the book of nahum is a message against

The Lord takes vengeance against His foes; He is furious with His enemies. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. 9Whatever they plot(AC) against the Lordhe will bring[a] to an end;trouble will not come a second time.10They will be entangled among thorns(AD)and drunk(AE) from their wine;they will be consumed like dry stubble. Yahweh is not a God solely of love and mercy, but he is also a God of justice and anger. Most significant, the people of Judah would have immediately taken hope in the idea that Nineveh, their primary oppressor for generations, would soon come under judgment from God. We deduce it as we see how he repeatedly declares he is against the Ninevites in Nahum. To encourage comfort in the hearts of Gods people that their affliction at the hands of the wicked has not gone unnoticed by their God; there will be a final accounting. Israel had been destroyed in 722 BC by the Assyrians, but Judah was still around. The unrepentant wicked will receive no comfort (see Nahum 3:7), but the righteous can take comfort from Nahum's message that the Lord cares about them and will one day bring an end to wickedness. All rights reserved. Who plots evil against the LORD, Yet we see them turn right back around to embrace their sinful and destructive past once again and we scratch our heads. that the book of Nahum originated in cultic circles, and that it is a religio-political propagandistic pamphlet. Question 44 Ezekiel's vision of _____ confirmed the Lord's promise to restore and spiritually renew the people of Israel. Nahum is a collection of poems announcing the downfall of one of Israels worst oppressors, the ancient empire of Assyria and its capital city, Nineveh. Gods judgment of evil is good news, unless, of course, you happen to be Assyria. He avenges his foes. For those that trust in God and submit to His ways there will be refuge and comfort until His day of judgment occurs (Nahum 1:7). ultimate sense of justice for all in the end. Unlike Jonah, who was a messenger of grace to the city of Nineveh one hundred years prior, Nahum was a messenger of judgment. Who proclaims peace! Click on the different category headings to find out more. The book of Nahums literary style is poetry. This principle has a New Testament application in James 1:15: Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death (emphasis added throughout). and keeps wrath for His enemies. 52:7 ). a. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. Sunday | 97 views, 4 likes, 7 loves, 18 comments, 8 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Capital Heights Baptist Church: Sunday Morning 04/23/2023 Thank. The Book of Nahum is the seventh book of the 12 minor prophets of the Hebrew Bible. I will cut off the carved image and the molded image. 1:5). This prophetic vision is addressed to the city of Nineveh, which happens to be the central hub for the evil and cruel Assyrian empire. But cozy islands of escapeHe wipes right off the map. In Hebrew, "Nahum" means comfort. Who can endure(T) his fierce anger? Although the Lord is slow to anger, He is still angry! While God brings down all the arrogant empires, he will also provide refuge for those who humble themselves before him. God Is Serious Business. For those who take refuge in him, God is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble (1:7). Haldar's characterization of the Book of Nahum was explicitly or impli-citly adopted by a number of commentators, though his derivation of the book's ideas and expressions from ancient Near Eastern myths and cults has Nahum 1:15, "Behold, on the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace! More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free. The sure and reliable hope of true Christians is that they can have a part in the future Kingdom of God (Daniel 2:44). . Israel and its neighbors awaited the downfall of Assyria, which eventually came in the year 612 B.C.E. The utter end of its place was also literally fulfilled. No one from any of the nations he has oppressed offers help. Your name shall be perpetuated no longer. Even though God is good and a stronghold in the day of trouble (Nahum 1:7), He will act against those who reject Him and who refuse to respond to His warning messages (1:6-10). God is both good and full of wrath. Jesus Christ predicted that humanity would self-destruct if He did not intervene in the affairs of mankind (Matthew 24:22). Nahum is a biblical book that Christians find easy to avoid. People in general want to know whether world leaders will find peace or if our modern weapons of mass destruction will wipe all life from the earth. All rights reserved worldwide. It is all full of lies and robbery (3:1). If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. All rights reserved. Chapter ii. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. 10, 14). The book of Nahum becomes a token of God's final judgment . The historical outworking of the details of this prophecy demonstrate once again the authenticity of the Word of God. The burden against Nineveh. 1:56). The only mention in Scripture of Nahum the Elkoshite occurs in the first verse of his own book. While Nahum is a short book of only three chapters comprised of 47 verses, we would be wise to pay attention to the message of Nahum. Never miss a post! The book invites every reader to humble themselves before Gods justice and trust that, in his time, he will confront the oppressors of every time and place. Composed before 632 B.C.E., the Bible book of Nahum contains that message. This book is a sequel to the book of Jonah. Revelation 18:9-19 shows how the kings and merchants of the earth mourned the fall of Babylon, but Revelation 18:20-19:6 shows how heaven rejoiced over the fall of the world system. We may request cookies to be set on your device. The inner city of Nineveh proper, about 3 miles long, and 1 miles wide, built at the junction of the Tigris and Khoser rivers, was protected by walls 100 feet high, and broad enough at the top to hold 4 chariots driven abreast, 8 miles in circuit. ; about 150 years apart. 2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. By: Renz, Thomas, 1969-[author.] 1. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. The crumbling rubble of the arrogant city is a grim reminder that only those nations who rely on the God who is the source of true peace will see on the mountains the feet of him who brings good tidings, who proclaims peace (1:15) (William LaSor, David Hubbard and Frederic Bush, Old Testament Survey, 1982, p. 449). (F)3The Lord is slow to anger(G) but great in power;the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. Though they are safe, and likewise many, This is good news; this is published peace (see Nah. Nineveh stands for the warfare of man against his fellow human beings. However, its wealth was not the result of trade alone, but also came through the practice of deceit and the plundering of neighboring nations. Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good tidings, who proclaims peace! If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. We will be exploring Nahum 1:7 and the powerful message it contains for believers today. 1:15 in Rom. Not long after the Assyrian city of Nineveh repented because of Jonahs preaching, the same city was denounced by Nahum for its godlessnessgodlessness which earned Gods righteous wrath. }? ; we have many talented students performing. Francis Brown, S. R. Driver, and Charles A. Briggs, The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2006), 637. It is an announcement of a future government Christ will set up on the earth (Revelation 11:15), when people of all nations will enjoy an abundant life, prosperity and lasting peace. Who were two of Nahum's contemporaries from the prophets? Is this a depiction of modern Western people who claim allegiance to God, but when it comes to matters of obedience to biblical laws and principles lean to their own understanding (Proverbs 3:1, 5-6)? View Chuck Swindoll's chart of Nahum, which divides the book into major sections and highlights themes and key verses. He stands up against his enemies, fierce and raging.But God doesnt lose his temper. Striding across the mountainsa messenger bringing the latest good news: peace!A holiday, Judah! The old house was so creepy we didn't hardly dare to set a foot inside. . Hampton Keathley: Nineveh was the capitol of Assyria. God will not allow rampant and unrestrained wickedness to prosper and increase indefinitely. Even though God had used the Assyrian empire to . Much of the pain involved in being a Christian can never be addressed in a human court of lawgossip, slander, ridicule, scoffing, avoidance. The whole worlds in a panic.Who can face such towering anger? The meaning of Nahum's name, "consoler," plays an important role in the prophet's message (see Bible Dictionary, "Nahum"). But Nahum prophesied some 70 years after Jonah's day and by his time the Assyrian capital had fallen again into its violent and degraded ways. Listen to the way Nahum describes the punitive action of the Lord: and the rocks are broken into pieces by him. Nahum 1:9, "Whatever they plot against the LORD he will bring to an end; trouble will not come a second time.". No wickedness committed against Gods people, however great or small, escapes the eye of God. 12-13And God has something to say about all this:Even though youre on top of the world,With all the applause and all the votes,youll be mowed down flat. Lets be honest: its pretty ridiculous to see Assyria given so much grace through God sending the prophet Jonah to warn them, right? The Book of Nahum presents a sobering graphical depiction of the unleashing of Gods wrath against the wickedness of Nineveh. The prophet Nahum reminds us of Gods active hand, working even in the darkest of times to bring justice and hope throughout the world. The prophet's name means ''comfort'' or ''consolation.''. Behold, on the mountains He will make an utter end of it. (B) The book of the vision(C) of Nahum the Elkoshite. Therefore, the city of Nineveh did actually repent and turn from their evil ways and God spared them. To understand the prophet's exultant outburst of joy over the impending destruction it is necessary to recall the savage cruelty of Assyria, which had made it the scourge of the ancient Near East for almost three centuries. - God is slow to anger and great in power. God gave Nahum a strong message to the ancient city of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. The book of Lamentations is a series of five separate laments over the fall of Jerusalem to the __________. God is good in all His plans and purposes for our lives. Not only that but Nahum also describes the downfall of the bad guys as good news for the remnant of Gods peoplea direct allusion to Isaiahs good news about the downfall of Babylon (Nah. 10:15 (cf. Unfortunately, few understand the wonderful message contained in the gospel. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. He will make an utter end of it: Nineveh was ripe for a devastating judgment. Chapter 3 describes the results of the citys downfall for the empire as a whole. 1:7). A prophecy concerning Nineveh. (AK)I will destroy the images(AL) and idolsthat are in the temple of your gods.I will prepare your grave,(AM)for you are vile., 15Look, there on the mountains,the feet of one who brings good news,(AN)who proclaims peace! While several options have been proposed by scholars, the best argument places Obadiah in the 840s BC, making him the earliest writing prophet, a few years prior to Joel, and a contemporary of Elisha. For those who trust in Him, He is a refuge; for those who are evil . Print subscriptions available in U.S., Canada and Europe. Bible Book Summary. Yet all along the city lay buried under layers of earth until the 1800s when archaeologists uncovered the ruins. Audio for Nahum 1: A. He was one of the few prophets who despaired when his listeners heeded his warning. Not only does God spare them but they remain in Gods favor for almost another hundred years. church today. - God will not leave the guilty unpunished. The book of Nahum is a message against _____. gain access to 50+ premium resources to enhance your study of Scripture. Nahum 1:7, "The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him.". The book of Habakkuk, perhaps completed in 628 B.C.E., foretells how Jehovah will use that world power as . Nahum is a gloomy book, but its important to see how Nahums message addresses the tragic and perpetual cycles of human violence, oppression, and suffering. (U)His wrath is poured out like fire;(V)the rocks are shattered(W) before him. Jeremiah prophesied during the reign of Judah's last five kings. Although they have allies and are numerous. I will dig your grave, But now, Nineveh was being prepared for destructions. Nahums singular focus on the impending judgment of Nineveh offers a continuation of the story that began in Jonah. Well, the story of Jonah going to Nineveh happened 100 years before the message of Nahum was written. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. (Y)He cares for(Z) those who trust in him,(AA)8but with an overwhelming flood(AB)he will make an end of Nineveh;he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness. Chapter 2 describes the battle at Nineveh and the overthrow of the city in progressive stages. In a world beset by increasing warfare, strife, unhappiness, sorrow, hunger and many other disasters and calamities, it is vital that we keep the hope vested in the gospel message burning forever brightly in our minds. i. Isaiah 52:7 uses a similar expression, but Isaiah marvels at the beauty of the feet of him who brings good news. The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies (Nah. The Lords willingness to send Nahum, whose name means comfort, into such a hopeless situation evidences His unrelenting and overwhelming grace.2. Chesnot/Getty Images. Nahum's book is a sequel to, and a dramatic contrast with, the book of Jonah. The first verse of the book says he was an Elkoshite. Thus says the LORD: Nahum means "comfort" or "consolation" and is a short form of Nehemiah ("comfort of Yahweh"). John MacArthur: Nahum forms a sequel to the book of Jonah, who prophesied over a century earlier. (H)His way is in the whirlwind(I) and the storm,(J)and clouds(K) are the dust of his feet.4He rebukes(L) the sea and dries it up;(M)he makes all the rivers run dry.Bashan and Carmel(N) witherand the blossoms of Lebanon fade.5The mountains quake(O) before himand the hills melt away. Jonah's was a message of Mercy; Nahum's, a message of Doom. After allowing approximately two hundred years of powerful Assyrian kings and rulers, God announced through Nahum His plans to judge the city of Nineveh. Now, this is interesting because it seemed like this book was only going to be about Assyria. Start your free trial today! Im praying for you as you read Nahum this week and listen for the Lords voice as well. Rejoicing is not in this context gleeful gloating at the misfortune of others. Rather it is pleasure at the vindication of God and his promises. (Baker). Below are scriptures in Nahum that refer to end-time events: Nahum 1:12 refers to a time when God says His people will no longer be afflicted, and enemies will not be allowed to pass through their land. Little is known about the prophet Nahum. b. Jonah's mission to Nineveh was probably sometime in the first half of the eighth century b.c. Prior to the destruction of Nineveh in 612 B.C. Perpetual desolation predicted (verses 8-19). While we mourn and feel the weight of living in our broken world we must take encouragement and hope that God will not remain silent. For a quick overview of the book of Nahum, Id highly encourage you watch the video below. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. b. I will dig your grave, for you are vile: In this vivid almost extreme imagery, God warned Nineveh of its coming judgment and destruction. As Nahum puts it, Nineveh was a lion who filled his caves with prey, and his dens with flesh (2:12). But 150 years later, Nineveh returned to idolatry, violence, and arrogance ( Nahum 3:1-4 ). Thus opens Nahums prophecy, and this is the message of this book of the Bible for the world today. Nahum announces that God's judgment is at hand and will bring justice to the nations. God, the all-powerful Creator, comes to confront the nations and bring . Nahum celebrates God's sovereignty and justice, and Nahum invites readers to join the celebration. 5:07 Nineveh was proud of her invulnerable city, with her walls reaching 100 ft. high and with a moat 150 ft. wide and 60 ft deep; but Nahum established the fact that the sovereign God (1:2-5) would bring vengeance upon those who violated His law (1:8, 14; 3:5-7). The book of Nahum is one of the prophetic books of the Old Testament and presents a message of divine judgment against the city of Nineveh, capital of the Assyrian Empire. a. In the Book of Jonah, written in the eighth century BC, we behold a man of God who was called to preach to Nineveh. Siege and capture described (verses 1-8). tells of the wickedness which provoked the retribution, ending with the words, Upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually?. - God is slow to anger and great in power. THE BOOK OF NAHUM Shortly before the fall of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, in 612 B.C., Nahum uttered his prophecy against the hated city. The book of Nahum is God's message of the impending destruction of Nineveh. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. "The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries . Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! - God is merciful and just. The summation of Nahum's message: "Beware, I am against you. Reflections of Christ. Halleys Bible Handbook provides this information: The term Nineveh refers to a whole complex of associated villages served by one great irrigation system, and protected by the one network of fortifications based on the river defenses. b. O Judah, keep your appointed feasts, perform your vows: Knowing the grace and mercy of God to His people should not make the believer careless in obedience, it should make the believer more careful to obey every word of the LORD. Preach Nahum because it offers solid comfort from an uncomfortable God. The power of their oppressors would be broken (I will break off his yoke from you). According to secular accounts, during the final siege of Nineveh by a rebel army of Persians, Medes, Arabians, and Babylonians, unusually heavy rains caused the rivers to flood and to undermine the citys walls, which then collapsedthe invading armies entered the city through this breach in its defenses. (Boice), ii. just before the fall of Nineveh in 612 B.C. 1 The burden of Nineveh. Though Nahum also prophesied concerning Nineveh, his message is different; his message is about the coming judgement on this city. First, he summarizes the message of the profit in its original context, then he places it into the context of the Twelve Minor Prophets in the larger biblical canon. List of Illustrations x Series Editors' Preface xii Preface xiv Acknowledgments xvi Abbreviations xx I Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah 1 Jin H. Han Introduction 3 The Three Among the Twelve 3 The Manner of Presentation 5 1 Nahum 6 Nahum in Literature 9 Nahum in the Arts 11 Nahum in Worship 14 Nahum 1: The Avenging God 15 Nahum 2: Destruction of Nineveh 27 Nahum 3: Woe Oracle against the City of . New International Version (NIV). 6 I will cast abominable filth upon you, Make you () vile, [] And make you () a spectacle. Seven hundred years before Christ he sent the Assyrians. Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, Gospel, Leadership. Identify four key themes that run throughout the book of Nahum. This blatant refusal to maintain Gods ways was the final straw and thus Nahum was given a prophetic vision to deliver as Gods final message to the Assyrians. Because all of the prophets are somewhat similar, our goal is to discover that central core message of the book. Nahums prophecy against the city of The same God had a retributive judgment against evil which is also redemptive, bestowing His loving kindnesses upon the faithful (cf. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty ". The book ends with the destruction of the city. Nineveh, at the time Nahum predicted its downfall, was at the heart of a vast, powerful empirethe commercial center of the world. i. Nahum warns the Assyrian capital of Nineveh of God's judgment for their cruelty, idolatry, and wickedness. At the height of Ninevehs power, on the eve of its sudden overthrow, Nahum appeared with this prophecy (p. 369). God promised to bring this wicked city so low that they would lose their legacy and name among the nations. ; about 150 years apart. I will make your chariots go up in smoke and the sword will devour your young lions. Notice how Halleys Bible Handbook introduces the book of Nahum: Two of the Prophets had to do with Nineveh: Jonah, about 785 B.C., and Nahum, about 630 B.C. Jesus answered, You say rightly that I am a king. Hope for all. His longsuffering has limits. And the Lord will by no means clear the guilty (Nah. The next power to rise is the Babylonian Empire, sometimes ruled by Chaldean kings. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. 1 A report on the problem of Nineveh, the way God gave Nahum of Elkosh to see it: 2-6 God is serious business. The overflowing flood was fulfilled both figuratively and literally. Chapter iii. Nahum lived in a dark time, a time in which the faithful few must have wondered how long they would have to resist cultural and spiritual compromise. [34] Exposition. -God is good (He cares for His people). God judges evil. But none of that matters if God is against you. While the book of Jonah records Ninevehs reprieve, Nahum predicts its destruction. for those who trust in him" ( 1:7 ), but also one who "will not leave the guilty unpunished" ( 1:3 ). It will be a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the wrathful, avenging God when He unleashes His fury. Facebook users have started getting . The Book of Nahum presents a sobering graphical depiction of the unleashing of God's wrath against the wickedness of Nineveh. This brings us all the way back to the conclusion of that first poem: The Lord is good, a refuge in the day of distress. The prophecy brought comfort to Judah and all who feared the cruel Assyrians. This includes various Gospel Presentations and helpful booklets. The Assyrian Empire, which had its capital at Nineveh, was at its most powerful in the first half of this period, having a stranglehold on Judah during King Manessehs reign (2 Chronicles 33:1013). The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. The burden: In the prophets, a burden is a heavy message of weighty importance, heavy in the sense that it produces sorrow or grief. Assyria had reached the zenith of its power, and its downfall probably appeared impossible to many. Sometime around 760 BC, God sent Jonah to Nineveh to preach repentance and hope to the Assyrian people, a message they heard and adoptedat least for a time. Amos concluded his prophecies of unrelenting judgment with a message of hope concerning Israel's future restoration. Decide which vocabulary word best completes the sentence, and write the letter of your choice on the answer line. Israel and Judah were two of those nations. In Nahum, the good news is the defeat of the enemies of Gods people. Just 100 years earlier, the prophet Jonah had been instructed to warn Nineveh to repent. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh" (1:1). It was used by God to punish the inhabitants of Israel who had turned to idol worship and other evil practices. The LORD's Anger Against Nineveh - The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The judgement revolves around recognition of the Body of Christ, the people of God. 1:7, 12, 13, 15; 2:2). It may not have even been the writer's name; it may have been part of the book's poetrya vision of comfort, albeit from an . and vents his wrath against his enemies. False. All those who cling to their own self-made places of refuge will experience the terrifying flood of divine wrath that is coming at the end of time.