Nahum
Two of the prophets had to do with Ninevah. They were Jonah and Nahum and prophecied about 150 years apart. Jonahs was a message of repentance and mercy; Nahums a massage of doom. Together they illustrate ods dealing with the nations in prolonging the day of grace! but in the end visiting in "udgement for their sins. #e prophesied somewhere prior to $0% &'; for in that year Ninevah fell. #e was contemporary with (ephaniah who also prophecied the destruction of Ninevah )(eph. *+1,-15.. Ninevah was the capital city of the /ssyrian 0mpire. 1he had destroyed 2drael in about %*1 &'. 1he was founded by Nimrod ) en. 10+11-1*. and e3hibited cruel and warli4e traits. /t the time of Nahums prophesy she was the 5ueen city of the earth. 1he was might and brutal and her wealth came from her looting of wea4er nations. 1ome suggest that she may have had a population of around a million people. 1he had impregnable defences. #er walls were 100 ft. high and wide enough at the top for four chariots to drive abreast. /t the time of the writing of Nahum she had completely apostati6ed from here repentance during the preaching of Jonah. There is evidence from the boo4 of * 7ings 18+*5!,0!,5; 19+10-1,! that his repentance did not last long. 1o this boo4 prophecies her doom and destruction. This time there is no hope and no cure - ),+19.. There comes a time when the opportunity for repentance is passed and "udgement becomes inevitable.
THE JUDGE 2n Nahum 1 we see od the holy "udge on the bench of the court in heaven "udging this wic4ed city. &ecause #is is "ust #e must "udge their sin. There is here a twofold revelation of the character of this "udge. /s Judge #e is "ealous! vengeful! furious! wrathful! great in power! will not ac5uit the wic4ed and indignant )1+*-$.. /s :ather #e is slow to anger! good! a stronghold in the day of trouble! and 4nows them that trust in #im )1+%.. ;e need to understand that od is not only a od of love but also of "ustice. #e is loving and long suffering but will <by no means clear the guilty.= Jonah preached the love of od; Nahum preached the holiness of od. od did not bring "udgement on /ssyria in hot anger! but re"ected love and mercy leaves no other alternative but "udgement.
THE VERDICT - 1:8-14 od finds her guilty. Notice several things said in these verses+ 1. 1he was condemned to utter destruction -)1+8-9. *. 1he was captured while the defenders were drun4 - )1+10. ,. #er name would be blotted out 1+1>. )?ntil recent times when Ninevah was unearthed all record of her was gone. :or many years critics of the &ible claimed she never e3isted. >. od would dig her grave - )1+1>.
THE EXECUTION - Chapter 2 2n this chapter we find a picture of Ninevahs siege and fall. The &abylonians came and laid siege. #istory tells us that a flood caused the river to wash away the foundation of the wall and the &abylonians entered in. Nahum *+$ prophecied this. the 4ing and nobles were engaged in a drun4en orgy. They trusted in their walls but failed to reali6e that they were now dealing with /lmighty od. The battle is described in *+,->. The city falls! the 5ueen is carried captive and Ninevah is no more.
BEYOND HE !ING
The final chapter gives further reasons for her destruction. The first four verses e3plain why completely destroy them. 1. / 'ity full of blood! lies and robbery ),+1. *. 'ruel! oppressive ),+*. ,. ;hordom! prostitution! and witchcraft ),+>.
od must
They would be an e3ample to others who live the same way - ),+5-$.. They had not learned by ods "udgement upon other cities - ),+8. and now must learn for themselves. They would now find that @ od is not moc4ed for whatsoever a man )or nation. soweth that shall he also reap. #er ruin would be complete and utter and she would fall as leaves from a tree ),+1*-1,. and fire would devour her palaces. There was no @healing for her bruise.= ;hat a warning this boo4 ought to have for us. Aur sins will bring us into "udgement too unless we repent. <Bighteousness e3alteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people.= Cet us urge our nation to repentance before it is @too late.
