Nahum 3 - Take Heart, God Has Overcome the World
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INTRO|
I am sure many of you are still trying to understand how such a tragedy could take place at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
Such wickedness, horror, and sadness - but embedded in this tragedy is an act of love, sacrifice and care.
Jacob Albarado, an off duty Border Patrol agent rushed to Robb Elementary School to help evacuate children and rescue his daughter and wife when he received the text that there was an active shooter.
Albardo was about to get his hair cut when he received a text from his wife that their was an active shooter. At this moment, Albarado was prepared to inflict justice.
He got a shotgun from his barber and went to the school.
There he evacuated students, found his daughter, and learned that his wife was already out safely.
We all celebrate that! And we all celebrate the fact that the shooter also faced justice that day.
But, let me ask you, what if the shooter was able to escape never to be heard from again.
Would justice ever be served?
Nahum, by sharing the character of God, helps us understand that it will be.
Nahum 1:3 “The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.”
Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.”
The Lord is good - he is good in his patience and he is good in his wrath.
This is the hope we have a christians - God, in Christ has “overcome the world.” He has/will fully and finally execute justice for every situation.
In Nahum 3 God’s hatred for sin is explained with very vivid language, but this would have made perfect sense to his Hebrew audience.
The Ninevites were liars. idol worshipers, and full of pride - so God was going to punish them in a similar manner.
1.God’s judgement against dishonesty(vv.1-7)
1.God’s judgement against dishonesty(vv.1-7)
v.1 - “Woe” - In Hebrew culture this was used as a word to express sorrow or grief. But here, and in other OT prophecies, it is used to introduce a divine threat.
The city of Nineveh was FULL of LIES and PLUNDER.
Its livelihood was established on the blood of the nations. Their abuse had no end, their existence was balanced upon lies.
They would negotiate with surrounding peoples to establish and alliance with them. In doing so, the smaller more vulnerable groups believed they would be safe and provided for only to become enslaved.
v.10 - This result is seen in their mistreatment of babies.
As we work through chp. 3 you will see God judging Nineveh in a similar way to how they treated those they overtook.
vv.2-3 - These verses seem to pick back up the poetic language of the battle scene in Chapter 2.
cracking whips drive the horses forward
chariots are bounding
swords are flashing, spears are glittering
dead bodies without end.
This would be the scene of judgement in Nineveh. They had mistreated God’s people long enough. God’s perfect justice would reign triumphant.
Dishonest gain always leads to ruin.
Jesus spoke against this way of living.
Matt 23:27-28 ““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
They abused others, were dishonest, and used the religious system for their own gain.
To follow this way of living (culture approving, selfishness and pride), leads to destruction.
The result of these selfish religious leaders was inward spiritual death and outward destruction.
The result of Nineveh’s wickedness was death and destruction too.
Nahum 3:3 “... hosts of slain, heaps of corpses, dead bodies without end— they stumble over the bodies!”
Nahum issues his warning because God judges those who oppress others for selfish gain.
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Now, when we come to Nahum 3:4, it is helpful to see it as hinge connected what has come before it to what will follow.
In v.4 we are told the root of the issue in Nineveh. Remember that God is jealous first and foremost for his glory!
So, what/who we worship matters!
2. God’s judgement against idol worship (vv. 4-7)
2. God’s judgement against idol worship (vv. 4-7)
The primary God of Nineveh was the Ishtar.
Ishtar is the god of sexual passion, fertility, and war.
The Assyrians worshiped Ishtar, and their cultural practices displayed her worship in ways that were not honoring to God and his design for humanity.
v. 4 - Here, Nahum likens Nineveh’s actions to that of a sorceress who deceives people with her cunning, and a prostitute who lures young men in with her charms.
The severity of the scene Nahum is describing should be linked back to v.1.
Nineveh had used the power God had given her to lie, plunder, abuse, and amass wealth beyond measure.
“The nations had been spellbound to the power of Assyria only ultimately to regret her allure.”
Assyria was the greatest, most influential city in the world.
v.5 - But her rule and reign had come to and end.
Reminiscent of 2:13, God again declares, “Behold I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts...”
All of Nineveh’s earthy might meant nothing in the eyes of God. Her lies and idol worship lead to the full force of God’s wrath being expelled upon her.
We can learn a lot about humanity as a whole here.
“The nature of human beings is to be “fooled by the attraction of the world. We are allured by status, power, wealth, or by those who seem to have solutions to our problems.”
If you worship acceptance you will act in a way to be accepted.
If you worship safety, you will act in a way that offers you the hope of safety.
If you worship success, you will sacrifice everything on the altar of achieving more.
Maybe it seems to you as if honesty, humility, and God-honoring values are getting you no where, so you are tempted to lie, deceive, and act in your own strength.
In a time that seems so dark, you are not sure that God’s justice will triumph
Specifically, some of you have been hurt deeply - physically or emotionally.
It seems as if the person who hurt you will never have to answer for what they have done.
You carry it, it effects your relationships, even your ability to trust God.
Friends, in Nahum we can see that God will deal with all injustice.
There is no evil that will go unpunished.
“The Lord will by no means clear the guilty!” The injustice done against you has been taken up by the loving hands of Christ.
Teenagers, how about in your lives?
You can be tempted to worship the approval of your peers as a way to feel accepted.
The more friends you have, the more sports, events, and activities you are a part, the higher your grades the better, right?
No! If you value those things over your worship of God you will not develop a healthy view of who you were created to be. This will lead you to try and play better and achieve more for your own satisfaction and the approval of others, rather than resting in the approval of God.
It is a fine line, but we must understand that what we worship determines how we act.
And though Nineveh had experienced God’s compassionate mercy they chose to worship other Gods which fed their growing pridefulness.
3. God’s judgement against pride (vv.8-19)
3. God’s judgement against pride (vv.8-19)
vv.8-16 Show the result of their pride.
v.8 - Were they better than the Thebes?
No! Just as Thebes was helpless to their attacks, Nineveh would be helpless under the perfect justice of God.
The following verses explain that they would be left weakened and wandering like drunkards unable to protect the city many believed to be impenetrable.
Nahum 3:12 “All your fortresses are like fig trees with first-ripe figs— if shaken they fall into the mouth of the eater.”
What they believed were strengths were actually weaknesses, and would lead to their ultimate destruction.
In conclusion to his burdensome warning, Nahum explains the chaos felt when people trust in their own wisdom and strength.
Their lack of god honoring leadership will lead to chaos. .
To illustrate this Nahum says:
Nahum 3:17-18 “Your princes are like grasshoppers, your scribes like clouds of locusts settling on the fences in a day of cold (hibernating) — when the sun rises, they fly away; no one knows where they are. Your shepherds are asleep, O king of Assyria; your nobles slumber. Your people are scattered on the mountains with none to gather them.”
Nahum 3:19 “There is no easing your hurt; your wound is grievous.”
The answer to Nahum’s question was now clear , “Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger 1:6)?” No one, not even the strongest nations!
Because of the way the Assyrians treated others, their destruction would be a time of celebration.
Yes, “The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, [but] the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.
Conclusion |
Conclusion |
Church, we began this study learning that Nahum’s name means comfort. He has brought the good news of comfort to Judah.
He has shared the character of God to set things right, and he has has given a foretaste of how God has ultimately set all things right in Christ.
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” Prov. 18:10
The way of the world entices you to trust in its strength - to find comfort through lies, false worship, and pride - but these all lead to fear, depression, and ruin.
But God has provided rescue for those who trust in him!
Kids Question #39 - What did Christ undertake in the covenant of grace?
To keep the whole Law for His people, and to suffer the punishment due to their sins.
God, with more love than a father running to rescue his wife and daughter from a school shooting, sent his son to deliver you from the oppression of sin.
Jn. 16.33 Dear Christian, may God’s Spirit enable you to“take heart; for He has overcome the world, sin, oppression, for you.