The book of the prophet Nahum This short prophetic book is a collection
of poems announcing the downfall of one of Israel's worst oppressors, the ancient
empire of Assyria and its capital city Nineveh. The Assyrians arose as one of the
world's first great empires. And their expansion into Israel resulted in the
total destruction and exile of the northern kingdom and its tribes. The Assyrian armies were violent and destructive on a scale that the world had never seen before. And so Israel and its neighbors were
awaiting the downfall of Assyria, which eventually came in the year 612 BC. The Babylonians rose up and
began a rebellion that overtook Nineveh and brought down the Assyrian Empire. And so chapter 2 depicts the
fall of Nineveh in vivid poetry. And chapter 3 then explores the
downfall of the empire as a whole. But, this book isn't just an angry
tirade against Israel's enemies. The introductory chapter shows us that there
is way, way more going on here. The book opens with an incomplete
alphabet poem that begin by describing a powerful appearance of God's glory. It's very similar to how the previous book, Micah, begin
and how the next book, Habakkuk, is going to conclude. And it's God, the all-powerful Creator, coming to
confront the nations and bring His justice on their evil. And the poem opens by quoting from
the famous line of God's self-description after the golden calf incident,
in the book of Exodus chapter 34, "The Lord is slow to anger, He's great in power,
He won't leave evil unpunished." And so the rest of the poem goes back and forth, contrasting the fate of the arrogant violent
nations with the fate of God's faithful remnant. When God brings down all the arrogant empires, He will provide refuge for those
who humble themselves before Him. Now here's what's really interesting. Is that you thought this book was only about Assyria but Nahum actually nowhere mentions Nineveh or Assyria in chapter 1. And when he describes
the downfall of the bad guys, he uses Isaiah's language
about the fall of Babylon (which happened much later in history). And not only that, Nahum also
describes the downfall of the bad guys as good news for
the remnant of God's people. It's a direct allusion to Isaiah's good
news about the downfall of Babylon. And so all these little details from Chapter 1,
they come together to make a key point: for Nahum, the fall of Nineveh
is being presented as an example. As an image of how God is at work
in history in every age. How He won't allow the arrogant or
violent empires of our world to endure forever. So the message of Nahum is
actually very similar to that of Daniel. Assyria stands in a long line of
violent empires throughout history. And Nineveh's fate is a memorial to God's commitment
to bring down the violent and the arrogant in every age. With this perspective
from the opening chapter, the book then returns to its focus on Assyria. And so chapter 2 describes the Battle of Nineveh
and the overthrow of the city in progressive stages. So first, we see the front line of
Babylonian soldiers. And then we read about the charge of the chariots. And then the chaos on the city walls
as the city is breached. Then the slaughter of Nineveh's people.
Then the plundering of the city. Chapter 3 goes on to describe the results
of the city's downfall for the empire as a whole. So Nahum begins by
announcing a woe upon the city whose kings built it with
the blood of the innocent. It's an image of how injustice was built into
the very system that made Assyria so successful. But their violence has sown the seeds of their own destruction, and so Assyria will fall before Babylon. The book concludes with a taunt
against the fallen king of Assyria. He's stricken with a fatal wound. And from among all the nations, that he once
oppressed, no one comes to help him. Rather they sing and celebrate his destruction. And that's how the book ends. Now this is a gloomy book. But it's important to see
how Nahum's message addresses the tragic and perpetual cycles
of human violence and oppression in every age. Human history is filled with tribes
and nations elevating themselves and using violence to take what they want,
resulting in the death of the innocent. And the book of Nahum uses Assyria
and Babylon as examples to tell us that God is grieved. And that He cares about the death of the innocent. And that His goodness and His justice compel Him
to orchestrate the downfall of oppressive nations. And God's judgment on evil
is good news. Unless, of course, you happen to be Assyria. Which brings us all the way back to the
conclusion of that opening poem in chapter 1. Which tells us that, "The Lord is good and a refuge in the day of distress. He cares for those who take refuge in Him." And so the little book of Nahum
invites every reader to humble themselves before God's justice. And to trust that, in His time, He will bring
down the oppressors of every time and place. And that's what the book of
Nahum is all about.
