This short, but interesting book shows us another side of the tale of our human history.
There's a play titled Wicked that started out on Broadway. It's based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. It is a revisionist take on The Wizard of Oz. It asks us to imagine that there is more to the tale than you've been told. Maybe The wicked witch has a side of the story that would offer a new perspective. That's what I'm expecting to find in the the Book of Nahum, a tale told to include more information about the Assyrian, specifically the Ninevites.
The MacArthur Bible Commentary describes Nahum as the sequel to the Book of Jonah. We see Nineveh repent. But alas, the wicked Assyrians once again choose idols and pursue vicious despicable acts against others, finally turning their sights on God's people.
The Book of Nahum
According to the Ryrie Study Bible Introduction:
- The author is the prophet Nahum.
- Dates: 663-612 B.C.
- Nahum is from Elkosh, which is probably Capernaum.
- Nahum means consolation.
- Not much else is known about him.
- And for context, Israel has been destroyed, only Judah remains.
Bonus intro fact. I didn't know this was a book. I did not recognize the name at all. Which means, in my previous passes through here, I didn't absorb much. That's my common criticism of the bible-in-a-year approach; but there are pros and cons to any approach. I did go look at the table of contents and I recognize all of the others...in case you're wondering.
God
Verse 1 tells us the author and purpose. He calls this his oracle and tells us this book is a vision he had.
Verse 2 starts a powerful description of the God of the universe.
- jealous (qannô')
- avenging (nāqam)
- wrathful (ḥēmâ)
- vengeful and wrathful, specifically toward His adversaries and enemies
- The names He uses for Himself in this verse are 'ēl and Yᵊhōvâ
That's just one verse.
The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,
and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.
His way is in whirlwind and storm,
and the clouds are the dust of his feet. Nahum 1:3, ESV biblegateway.com
There's not much to add to that...
Starting in verse 4, Nahum lists many of the Lords abilities or feats.
- rebukes the sea and makes it dry
- dries up rivers
- withers blossoms
- mountains quake
- hills dissolve
- upheaved the earth (the world and inhabitants)
Who can stand before his indignation?
Who can endure the heat of his anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire,
and the rocks are broken into pieces by him. Nahum 1:6, ESV
I'd love to hear the interpretation of this passage from the "love is love" crowd. God has jealousy and vengefulness as attributes. And since He is good and doesn't sin; these attributes are reserved for righteousness. It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of an angry God.
But take heart, my brothers and sisters.
7 The Lord is good,
a stronghold in the day of trouble;
he knows those who take refuge in him.
8 But with an overflowing flood
he will make a complete end of the adversaries,
and will pursue his enemies into darkness. Nuhum 1: 7-8, ESV
This message of wrath and vengeance isn't a generalize message for everyone; it is for a specific group and we learn more about them in the next few verses; but He does take a moment to remind those who take refuge in Him that He is good and He is our stronghold in times of trouble.
But
Boy, that's a big but.
But, there is a flood of darkness coming to those who have made themselves His adversary.
God's Anger
8.14.24
Verse 9 promises that whatever you devise against the Lord, He will make a complete end of it. That's quite a phrase. And pretty terrifying if we're talking about the God of the Universe.
It seems like some people are fascinated with mob movies. And with the sheer number of them made and all of those who go, it's got to be something in our zeitgeist. I suspect it has something to do with our romanticized notion of being the one with all of that power and control. But I genuinely and strongly dislike them. I always sympathize with the commoner who has to walk around afraid of the strong man who acts arbitrarily. Or even worse than that, intentional acts in a way to maximize fear and control. I do not trust these men to mete out justice righteously. All of that to say, when God promises, "I will end you.", you can have full assurance that it is righteous, fair, and assured.
Maybe that why we don't have a lot of authentic God movies. Fewer people want to sit in a theater and contemplate what God thinks of them and whether He is happy with their choices. Amazing if you think about it. How many millions of people, and men in particular in this case, can quote The Godfather or any movie Joe Pesci has been in, but couldn't quote a single verse in the Bible?
Ok, back from the rabbit trail.
It takes awhile to learn, specifically, this wrath is focused on; at least I don't see the name until halfway through chapter 2; but maybe some of the language would have been recognized by the original readers earlier in the book. But we learn that this oracle, this prophesy, this promise of utter destruction is given to Nineveh and the Assyrians, led by their king, Sennacherib. The cross-reference for this time is II Kings 19.
As stated above, verse 9 warns about devising plans against the Lord. In verse 10, He paints a very visual image of what happens to those plans:
For they are like entangled thorns,
like drunkards as they drink;
they are consumed like stubble fully dried. Nahum 1:10, ESV
I love how clear a picture that paints. It's such a clear image to see vines with thorns getting tangled on themselves, or a drunk getting more and more lost to themselves as they consume their alcohol. God is such a poet. This might, brutal, sadistic army thinks they are unstoppable. The dignitary that taunts Hezekiah's men says as much. But God often had armies turn on themselves to save Israel; and we see that here again.
Verse 11 speaks of the one leader who plotted the evil against the Lord, who leadership and counsel has brought this destruction on all of the Assyrians. Take note, world...attacking Israel IS attacking the Lord. It's personal for Him.
The Lord assures Israel that even though the Assyrians are many and strong, they will pass away. But then He says something worth meditating on:
Though I have afflicted you,
I will afflict you no more. Nahum 1:12b, ESV
The affliction of Israel by the Assyrians was from God. He loves them; but He is holy. And He made a covenant with them that promised this outcome if they turned against Him. Which they did. Repeatedly and repeatedly.
But God also brings hope. And an end to this affliction.
That means God was in control, even using the evil, sadistic Assyrians.
He tells them in verse 13 that He will break the yoke bar that had been holding them in slavery and tear off their shackles.
But in verse 14, to Assyria, the Lord commands that their name be no longer. Specifically, He will destroy the image of their god as He prepares their grave. "For you are contemptible." We know God addressed their god idol specifically because their dignitary had the nerve to specifically call out God as too weak to save Israel. And now God will highlight which god is too weak to save its king.
Judgement on Nineveh
Ooof. Verse 15 tells Judah they can be glad and feast. Never again will this wicked one pass through them. That's quite a promise. That's quite an absolute sentence for him who is completely cut off.
A footnote in the Ryrie Study Bible dates the sacking of Nineveh in 612 B.C. by the Babylonians and Medes.