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Day 19 : Book of Nahum [ Nahum 1-3 ] |
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Introduction
- Nahum’s name means ‘consolation’ or ‘comforter’. But his message wasn’t
one of comfort for Nineveh. His prophecy about Nineveh was of destruction.
- This city had repented at the preaching of Jonah over one hundred years
earlier, but now her sins were bringing about her end at the hand of God
- This great city fell in 612 BC and the nation of which she was capital, Assyria,
came to a complete end a few years later. This book was just before that time.
- Nahum is one of the seven OT books not quoted or echoed in the NT (The
others are Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Ecclesiastes, Song of songs and Obadiah).
Fall Of Nineveh (Nahum 1:1-7)
- God is a jealous God and one whose justice demands vengeance (1:2).
- He is slow to anger but will not leave the guilty unpunished (1:3).
- He controls nature and can use it to express his judgements (1:3-6).
- His power and sovereignity are a blessing to those trust him. He is a refuge
in times of trouble (1:7).
The Sins Of Nineveh (Nahum 1:8-3:19)
- Plotted evil against God (1:11).
- Full of idolatry (1:14).
- Full of lies and plunder (3:1).
- Seduced and abused people (3:4).
Most of the prophesy is a poetic description of the bloody fall of this city. The only comfort offered in the books was
that provided to God’s people, that their bitter oppressors will eat the fruit of his own ways, that he would finally
reap the whirlwind that he deserved before God.
The messenger who brought news of Assyria’s destruction would be received as the deliverer of glad tidings and the
proclaimer of peace (1:15). The book closes with these words, ‘everyone who hears the news about you claps his
hands at your fall, for who has not felt your endless cruelty?’ According to the word of the Lord, the city completely
disappeared from men’s sight for centuries. God spoke - and it took place!
Application :
Spend some time with a disciple who is struggling in his faith and pray with him.
Psalm 41:1-3
Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble. The LORD will protect him
and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes.The LORD will
sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness.
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