From Nahum 1-3
In these verses in Nahum we can see how God was going to bring judgement on Nineveh. Their time of judgment did arrive and the Babylonians wiped them out. They should have repented as they did before. God was faithful to Judah and eventually he restored her to the promised land. They saw and experienced the LORD’s judgment on themselves and others. Would the people of Judah learn if they heard of another day of the LORD?
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
The final verse of chapter 1 (Na 1.15) reminds us the book is written to comfort the people of Judah and to pronounce judgment on the people of Nahum.
2 The scatterer has come up against you. Man the ramparts; watch the road; dress for battle; collect all your strength.
2 For the LORD is restoring the majesty of Jacob as the majesty of Israel, for plunderers have plundered them and ruined their branches. (Na 2:1–2)
The people of Nahum are warned of the impending judgment. The ‘scatterer’ has come against them. This is the Babylonian army.
In war roads are blocked to prevent supplies from coming in. The enemy is approaching Nineveh, so they should dress for battle and get ready.
They are being attacked because the LORD is restoring Jacob.
They have been plundered and ruined. Now they will be restored as part of Nineveh’s destruction.
The following verses do not present an ordered account of the battle.
3 The shield of his mighty men is red; his soldiers are clothed in scarlet. The chariots come with flashing metal on the day he musters them; the cypress spears are brandished.
4 The chariots race madly through the streets; they rush to and fro through the squares; they gleam like torches; they dart like lightning.
5 He remembers his officers; they stumble as they go, they hasten to the wall; the siege tower is set up.
6 The river gates are opened; the palace melts away;
7 its mistress is stripped; she is carried off, her slave girls lamenting, moaning like doves and beating their breasts.
8 Nineveh is like a pool whose waters run away. “Halt! Halt!” they cry, but none turns back.
9 Plunder the silver, plunder the gold! There is no end of the treasure or of the wealth of all precious things. (Na 2:3-9)
Shields, chariots, spears, officers and siege towers are all aspects of war. The gates are opened and the battle is won. No quarter is given, no surrender accepted.
The Babylonians do what they want.
Women are in distress and are taken. Everyone tries to flee. Their wealth is stolen.
There is nothing left after they are taken.
10 Desolate! Desolation and ruin! Hearts melt and knees tremble; anguish is in all loins; all faces grow pale!
11 Where is the lions’ den, the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion and lioness went, where his cubs were, with none to disturb?
12 The lion tore enough for his cubs and strangled prey for his lionesses; he filled his caves with prey and his dens with torn flesh. (Na 2:10-12)
“One of the main deities that the ancient Assyrians worshipped was Ishtar, the goddess of love and war (probably more accurate to say, sex and violence). The planet Venus was connected with her. Her symbol was the eight-pointed star and her sacred ceremonial animal was the lion. … The ritual lion hunt took place at the New Year festival when the king acted out a number of symbolic roles, including the killing of lions outside the walls of Nineveh. This was a public performance to show that the king was able to protect his subjects from evil.” (Anderson, C. (2005). Opening up Nahum (p. 75). Leominster: Day One Publications.)
13 Behold, I am against you, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall no longer be heard. (Na 2:13)
Clearly the king was not able to protect Nineveh from the Babylonians. They could not escape the LORD’s judgment. No one can.
Story of Israel
In these verses in Nahum we can see how God was going to bring judgement on Nineveh. Their time of judgment did arrive and the Babylonians wiped them out. They should have repented as they did before. God was faithful to Judah and eventually he restored her to the promised land. They saw and experienced the LORD’s judgment on themselves and others. Would the people of Judah learn if they heard of another day of the LORD?
Story of Jesus
In the same way that Nahum did, Jesus too warned the people of his day about the coming destruction of Jerusalem and how violent and awful it would be. Speaking to his disciples he told them of another day;
5 And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 7 And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”
10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22 for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. 23 Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Lk 21:5–28)
Unfortunately history repeated itself; the Jews did not make adequate preparation or flee to another place and the end came violently in AD 70.
The warning is clearly given that Jesus is coming again to usher in the great Day of Judgement. When it happens his people will be redeemed. Are you ready?
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