. No one would have dreamed that Assyria, especially Nineveh, would ever be reduced to ashes. When GOD brings people or nations down, none are too big for HIM to bring down, including America. Nineveh was a notoriously wicked city. Nahum called it the “city of blood.” The atrocities that took place to those who were taken captive were horrible. I thought of the horrible things that Saddam Hussein’s sons did to the people in Iraq before Hussein’s rule ended.     

Let’s read Nahum 1:7-9:

7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in a day of distress; He cares for those who take refuge in Him. 8 But He will completely destroy Nineveh with an overwhelming flood, and He will chase His enemies into darkness. 9 Whatever you plot against the Lord, He will bring it to complete destruction; oppression will not rise up a second time

Nahum stated some of the attributes of GOD. HE is good and is a refuge in times of trouble. HE cares for all people but HE will completely destroy Nineveh. HIS destruction will be quick, unpredictable and with the force of a tsunami. It will be an overwhelming flood. It will be thorough, such that nothing will be left to build upon. GOD does not fool around. HE brings judgment upon HIS enemies. GOD’S reference to darkness symbolized HIS judgment against the wicked. Wickedness will not go unpunished and that is both here and hereafter.

America, what is GOD telling us? I personally believe the caution flags are waving. Will we pay attention and take a stand or will we go full speed ahead pulling away from GOD? We know that the people of Nineveh repented about 150 years earlier and GOD did not destroy them. However, this time it is a different situation. Nineveh will be destroyed.

Let’s read Nahum 1:12-13:

Promise of Judah’s Deliverance

12 This is what the Lord says:
Though they (Assyrians) are strongs Lit intact and numerous, they (Assyrians) will still be mowed down, and het Either the king of Assyria or his army (the king) will pass away. Though I (GOD) have afflicted you,u = Judahv (Judah)  Isa 10:5-34I will afflict you no longer.w Ps 30:5; 103:9; Isa 54:8
13 For I (GOD) will now break off his (Assyria’s) yoke from you and tear off your shackles.

Yes, the Assyrians were strong and numerous but they were going to be destroyed. When Judah disobeyed GOD’S covenant, HE allowed the Assyrians to oppress them. Now, GOD would break the chokehold Assyria had upon Judah and release Judah from Assyria’s political domination. Judah had been paying extortion money to Assyria to protect them.

Let’s read Nahum 2:8-13:

8 Nineveh has been like a pool of water from her first days,k  Hb obscurebut they are fleeing.“Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one turns back.

Nineveh was built on the Tigris River. Two of its tributaries flowed through it. The water levels were controlled by gates. Nineveh had been peaceful like a pool of water. Nineveh was attacked during the early spring rainy season. The year of the attack there were especially heavy rains. The gates were opened during the siege. The ground had been soaked by the heavy rains and the flood waters caused breach in one of the walls. This opened the opportunity for the destruction of this well fortified city.

This depicts the downfall of many lives. Often we think we are strong and can withstand the onslaughts of Satan. We hide behind our walls of self-sufficiency until our fortress has a breach. The flood waters come in and bring destruction. The Good News is that, as Christians, if we confess our sins and ask for forgiveness GOD will forgive and restore. But so often once, Christians or non-Christians go so far into sin, they do not believe GOD can or will forgive them. That is why CHRIST gave HIS life so that all who would have faith in HIM would be saved regardless of the degree of sin we may think we have in our lives. Sin is sin to GOD. People rank sin. There is an unforgiveable sin but if you worry that you have committed the unpardonable sin, you have not. Those who commit the unpardonable sin don’t worry about it because their hearts are hardened to things of GOD and CHRIST.   

During the siege of the city, as the flood waters flowed into the city not only did the outer wall open up but the foundation of the king’s place began to erode. Nahum saw this destruction in the vision. The king was aware of the message from GOD and when the city was being destroyed by flood waters, he gathered all his family, concubines, eunuchs, gold and clothes into one area and formed a type of funeral pyre. A pyre is a pile of wood on which a dead body is ceremonially cremated. He burned himself along with everything.

Nahum saw in the vision, the impact that the sight of these crumbling landmarks had on those who were to defend the city. Those who were to defend the city fled the city. Panic took over and the city was destined to fall. There were cries from those who were to defend the city to STOP! But like frightened sheep, they scattered. The shepherds or leaders were dead. Leadership was void and the result was chaos and devastation. Verses 9 and 10 revealed the result.

9 “Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!”There is no end to the treasure, an abundance of every precious thing.l 2Ch 32:27; 36:10; Dn 11:8; Nah 3:3
10 Desolation, decimation, devastation! Hearts melt,m  Dt 20:8; Jos 7:5; Isa 13:7; 19:1; Ezk 21:7,15knees tremble, loins shake, every face grows pale!n Isa 21:3; Jl 2:6

Assyria had plundered other countries and had accumulated vast wealth. Now, others were plundering them. Not only were all their treasures being plundered, Nineveh was being dealt a mortal wound from which it would never recover.

11 Where is the lions’ lair,o Isa 2:15; 5:26-29; Jr 4:7; 5:6; 50:17; 51:38; Jl 1:6; Am 3:12or the feeding ground of the young lions, where the lion and lioness prowled, and the lion’s cub, with nothing to frighten them away?p Lv 26:6; Dt 28:26; Jr 7:33
12 The lion mauled whatever its cubs needed and strangled prey for its lionesses. It filled up its dens with the kill, and its lairs with mauled prey.q Jb 38:39-40

Assyrian king’s hunted lions and Assyria was compared to a lion. The lion, Assyria, took whatever they wanted just as the lion takes its prey. Assyria filled its country with those they defeated and captured and shipped them off to other countries. Nothing frightened them. They were too big and powerful to be defeated. But little did they know that there was One more powerful than all the armies of the world, GOD.

13 Beware, I am against you.r  Jr 21:13; 50:31; 51:25; Nah 3:5This is the declaration of the Lord of •Hosts. I will make your chariots go up in smokes  Lit will burn her chariots in smokeand the sword will devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the sound of your messengers will never be heard again.

GOD, the LORD of Hosts (The Warrior attribute of GOD), made it clear that they would be destroyed and never rise again. GOD made it clear that the sword will kill their warriors and they will not be wreaking havoc in other countries because GOD will destroy them completely. They will never be heard of again as a power.

Let’s read Nahum 3:18-19:

18 King of Assyria, your shepherds slumber; your officers sleep. Your people are scattered across the mountains with no one to gather them together.t 1Kg 22:17
19 There is no remedy for your injury; your wound is severe.u Jr 10:19; 14:17; 30:12All who hear the news about you will clap their hands because of you, for who has not experienced your constant cruelty?

GOD sends a message to the King of Assyria. In essence, HE was saying, “Those you have put in charge of managing your affairs and defending your country are dead. As a result, your people, like frightened sheep, have scattered to other countries. You cannot bring them back because you do not have anyone left to exercise control over them. No one will bring them back to reestablish your kingdom because you do not have a kingdom. It has been utterly destroyed. You and your country have been dealt a mortal wound and you and your kingdom will die. You think that people, countries and nations will mourn your death. But instead they will all rejoice and clap their hands because you have been evil in all of your dealings with others. You are getting what you deserve. There is payday some day and this is your payday.”

America, we must not turn a deaf ear to GOD. HE warns and pleads for repentance. However, the choice is ours to make. We as Christians are secure in our salvation and eternal life. GOD needs for us to take a stand to prevent further erosion of Christian fundamentals in America. Christians cannot roll over and remain silent. It is time for action which has been bathed in prayer and revealed by the Holy Spirit.

When we consider the history of Nineveh it reflects GOD’S forgiveness when the people repented. Yet, over 150 years later, GOD utterly destroyed them because they returned to their sinful ways. When we study GOD’S involvement with countries it reveals how HE works in the lives of individuals. Why does GOD do what HE does? Our next study of the Prophet Habakkuk is an exciting study and GOD will answer some of tough questions Habakkuk asked GOD. GOD responded to HIM. Blessings!