Nahum Introduction Various Passages Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you. Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city a visit required three days. On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned. The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish. When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened (Jonah 3:1-10). This was the greatest revival in history. An entire people repented and turned to God. Of course Jonah was ecstatic about the whole thing. Right! Consider the following transcript from the records of Jonah s psychiatrist. One afternoon, he stormed into the office, slammed himself into the straight-backed chair, his face alarmingly red, as if it would burst with rage. There were no opening gambits. He had no right to force me to do this, he charged, his moist, red-rimmed eyes contrasting with the harshness of his gravel-crusher voice. You d be happier if God had not brought you into His plans for saving Nineveh, I reflected back, in order to keep him working on his alienation from the Lord he really loved. Of course! How would you like to participate in a plan to free the man who would kill your son? That s how it was for me to be asked to rescue Nineveh. You fear that the Assyrian army will eventually destroy Israel? I asked, naively. His face purpled. Have you ever seen what your Assyrian troops do to their vanquished enemies? They whack off the hands or feet of civilians, or cut off their noses, or put out their eyes, or so disfigure their heads and faces as t permanently display large areas of the skull. No, they are not gentle. And neither will be the Assyrian conquest of my country. His anger was now accompanied by deep grief for his people. They will do as they have done to other nations carrying thousands away into slavery, importing thousands of aliens with strange cultures and hideous gods and settling them in Israel to defile our sacred soil. It must be painful to feel so betrayed, I responded, without condemnation. I have never felt so lost, he was saying in s subdued tone. God won t talk to me. I don t know if He listens. My guts wrench. The blood pounds in my head. My hands clutch and my muscles contract of themselves. It s as if I m trying to capture my Persecutor and hold Him until He hears me out. It was bad enough that He commanded me to go. But He wouldn t be content with that. He robbed me of freedom. In the end I had no choice no choice. When God robs you even of the freedom to disobey, you are left with nothing. 1 1 Backus, William, The Paranoid Prophet, Bethany House Publishers, Minneapolis, MN, 1986, p. 83-85.
Well, Jonah may have been successful, but he wasn t a happy camper. On the other hand, his concerns weren t without merit. And they come to fruition many years later, as we will see in this study. I Introduction II Author III Date IV Literary Form V Theme VI Conclusion & Reading of Nahum It s hard to believe, but we ve already covered two four of the minor prophets I wanted to examine in this series. These will be Habakkuk, Haggai, Nahum and Joel. I am going to be looking into them as a series of messages that flow in the following themes. First, in Habakkuk we discussed God s unfathomable ways. Second, in Haggai we saw God s call to obedience based on faith in Him. In Nahum we will see that judgment comes to those who choose to disobey. But finally, in Joel, we will see the day is coming when God will restore all things for His own. When we finish these four, we will do a two-part doctrinal series. After that, I am seriously considering doing an extended study on the book of Romans. This morning, we will start by looking at the book of Nahum. I should also note that in this introductory lesson I will be quoting from a number of different sources. I Introduction: Armerding introduces the book this way: Nahum s prophecy is rooted in the Lord s revelation of himself at Sinai as a God of judgment and mercy. This self-revelation is echoed in 1:2-6 and given increasingly specific application in the remaining verses of the book. Nahum thus stands firmly in Israel s prophetic tradition as one inspired to interpret the complexities of the present and future in the light of the past: the general truths of the law belonged to every member of the covenant (Deut 29:29); the details of its outworking in history were understood only by those called to stand in the Lord s council (Jer 23:18, 22; Amos 3:7). 2 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law (Deuteronomy 29:29) But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word? But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds. Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. (Jeremiah 23:18, 22; Amos 3:7). 2 Armerding, Carl E., The Expositor s Bible Commentary, Nahum, Zondervan Interactive Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1990 ) 2 (
Willmington identifies the problem that brings about the need for the prophecy. It harkens back to Jonah s day. Under Jonah s ministry some 100 to 150 years before Nahum, the Assyrian threat had been nullified by the mass conversion of the king and people. The generation of Assyria in Nahum s day reverted to the idolatrous ways of their ancestors before Jonah. Under Sennacherib they invaded Judah and laid siege to Jerusalem. It was only by God s supernatural intervention that the Assyrian threat was neutralized (cf. 2 Kings 19:35-36; 2 Chronicles 32:21) or Judah would have suffered Israel s fate. 3 That night the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eightyfive thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning there were all the dead bodies! So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. And the LORD sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the leaders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons cut him down with the sword (2 Kings 19:35-36; 2 Chronicles 32:21). II Author: The following comes from Feinberg s commentaries on the minor prophets. The name of the prophet Nahum means consolation. Apart from the fact that he is designated as an Elkoshite, nothing is known of his personal history. Even Elkosh, the place of his birth, is not known with certainty. The name occurs nowhere else in the Bible. Three suggestions have been advanced: (1) that it was a town about twenty-four miles north of Nineveh. The tomb of Nahum is shown at Elkosh in Assyria. But we cannot credit this view, because the tradition dates from the sixteenth century. (2) According to Jerome, translator of the Vulgate, it was a small village in Galilee. This position has much to commend it, though we cannot affirm that Capernaum (lit., the village of Nahum) received its name from our prophet. The name was not uncommon in Israel. (3) A third suggestion would place Elkosh in the south of Judah. We are probably correct in believing that the prophet was born in Galilee and moved to Judea where he ministered in the Word of the Lord. 4 III Date: Once again I turn to Armerding. From internal data it is possible to date the major blocks of material in Nahum, though critics continue to debate small pericopes. As a message of judgment, the book makes no sense if it was proclaimed following the collapse of the Assyrian empire in 612 B.C. On the other hand, references to the destruction of Thebes (No-amon) by the Nile (3:8) demand that the prophecy postdate that city s fall to Ashurbanipal in 663 B.C. Further consideration of the still formidable state of Assyrian power reflected in the book itself requires that we date the prophecy prior to the decline of that kingdom after about 626 B.C. (cf. comment at 3:8). P.A. Verhoef (ZPEB, 4:357) believes that the prophecy was written sometime before 645 B.C., which would be consistent with Assyria s power as reflected in the book. 5 IV Literary Form: The prophecy of Nahum is in two main sections chapter 1 and chapters 2 and 3, which correspond to each other as outlined below. 3 Willmington, Harold L., Survey of the Old Testament, Victor Books, Wheaton, IL, 1987, p. 493. 4 Feinberg, Charles, L. The Minor Prophets, Moody Press, Chicago, IL, 1990, p. 188. 5 Armerding. ) 3 (
Chapter 1 describes God s judgment (vv.2-11) and the sentence underlying that judgment (vv.12-14), incorporating its proclamation and the response it elicits (v.15). The chapter is dominated by its prediction of a total end for Nineveh and the dispersion of its inhabitants (vv.3, 8-9, 12, 14-15). Chapters 2-3 repeat this pattern, with detailed and explicit application to Nineveh (2:8; 3:7); this passage consists of a number of corresponding subsections. 6 V Theme: The theme is fairly straightforward: judgment upon Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire. Jensen notes: The theme of Nahum may be stated thus: The Lord, in His sovereign holiness and goodness, will bring judgment upon sinful Nineveh, and spare righteous Judah. The book is mostly about Nineveh, the subject which the opening sentence (1:1) introduces. It is also addressed mainly to Nineveh. 7 VI Conclusion: Let me close this introduction with Willmington s summary of the background of the book. 150 years had come and gone since Jonah s preaching crusade. Its high and massive walls overflowed with bloodshed, dishonesty, witchcraft, immorality, pride, and materialism. But most tragic of all, unlike the generation Jonah preached to, there was now absolutely no desire to abandon sin and ask god for forgiveness. Thus, to Nahum the prophet was given the unpleasant task of pronouncing swift and terrible divine judgment on this great city, located on the banks of the Tigris River. In fact, this very river, as used by God, would play a vital role in the total destruction of Nineveh. Having rejected God s streams of mercy, the wicked citizens would now suffer His waters of judgment. 8 Because of the nature of this study, I want to finish up this morning by reading the book. Then I want you to keep reading it as we study it over the next weeks. It probably would be a good idea to go back and read Jonah as well. The following is from The Contemporary English Version. I am Nahum from Elkosh. And this is the message that I wrote down about Nineveh. The LORD God demands loyalty. In his anger, he takes revenge on his enemies. The LORD is powerful, yet patient; he makes sure that the guilty are always punished. He can be seen in storms and in whirlwinds; clouds are the dust from his feet. At the LORD s command, oceans and rivers dry up. Bashan, Mount Carmel, and Lebanon wither, and their flowers fade. At the sight of the LORD, mountains and hills tremble and melt; the earth and its people shudder and shake. Who can stand the hear of his furious anger? It flashes out like fire and shatters stones. The LORD is good. He protects those who trust him in times of trouble. But like a roaring flood, the LORD chases his enemies 6 Ibid. 7 Jensen, Irving L., Jensen s Survey of the Old Testament, Moody Press, Chicago, IL, 1979, p. 438. 8 Willmington. ) 4 (
into dark places and destroys them. So don t plot against the LORD! He wipes out his enemies, and they never revive. They are like drunkards overcome by wine, or like dry thornbushes burning in a fire. Assyria, one of your rulers has made evil plans against the LORD. But the LORD says, Assyria, no matter how strong you are, you are doomed! My people Judah, I have troubled you before, but I won t do it again. I ll snap your chains and set you free from the Assyrians. Assyria, this is what else the LORD says to you: Your name will be forgotten. I will destroy every idol in your temple, and I will send you to the grave, because you are worthless. Look toward the mountains, people of Judah! Here comes a messenger with good news of peace. Celebrate your festivals. Keep your promise to God. Your evil enemies are destroyed and will never again invade your country. Nineveh, someone is coming to attack and scatter you. Guard your fortresses! Watch the Road! Be brave! Prepare for battle! Judah and Israel are like trees with branches broken by their enemies. But the LORD is going to restore their power and glory. Nineveh, on this day of attack, your enemies shields are red; their uniforms are crimson. Their horses prance, and their armored chariots dart around like lightning or flaming torches. An officer gives a command. But his soldiers stumble, as they hasten to build a shelter to protect themselves against rocks thrown down from the city wall. The river gates fly open, and panic floods the palace. Nineveh is disgraced. The queen is dragged off. Her servant women mourn; they sound like doves, and they beat their breasts in sorrow. Nineveh is like a pond with leaking water. Shouts of Stop! Don t go! can be heard everywhere. But everyone is leaving. Enemy soldiers shout, The city is full of treasure and all kinds of wealth. Steal her silver! Grab her gold! ) 5 (
Nineveh is doomed! Destroyed! Her people tremble with fear; their faces turn pale. What happened to this city? They were safer there than powerful lions in a den, With no one to disturb them. These are the same lions that ferociously attacked their victims, then dragged away the flesh to feed their young. The LORD All-Powerful is against you, Nineveh. God will burn your chariots and send an army to kill those young lions of yours. You will never again make victims of others or send messengers to threaten everyone on this earth. The Lord said: Doom to the crime capital! Nineveh, city of murder and treachery, here is your fate cracking whips, churning wheels; galloping horses, roaring chariots; cavalry attacking, swords and spears flashing; soldiers stumbling over piles of dead bodies. You were nothing more than a prostitute using your magical charms and witchcraft to attract and trap nations. But I, the LORD All-Powerful, am now your enemy. I will pull up your skirt and let nations and kingdoms stare at your nakedness. I will cover you with garbage, treat you like trash, and rub you in the dirt. Everyone who sees you will turn away and shout, Nineveh is done for! Is anyone willing to mourn or to give her comfort? Nineveh, do you feel safer than the city of Thebes? The Nile River was its wall of defense. Thebes trusted the mighty power of Ethiopia and Egypt; the nations of Put and Libya were her allies. But she was captured and taken to a foreign country. Her children were murdered at every street corner. The members of her royal families were auctioned off, and her high officials were bound in chains. Nineveh, now it s your turn! You will get drunk and try to hide from your enemy. Your fortresses are fig trees with ripe figs. Merely shake the trees, and the fruit will fall into every open mouth. Your army is weak. Fire has destroyed the crossbars on your city gates; now they stand wide open to your enemy. Your city is under attack. Haul in extra water! Strengthen your defenses! Start making bricks! Stir the mortar! You will still go up in flames ) 6 (
and be cut down by swords that will wipe you out like wheat attacked by grasshoppers. So, go ahead and increase like a swarm of locusts! More merchants are in your city than there are stars in the sky but they are like locusts that eat everything, then fly away. For all things exist only as seen by Thee, only as known by Thee. All things exist Only in Thy light, and Thy glory is declared even in that which denies Thee; the darkness declares the glory lf light. Those who deny Thee could not deny, if Thou didst not exist; and their denial is not complete, for if it were so, they would not exist. They affirm Thee in living; all things affirm Thee in living. T. S. Eliot. 9 9 Baxter, J. Sidlow, Explore The Book, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1960, p. 196. ) 7 (
Nahum Introduction Various Passages I Introduction II Author III Date IV Literary Form V Theme VI Conclusion & Reading of Nahum I Introduction: (Jonah 3:1-10; Deuteronomy 29:29; Jeremiah 23:18, 22; Amos 3:7; 2 Kings 19:35-36; 2 Chronicles 32:21) II Author: III Date:
IV Form: V Theme: VI Conclusion: