Bible Study Outline - Nahum

Bible Study at Gospel Light Christian Church, Singapore
by Pastor Dr Paul Choo
on 11 April 2001 Mid-Week Teaching Service

Introduction: As with the other authors of the Minor Prophetic books, almost nothing is known about Nahum, other that what is recorded in this book. The name Nahum, means comfort and is a short-form of the name Nehemiah ("comfort of Jehovah"). Nahum's prediction of wicked Nineveh's doom is a comfort to the godly. God has implanted in human nature a sense of justice that demands that the wicked should be punished and that God Himself should judge the wrongdoer. This desire for divine justice is so strong in man, that it is even found in the hearts of those who are not the victims of the wrongdoer. Christians should not seek personal revenge but should appeal to God to deal with the wrongdoer - as David repeatedly does in his imprecatory psalms, and as the martyred saints in heaven do day and night (LUK 18:7,8, REV 6:10,11). God Himself has pledged to take revenge (ROM 12:19).

This entire book is on one subject, namely, the doom of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, and the world's greatest city at that time. It is worth noting that two of the twelve Minor Prophetic books are devoted wholly to Nineveh. About one hundred years before Nahum, Jonah had warned the Ninevites of God's impending judgment against them - and they had learned through him that God, unlike their gods, is "slow to anger" (JON 4:2). The Ninevites responded to Jonah's warning, but soon reverted back to their wicked ways and went to greater heights of wickedness. Therefore, they had to learn more about God, namely, that though He is "slow to anger," He is also "great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked" (1:3). The key-lesson in this book is "The LORD…will not acquit the wicked" (1:3).

Beyond all doubt, Nineveh is one of the most remarkable cities in history. It was an ancient city founded by Nimrod's son (GEN 10:11). At the time of Nahum, it was really a complex of four cities in one, forming a quadrangle of 350 square miles. (Singapore is about 230 square miles.) The city walls were 10 stories high and were fortified with 150 towers, each 20 stories high. The walls were so broad that three chariots could be driven abreast on them. Within the walls, were pastures (JON 4:11), fruit orchards and farms - thereby making the city able to withstand a siege. It had a huge population of probably over a million (JON 4:11). Its vastness was eclipsed by its vileness. The Assyrian army was unbelievably cruel, who horribly tortured and mutilated their victims (2:12), and uprooted and deported whole populations (including the northern kingdom of Israel) to other parts of the empire. The city was filled with spiritual wickedness (3:4). This seemingly unconquerable, wicked city of Nineveh represents the wicked who continue to prosper and are unpunished by God.

When Nahum prophesied, Assyria was at the height of its prosperity. All possible competing powers had been completely subdued. Therefore, no one would have foreseen Nineveh's speedy destruction. However, a large section of Nineveh's siege-proof walls were carried away by an unusually heavy flood of the River Tigris, which enabled the enemy to enter the city in 608 BC. So complete was Nineveh's destruction that the site of its ruins were not discovered till 1842.

There is a general idea in this present Gospel Age that God is not as strict against sin as He was during Old Testament times. The truth is that the unchanging God, unchangingly hates sin and judges it. Even when His only begotten Son bore our sins, God punished Him for every one of our sins.

This book is a piece of unsurpassed Jewish poetry with many metaphors that paint vivid word pictures.

Chapter 1 - Nineveh's doom is declared.
Chapter 2 - Nineveh's doom is described.
Chapter 3 - Nineveh's doom is deserved.

Nahum Chapter 1

v.1 The burden of Nineveh…of Nahum the Elkoshite - Nahum, from the town of Elkosh, is told the heavy "burden" of Nineveh's doom.

v.2 God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies - God is jealous for His honor (and will not tolerate being represented as an idol, nor placed on the same level as other gods), His people (and will not allow them to worship other gods) and His holiness (and will not allow people to think that He tolerates evil). The Assyrians had cruelly destroyed their neighbors and it appeared that God was unconcerned about their cruelty. Therefore, "the LORD revengeth" is repeated twice, and again in another form (ie, "the LORD will take vengeance"). The reason why God had not yet dealt with Nineveh was because He had "reserved wrath" for the appropriate time. The statement that God "is furious" may give the wrong impression that God has lost control of His emotions but we are told that He "reserves wrath" and that He is "slow to anger" (v.2). When wrath is reserved, it will be heavier if it is later released!

v.3 The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet - We are told that God is "slow to anger" and then immediately also told that He is "great in power," to prevent people from thinking that God's "slowness" to judge is due to His lack of power to do so. Furthermore, though God is "slow to anger" we are told that He "will not at all acquit the wicked." Slowness is not slackness (2PE 3:9). Many people have the idea that since God has not yet judged the wicked, He will not do so. The key-lesson of this book is: God is holy and must judge sin.

The whirlwind, storm and clouds picture the awesome destructive power of a storm. Similarly, when God comes in His power to judge the wicked, none can withstand His power. As the feet of an invading army stir up dust, the clouds of a storm appear like "dust of God's feet." Nature is the theater where God usually does His acts.

v.4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth - When God acts, nothing can resist Him - even the sea and rivers dry up, and fertile Bashan, Carmel and Lebanon become barren.

v.5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea the world - Mountains, hills, the earth and the world are all symbols of great stability.

v.6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him - When God judges, none can stand before his indignation.

v.7 The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him - On one hand, the LORD judges the unrepentant wicked. On the other hand, the LORD is good to them that trust in him - to such, He is a stronghold in the day of trouble. He knows who the wicked are, and He also knoweth them that trust in him.

v.8 But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies - God's judgment is portrayed as an overrunning flood that will make an utter end of a place, and as the total darkness that often accompanies utter destruction.

v.9 What do ye imagine against the LORD? He will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time - The proud Ninevites are asked what they imagine that they would do when God judges them. They are warned that Nineveh's destruction will be total and final (ie, an utter end), so that there will be no need for affliction to rise up the second time.

v.10 For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry - When thorny bushes are collected they get entangled together (ie, folden together) and are more easily burned as stubble fully dry. Drunken drunkards are helpless and easily devoured by the enemy. The proud strong city of Nineveh was easily destroyed by the Babylonians.

v.11 There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor - This probably refers to King Sennacherib who sent his messenger Rabshakeh to blaspheme God and to make the Jews lose faith in Him (2KI 18).

v.12 Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more - To be "quiet, and likewise many" is a proverb meaning to "be united, though many." When God deals with Nineveh, they shall be cut down forever. Therefore God will not need to afflict them any more.

v.13 For now will I break his yoke from off thee and will burst thy bonds in sunder - Judah is promised that God would deliver them from the cruel Assyrian yoke and bonds.

v.14 And the LORD hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile - A three-part prophecy is pronounced upon the Assyrian king. Firstly, his kingdom is finished (ie, no more of thy name be sown). Secondly, the worship of Assyrian gods will cease. And thirdly, God would kill the king and he will not be buried in earthly splendor (ie, I will make thy grave).

v.15 Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off - The good news of Nineveh's doom is pictured as being brought by a messenger from afar. The Jews were unable to attend their solemn feasts in the Temple when they were under the Assyrians, and had made vows to God that if they were freed they would do so - therefore, they are reminded to perform their vows.