NAHUM CHAPTER 1
         THE PUNISHMENT OF GOD'S ENEMIES

The book of Nahum is one that is neglected because it is so obscure, and so small that it is seldom read and much less frequently understood.

We can be blessed by the example and admonitions found in Nahum.

Romans 15:4    For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,
                        that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope

The writer is inspired and this book has been held in high esteem among the Jews.

The name Nahum means "consolation".  No doubt we will be blessed from learning more from this prophet of God.

II Peter 1:20-21  knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation. For
                             no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved
                             by the Holy Spirit.

The message God delivered to Nahum is inspired and very worthy of our consideration.

2 Tim. 3:16,17   Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
                           correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God
                           may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.
 

And this little prophecy of Nahum is no exception.

When you read this you may feel that it is only ancient history but actually, this prophecy reveals God perhaps more clearly than any other book of the Bible
 

The work of the prophet reveal unto us the character of God in this book.

Have you ever looked at God in the fashion and descriptions of Nahum?

I wish every preacher would understand the personality of God revealed by Nahum.  The messages
from the pulpits would become urgent and very sobering.

Now the attribute which the prophet Nahum was given to reveal was God's anger.

There is very little presented from our preachers about the anger and wrath of God.

This is one characteristic of God that many would like to forget.

There are some who picture God as an old clumsy man with a spark in his eye who cannot bear the thought of punishing anyone or casting anyone from his presence.

Nahum is charged to reveal the anger of God and in this prophecy the God of Heaven is revealed in fury and angry wrath. Nahum shows us the God that all man must stand before in silence and fear.

Paul expressed this thought to the Corinthians

II Cor. 5:10-11   For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that
                           each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath
                           done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we
                           persuade men, but we are made manifest unto God; and I hope that we are
                           made manifest also in your consciences.

You cannot understand this prophecy without seeing something of the solemnity of this powerful picture of God.

As we begin this book it is important to know why and at whom God is so angry. this prophecy is directed against the city of Nineveh to whom God sent the prophet Jonah. When Jonah preached in Nineveh, the city repented in sackcloth and ashes. God's anger was withheld from the city and he spared it, because from the king on down to the lowest citizen, they turned to God and repented of their sins.

The book of Nahum comes some one hundred years after the prophecy of Jonah. During this time, Nineveh had repented of its repentance, and had begun to do the same things again that called forth the threat of judgment through the prophet Jonah. The prophet Nahum was sent to minister to the southern kingdom of Judah at the time of the invasion of the Assyrian king Sennacherib. King Sennacherib who came from the capital city of Syria, Nineveh, invaded Israel at the time of the prophet Isaiah, and it was from this great city in the north that the armies of the Syrians frequently came against the land of Judah and of Israel. But God moved to protect his people and met and destroyed these enemies of the king overnight.

Nahum as we stated means "consolation,"  He was a native of the village of Elkosh and was called an Elkoshite.

Nahum 1:1 The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

To date this book is difficult.  Some scholars state the date is between 720-698 B.C.  This would place Hezekiah reigning in Judah.

Others believe the date to be 664 -606 B.C.  This time frame would fall between the fall of Thebes 664 B.C. and the destruction of Nineveh in 606 B.C.

Nahum prophesied of the destruction and fall of Thebes, called Naomon.

Nahum 3:8-11 Art thou better than No-amon, that was situate among the rivers, that had
                         the waters round about her; whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was
                         of the sea?  Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite; Put and
                         Lubim were thy helpers. Yet was she carried away, she went into captivity;
                         her young children also were dashed in pieces at the head of all the streets;
                         and they cast lots for her honorable men, and all her great men were bound in chain

Ninevah was predicted to fall and be destroyed as was her allies.

Nahum 1:1  The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

As begin the first chapter we read of the punishment of Ninevah.  This great city is the capitol of  Assyria.

Ninevah was full of power and splendor.  The writing and prophesy of Nineveh being brought down would console and comfort Israel greatly.

The people of God had been abused and mistreated terribly by the Assyrians.

The Assyrian army was arrayed against the city of Jerusalem,  when the prophet was given this message of comfort.

To be under attack from the Assyrians and then to hear the prophecy of Nahum would spark hope in Israel.

Assyria was known as a ruthless army.  The Assyrians had earned the reputation as ruthless warriors.

The Assyrian army was noted for  raping, burning and pillaging.  The Assyrians were noted for killing children and having mercy for none.

For Nahum the prophet to stand up in Jerusalem and tell them that God would destroy Nineveh, would bring consolation and hope to the people.

Nineveh the capital city of the Assyrians would be destroyed.  The enemies of Israel were doomed by this prophesy.

This is prophetic scripture was fulfilled just as Nahum predicted.  This is one of the great proofs that this is the Book of God, from God.

There description was exactly how the destruction occurred, though given years before the event took place.

The prophesy of Nahum was bold and crystal clear .

This book is different than Jonah and the prophecies of the other contemporaries of Nahum.

Nahum does not deal with the mercy of God and the sins of Judah in this book.

We can divide the book of Nahum into three divisions.

Each chapter gives a description of the anger of God.
             

GOD DEALS WITH HIS ENEMIES

If there was ever a city that seemed to be secure and strong it was Nineveh.

God reveals his wrath and message of destruction against this sinful city.

Nineveh was under the wrath of god which Nahum describes so vividly.

Nahum 1:2  Jehovah is a jealous God and avengeth; Jehovah avengeth and is full of wrath;
                    Jehovah taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies

What a chilling thought to have God as an enemy seeking revenge.  God was going to destroy Nineveh
for her wickedness.  This city had found mercy under the preaching of Jonah.  This prophecy held out no
mercy for the Assyrians and Nineveh in particular.

Notice how God is seen as allowing his patience to slowly ebb away with the Ninevites.

Nahum1:3-6 Jehovah is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means clear the guilty:
                    Jehovah hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of
                    his feet.  He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan
                   languisheth, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. The mountains quake at
                   him, and the hills melt; and the earth is upheaved at his presence, yea, the world, and all that
                  dwell therein.  Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of
                  his anger? his wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken asunder by him.
 

The all powerful God of the universe that can destroy and devour is about to unleash his wrath and fury against Nineveh and the Assyrians.  They were doomed and would be impotent and hopeless against his mighty judgement.

What a description that is! Nahum sees God in his wrath looking at the hosts of Assyria.

God has watched and observed and now He will not allow the iniquity of Nineveh to continue.

This was like the situation when God destroyed the earth with the flood.

Gen. 6:5-7 And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and
                  that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
                  And it repented Jehovah that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved
                  him at his heart. And Jehovah said, I will destroy man whom I have created
                  from the face of the ground; both man, and beast, and creeping things, and
                  birds of the heavens; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

It takes a time to stir God to wrath.  The patience of God is long  but not forvever.

II Peter 3:9   The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is
                      longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should
                      come to repentance.

There comes a time when his patience is exhausted.  There is a point where his anger boils.  When God reaches this point then punishment is served.  God is merciful in love yet terrible in anger.

This picture that the prophet gives is of a patient God.  "He is slow to anger." He does not move rapidly.

He has given Nineveh opportunity to repent.

God sent prophet after prophet to the people. They did believe one prophet and repented of their evil ways,
and God spared the judgment he said he would bring against them.

Unfortunately they repented from their repentance. That is one of the most seriously targic things that a man can do.

They turned from their wickedness once, then they went back to what they had said they would forsake, and this is what brings the swift judgment of God at last.

God is angry but not unjust.  There is nothing selfish about it. It is controlled but a frightening rage, fearsome to behold.

 The fact that all the Hebrew words for wrath or anger are brought together in these 6 verses shows God's fury .

The words are: jealous, avengeth, wrath, anger, indignation, vengeance, fierceness,  All of these words describe the fury of God.

Jealousy, is a burning zeal for a cause felt deeply in the heart. This is God's overwhelming concern for what he loves.

Vengeance, is his wrath to avenge and make justice come to the Ninevites.

Anger is from a word that literally means "heavy breathing," or "hot breathe."

Indignation literally pictures God as "foaming at the mouth"!

Fierceness in Hebrew literally means "heat," and the word fury means "burning."

Do we get the idea of God's personality against sin yet?  These words describe a God who is terrible in his wrath,
poised to the the point of pouring out his angry wrath upon that nation he abhorrs.

God is in a passionate, burning rage.  God will strike fiercely against his enemy.

Consolation is given to the Hebrews in God's destruction that will bring down Nineveh.

God's people can always trust in his goodness and justice.

Nahum 1:7-15 Jehovah is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that take
                     refuge in him. But with an over-running flood he will make a full end of her place, and
                    will pursue his enemies into darkness. What do ye devise against Jehovah? he will make
                   a full end; affliction shall not rise up the second time. For entangled like thorns, and drunken
                   as with their drink, they areconsumed utterly as dry stubble.  There is one gone forth out of
                   thee, that deviseth evil against Jehovah, that counselleth wickedness. Thus saith Jehovah:
                  Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, even so shall they be cut down, and he
                 shall pass away. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.  And now will I
                 break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder. and Jehovah hath given
                commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy
                gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image; I will make thy grave; for thou art
                vile.Behold, upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace!
               Keep thy feasts, O Judah,perform thy vows; for the wicked shall no more pass through thee;
              he is utterly cut off.

The punishment of God was because of his holiness and goodness.  Judah could rejoice and return to serving God.

The oppressing Ninevites would be destroyed and their yoke would be removed from Judah.

Judah should wake up and see the anger of God against sin.  The false gods of of Nineveh could not protect them.

The God of heaven would break down the images and idols that even Judah had served in times of idolatry.

The anger of God, would be spoken of as personal.

In Nahum 1:11 we have reference to Sennacherib, the general of the Assyrian armies.

Nahum 1:11 There is one gone forth out of thee, that deviseth evil against Jehovah,
                     that counselleth wickedness.

The anger of God anger was all directed against this  king who  plotted to destroy the people of Judah.

God had already visited his city with grace and had saved them from his anger.

Nahum 1:12 speaks of the visit from the angel of death when Sennacherib came down with his armies before Jerusalem.

Nahum 1:12  Thus saith Jehovah: Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, even so
                     shall they be cut down, and he shall pass away. Though I have afflicted thee, I will
                     afflict thee no more.

Isaiah 36- 37 described how the Assyrian armies came down and spread out before the city of Jerusalem.

The Assyrians taunted King Hezekiah.  The army stated they were going to take the city and that there was no strength that could stand against them.

The prophet Isaiah speaks of how Hezekiah took these messages to the Lord, and asked God to save the city.

The army of Assyria surrounding the city of peace.  That very night an angel of death went through the Assyrian host.
The death angel killed 185,000 soldiers.

The sins of Judah would cause God to punish them also.  The Assyrians would be destroyed by the same attackers which would carry Judah into captivity.  The Babylonians would be the instruments of wrath against both Assyria and Judah.

Isaiah 37:36 Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of Jehovah of hosts: Behold, the
                     days are coming, when all that is in thy house, and that which thy fathers have
                     laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left,
                     saith Jehovah.

The Assyrians went back home, and Jerusalem was saved. One day Jerusalem would fall because of her sins.

The fact that the king was spared should have opened Sennacherib's eyes to God's power, yet he was blinded
in his ambition and sin.

Sennecherib would die worshipping his false gods, by the hands of his two sons.

After Sennecherib was killed by his sons they took his crown and reigned over Assyria.

Nahum 1:14 And Jehovah hath given commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy
                      name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and
                     the molten image; I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.

Years before this would happened  Nahum prohesied that God would deal with this man in his own temple,
in the house of his gods, and he would make his grave there.

The anger of God found him out and struck him down.

The consolation and comforting news of Sennecherib's death arrived in Jerusalem.

Nahum 1:15 Behold, upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth
                     peace! Keep thy feasts, O Judah, perform thy vows; for the wicked one shall no more
                     pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.
 

What a picture, this is proves the fact that God's wrath can be directed against a person.

Sennecherib had been spared before, and perhaps hardened himself against God's prophecy.

People may spurn and try to belittle and tear up God's word in disbelief, yet God's word and prophesy would stand.

                                     THE ANVIL--GOD'S WORD
                             Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith's door,
                              And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;
                                 Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor
                             Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.
                               "How many anvils have you had," said I,
                             "To wear and batter all these hammers so?"
                            "Just one," said he, and then, with twinkling eye,
                            "The anvil wears the hammers out, you know."
                              And so, thought I, the anvil of God's Word,
                                For ages skeptic blows have beat upon;
                            Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,
                              The anvil is unharmed--the hammers gone.
 

People are  slow to believe that God will punish sin.  God promised to avenge the wicked with his justice and judgement.

People think that God is only a God of love.  They willingly or ignorantly forget his justice and anger.

God will punish the wicked.   God's justice demands that he punish us if we forsake him.

Sennecherib was singled out by God because he was responsible for the sins of Assyria against Judah.

One cannot hide nor escape the judgement of God.

Just as Sennecherib had his day or reckoning so shall we all.
 

Acts 17:29-30 The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth
                        men that they should all everywhere repent: inasmuch as he hath appointed a
                        day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath
                        ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised
                        him from the dead.

II Thess. 1:7-9   and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of
                          the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire,
                          rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey
                          not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, even eternal
                         destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

God will vindicate and save his people.  The fury and anger of God will not be sated until the wicked are destroyed.

The picture and portrait of God in the book of Nahum should cause men to tremble and prepare themselves to
stand before the God of heaven.

The only person that will stand on judgement day will be the saved.

Conclusion
 
               Believe Jesus Christ is the son of God, John 8:24
               Repent and turn from sin,  Acts 3:19
               Confess Christ with the mouth, Romans 10:10
               Be baptized for the remission of sins, Acts 2:38
               Live faithful unto death, Revelation 2:10
 
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