Its 3:01 am in the morning and I can't sleep. So what does a normal person do? Drink a glass of milk or herbal tea, right? What does a man do that is being inexorably drawn and called by the Lord towards some currently unseen goal in ministry? He sits here and does Bible study and types on his laptop. It is now 3:03 am. Nahum Nahum ahum...ahahumummmmzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz "hmmphh"..."ahem" Ah yes, now I remember.
We get into a little bit of Theology in Nahum. Two different aspects of Holy God are described in a contrasting manner. The attributes of His character contrasted between how a righteous man would experience God in their lives and how an unrighteous or wicked man would experience Him. There is a distinct dividing line. The distinctions will become brutally evident in my next post when I describe Assryia's treatment of their Jewish captives as these will be the unrighteous that are being punished.
Context:
Jonah had pronounced Nineveh’s doom over a century before this episode if they did not repent and turn from their wicked ways. God relented because the people of Nineveh repented. God was long suffering and full of grace when it came to Nineveh as wee will soon see again in this passage. The Assyrians had again turned to their evil ways. While this oracle is primarily direct at impending judgment of Assyria if they don’t “get their act together”, there is also a vicarious element in this oracle directed at Judah to learn from Assyria’s poor example. Chapter 1 is a descriptive psalm of God about Himself as this is coming through one of His prophets. God is making statements about Himself though Nahum.
God’s Character:
From the outset we see the Lord’s wrath personified and His anger against Nineveh is on full display. We also see His jealousy and wrath and they are constant until the other side blinks. God is unchanging so this can only mean one thing about God’s enemies. If you have managed to become his enemy or He seeks vengeance on you it is because you are diametrically opposed to him as a sinner either in righteousness, holiness, etc. How do we know that God is not capricious in his use of the attributes like jealousy and anger? First off, if anyone has read the Bible from Genesis to Nahum that would understand why. Secondly as outlined in Chapter 1, the LORD is slow to anger and great in power. Because He is just He has to judge and because of this the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.
God’s Power:
We then see a shift of description of His actions being like things of nature such as a whirlwind, a storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. This is symbolic of the fact that God is about us and above earth (creation). He is omnipotent and sovereign over all He has created and can rebuke the sea and dry it up, he can make all the rivers run dry. Areas known to men such as Bashan and Carmel wither and the blossoms of Lebanon fade. Even the mighty mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it. No one can endure His righteous and fierce anger. His wrath is poured out like fire and it seems to burn until the fuel for it (sin & evil) is completely consumed. Wow…rocks shatter before Him (cool visual).
God’s Character Realized By Man
In contrast, the Lord is also good and a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him. We then see a jump right back to the idea of not trifling with God because with an overwhelming flood he will make an end of Nineveh (disobedient sinful people) he will pursue his foes into darkness. Whatever plans or evil plotted against the Lord He will bring to an end. As if to put a finer point on this it additionally says that “trouble will not come a second time”.
God’s Verdicts (Judah & Assyria)
The wicked will be entangled among thorns and drunk from their wine…and will be consumed like dry stubble. We then have a direct quote verbatim from the Lord, “Although they have allies and are numerous, they will be cut off and pass away. Although I have afflicted you, O Judah , I will afflict you no more. Now I will break their yoke from your neck and tear your shackles away." Neither numbers or strength will allow Assyria to prevail against Judah and eventually Assyria will pass from the “scene”. In the end Assyria will cease to exist because of a lack of descendants. The Assyrian practice of destroying conquered peoples places of worship will be turned on them in the form of destruction of their idols. The chapter closes with an ever-present promise of either restoration or renewal as opposed to the present or impending situation. It is a message of peace being proclaimed. A promise of a time when they will fulfill their vows and they will never be invaded and those that oppose them will be destroyed completely.
What is really being driven home in this chapter/oracle is that God is ever full of grace. The Lord always leaves the option for repentance right to the bitter end. Until the dying breath…and I imagine many may be saved on their death bed (no atheists in foxholes). This chapter also delivers alternating verdicts for her acquittal and hope and of Assyria’s destruction because of their wickedness.
Baker, David W.. "A Psalm to Yahweh." Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah.. Downers Grove: Inter-Varisty Press, 1988. 27-32. Print.
Wiersbe, Warren. "The City Is No More" Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament: The Prophets (Bible Knowledge). Acambaro: Victor, 2003. 406-407. Print.
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