Nahum Chapter 1 Treasures from the Book of Nahum

Nahum 1: [1] The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

1) The Burden of Nineveh (1)

The word “burden” indicates a heavy message of great importance carried with grief and sorrow.

Nineveh was the place to which this prophetic message was directed.

Nineveh was the capital of the great Assyrian Empire.

About 100 years before this Jonah was sent by the LORD to preach about the judgment of Nineveh.

The Assyrians were a wicked and a violent people. They attacked surrounding areas regularly.

They were extremely cruel to their victims:

- Fillet victims noses

- Bury victims body in sand and stake out the tongue

- Boiled people alive

- Raped women and mutilated their bodies

- Slaughtered children

Jonah stood and said “yet 40 days and Nineveh shall be overthrown.”

Upon hearing this message all of the Ninevites repented and GOD sent His reprieve from judgment.

Thus the city of Nineveh was spared.

Now we come to the Book of Nahum.

About 100 years have passed since Jonah preached and the Ninevites repented.

Should Nineveh continue to live in a repented state, the reprieve of GOD will continue.

Yet the Ninevites strayed away from the LORD and fell back into wickedness. (Jer 18:10)

I think of England which once stood as a mighty beacon to the world as they lived for GOD.

Yet they strayed away from GOD and are not even considered a world leader anymore.

I think of our nation, the USA. We once stood for GOD and right but we are straying away from GOD.

Alexander Tytler once stated that the average life of a great civilization is about 200 years.

He went on to speak of the stages of the progression of a civilization:

1. From bondage to spiritual faith

2. From spiritual faith to courage

3. From courage to liberty

4. From liberty to abundance

5. From abundance to selfishness

6. From selfishness to complacency

7. From complacency to apathy

8. From apathy back to bondage

Which stage do you believe our nation is living in? Selfishness, complacency, apathy or bondage?

This is the picture that was given of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, as they turned their back on GOD.

Nahum will give the message from GOD to a city that has slipped back into sin.

We will find that Nineveh is once again destined for the judgment of GOD.

Nahum prophesied during the days of King Hezekiah of Judah.

In the 4^th year of Hezekiah, Assyria attacked Israel (the Northern Kingdom) and carried Israel away.

2Kings 18:9-12

[9] And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.
[10] And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.
[11] And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes:
[12] Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.

Then in the 14^th year of Hezekiah, Assyria attacked Judah and Hezekiah paid tribute to Assyria.

2Kings 18:13-16

[13] Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them.
[14] And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
[15] And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house.
[16] At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

It was at that time that Nahum, the prophet of GOD, is given not just a message but a vision.

Nahum means “comfort” or “consolation.”

Nahum will foretell the destruction of Nineveh and his words are a comfort to the people of GOD.

Nahum is from a small village in Galilee called Elkosh.

The city of Capernaum was named after Nahum.

Jesus headquartered His ministry in Capernaum, after Nazareth had completely rejected Him.

Certainly Jesus’ Words gave an eternal comfort!

Nahum 1: [2] God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. [3] The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. [4] He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
[5] The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. [6] Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. [7] The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. [8] But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.

2) The Banner and Glory of GOD

In verses 2 through 8, Nahum presents the very character of Almighty GOD who will bring judgment.

A. GOD is Jealous (2a)

He will not share worship with any rival. He demands that His people worship Him alone.

B. GOD is an Avenger (2b)

Everyone who opposes GOD and His work will not prevail. GOD will punish sin.

GOD will send His governed fury, His righteous indignation & His divine vengeance upon the offender.

Romans 12:19 “Vengeance is mine; I will repay saith the LORD”

C. GOD is slow to Anger (3a)

GOD is longsuffering and patient.

GOD sent Jonah to preach the judgment of GOD to a sinful people.

When they repented GOD forgave them and gave them a reprieve.

When they fell back into sin, GOD waited patiently for them to repent.

Yet there is a time and place that GOD will display His wrath. (Jer 18:10)

D. GOD is Omnipotent (3b)

GOD is great in power.

Ps 62:11 “power belongeth unto GOD”

E. GOD is Just (3c)

GOD will not let the guilty go out of love or compassion. GOD loves all people but He hates sin.

Sin must be accounted for. Every sin must be paid for either in Hell or at the cross.

GOD has never pardoned an unpunished sin.

F. GOD is in Control (3d-6)

GOD is the Creator and He will have His way in all things.

The storms are under His control and they serve His purpose.

GOD will dry up the fertile waters.

GOD will cause the fertile places to be deprived of water and dry up.

(5) GOD will send disasters such as earthquakes and fervent heat.

Global warming is in the control of GOD! Calamities are in the control of GOD! There is no mother nature

(6) GOD will pour His wrath out upon the offender and the offender will not escape.

G. GOD is Good (7a)

Ps 107:1 “O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good”

GOD is good in all His plans for us.

GOD is good and GOD is fair.

His nature and His character are unchangeable and eternal.

H. GOD Protects (7b)

GOD will protect His own. He is Shelter to those who will turn to Him.

I. GOD is Omniscient (7c)

GOD knows all things.

GOD knows the difference between those who really trust Him and those who just say they do.

J. GOD Judges (8)

GOD cannot forever overlook sin and the rebellion of Assyria.

The judgment of GOD will come like an overwhelming flood.

Thus the wicked sinners of Nineveh were cast into outer darkness forever (spiritually speaking).

Hell is a place of fire and torment yet it is a place of spiritual darkness forever.

Darkness is more fearful to me than fire is.

Matt 22:13

[13] Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Nahum 1: [9] What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time. [10] For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry. [11] There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counseller.

3) The Blasting Devastation of Nineveh’s Army (9-11)

GOD asked Nineveh “what do ye imagine against the LORD?”

What do you plan or what do you conspire to do to my people?

GOD will make an utter end before the devisements of the wicked will come to pass.

GOD says “affliction shall not rise up the second time.” GOD will not give a second chance.

In verse 10, Judah looks at the surrounding Assyrian army as entangled thorns impossible to break through.

While Assyria assumes imminent victory and celebrates in pride, GOD says that He will devour them.

In verse 11, GOD says there is one that is a wicked counselor who plots evil and intends to do harm. (Ps 2:1-4)

This evil counselor wrote a threatening letter to King Hezekiah, Judah and the LORD. (2Kings 19:14)

Nahum 1: [12] Thus saith the LORD: Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more. [13] For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.

4) Beautiful Deliverance of Judah (12-13)

Judah is surrounded by a terrible adversary namely the powerful Assyrian army.

All Israel can do is pray and look unto the LORD.

GOD says the Assyrians are many but they have come together as one to harm the people of GOD.

The Assyrians feel so secure in their position and strength that they are quiet.

GOD had spared Nineveh, the capital of Assyria 100 yrs before BUT now Assyria will not spare Judah.

Yes Judah deserved the chastising hand of GOD, but now they have repented and pray to GOD.

GOD will protect Judah, GOD will restore Judah and the power of the oppressor will be broken.

2 Kings 19:14,15

[14] And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.
[15] And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD

2 Kings 19:20-22

[20] Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.
[21] This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
[22] Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.

2 Kings 19:32-35

[32] Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.

[33] By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD.
[34] For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
[35] And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

GOD smote 185,000 men of the Assyrian army in one night. Praise GOD the yoke of bondage was broken!

Nahum 1: [14] And the LORD hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.

5) The Bitter End (14)

GOD says to the King of Assyria, that no more of thy name will be sown.

The name of the King was widely recognized as powerful and influential.

GOD says I will embarrass you in the house of your false gods and make your grave.

After the blasting devastation of the Assyrian army, the King returned to the capital city of Nineveh.

2 Kings 19: 36

[36] So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.

[37] And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead.

The sons of the King of Assyria killed their daddy as he worshipped his false gods.

His false gods could not protect him from his own family, but the LORD GOD protected Judah.

Nahum 1: [15] Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.

6) The Blessing of God’s People (15)

The tidings of this great deliverance shall be published and welcomed throughout Judah.

This judgment of Nineveh’s army and its King was good news to Judah.

GOD has sent this message of good tidings which will be a great comfort to the people of GOD.

The very feet of such a one with comforting words are considered beautiful.

Nahum said the good news is the defeat of the enemy of GOD’s people.

Isaiah prophesied about the deliverance from Babylon and the soon coming of the Messiah.

This was certainly considered good news.

Isaiah 52:7

[7] How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
[8] Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.
[9] Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

When GOD sent a preacher to tell you about getting saved and how to live for GOD it was good news.

Romans 10:15

[15] And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

When it was announced in Revelation 17 & 18 that Babylon had fallen it was considered good news.

Babylon is the Anti-Christ’s false religious system and one world economic system.

In Revelation 18, all of the world mourned this collapse of Babylon; yet, all of heaven rejoiced.

Revelation 18:20

[20] Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

Revelation 19:1,5,6

[1] And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
[5] And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
[6] And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

Nahum warns that the people of GOD need to continue to observe the commandments of the LORD.

For in doing so, the LORD will hold back the attacks of the enemy.

Nahum is trying to provoke the people to do right.

Hebrews 10:24,25

[24] And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
[25] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Do we provoke folks to do right? Do we comfort the people of GOD?

Friend we must know that GOD will judge sin. He will make things right!