THEME OF BOOK OF NAHUM
Nahum is one of the 12 minor prophets in the Bible. Like Obadiah and
Jonah, his prophecy is primarily directed to a foreign entity: Nineveh, capital
of the Assyrian Empire, located in what is now known as Northern Iraq. Though
this same city repented at the preaching of Jonah, 150 years later, its pride,
arrogance, and sin made it ripe for irreversible judgement. It has passed the
point of no return.
(Capernaum Church, near the Sea of Galilee. Capernaum means
'village of Nahum.)
In Part 02, we will learn the key verses, summary, and outline of
Nahum.
KEY VERSES OF NAHUM
Nahum 1:7: The Lord is good, a strong
hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
Nahum 3:5-7: Behold, I am against
thee, saith the Lord of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face,
and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame. 6 And I
will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as
a gazingstock. 7 And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee
shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her?
whence shall I seek comforters for thee?
SUMMARY OF NAHUM
Like Babylon the Great, Nineveh was an impressive city. It had 200
towers, 30 metre high walls, wide enough to race 3 chariots abreast, with a 50
metre wide water-filled moat. It was meant to last forever. Yet, like Babylon,
it came to a swift and final end. It was unknown to the world for centuries
until an Englishman named Layard discovered it in 1820.
The Book of Nahum consists of three oracles, corresponding to its 3
chapters. The Divine Declaration: God gives Nahum a word for Nineveh:
the Lord is just, righteous, good and powerful. Assyria, because of its sins,
including idolatry and cruelty, will be destroyed and Judah will no longer
under their imperial thumb. Visit the British Museum in London and see the
carved reliefs of Mesopotamia - they show this cruelty in graphic terms.
Description: Nahum gives the vivid
details of Nineveh’s destruction, as if he were watching it on a large screen,
with the scarlet uniforms. Though the lion represents authority and strength,
Nineveh will be the toothless lion, incapacitated and no longer a threat to
anyone.
Why: Nineveh’s destruction was due to
its cruelty and idolatry. Nineveh will be caught unprepared and its demise will
be like Thebes in Egypt. Once destruction comes, the world will not mourn
Nineveh’s passing.
Nahum prophesied in Nineveh and apparently never left. His
traditional grave is on the west bank of the Tigris River. The city of
Capernaum, on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus had His
headquarters, may have been named after him (Kefar Nahum, village of Nahum),
though this is only conjecture.
Lessons for Life: No earthly empire, no
matter how powerful, lasts forever. Some of history’s greatest imperial realms
have seemed to be invincible but in the end they all collapse. The only
enduring kingdom is the one God builds and leads.
History is written by the victor: Since
the kingdom is the Lord’s, it is His Word and kingdom that lasts forever. The
entire Bible is inspired by the Great Victor, the first and last word on sacred
history and divine destiny.
Peace: In this midst of judgement,
conflict and destruction, God proclaims peace for His people (1:15). That’s the
message of Jesus of Nazareth, who is the prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6; John
14:27).
Promise: In this prophecy of Nahum,
despite the horrors of judgement, is the promise that the Lord God is a
stronghold in the day of trouble and He knows those who belong to him (1:7).
Contrast this with Jesus’ warning ‘I never knew you,’ which is a
judgement unto condemnation (Matthew 7:23).
Bottom Line: Get to know God personally
(John 17:3), and make sure He knows you.
Your future depends on it.
OUTLINE OF NAHUM
I.
God the Judge and His Judgement
(1:1-15)
A.
How God judges (1:2-17)
B.
Demise of Nineveh is at Hand
(1:8-11, 14)
C.
Reassurance to Surviving Judah
(1:12-13, 15)
II.
Declaration of Nineveh’s Fall
(2:1-13)
A.
Introduction (2:1-2)
B.
Military confrontation (2:3-5)
C.
City destroyed (2:6-12)
D.
God speaks (2:13)
III. Why Nineveh is Being Judge (3:1-19)
A.
Nineveh’s transgression (3:1-4)
B.
The justice of God (3:5-19)
Comments
Post a Comment