Day 205, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Nahum
Vengeance and Comfort
If we have watched old American westerns, we have seen troublemakers and gunslingers terrorize citizens. When he or they finally gets their just punishment, the town rejoices, and we celebrate with them. The story ends happily with the villains killed and the town restored to a safe place of comfort and peace. We are happy—the wicked should be punished!
When We are in a Bad Situation
Like those townsfolk, some of us may have suffered harassment from an individual, group, or even from terrorists. Although we do not deserve God’s grace, will he exercise his judgment on them and bring us peace? This is what some of the people of Judah must have thought when Assyria was harassing them.
The prophecy of Nahum can be dated sometime during the reigns of Manasseh and Amon, 697-642 B.C. Manasseh and Amon were evil and idol worshipping kings of the nation of Judah. The Assyrians were as fierce as lions as they mauled any city, town, or country that stood in their way. Many of the people of Judah must have wondered, how long, LORD—how long will we have to endure our wicked kings? And, how long will we have to take Assyria’s vicious attacks? There is no peace in our Promised Land—only wickedness, chaos, and fear.
Have you, like me, ever felt that way about our nation?
The LORD will take Vengeance
The LORD used Assyria to discipline his people. However, their armies were so vicious that they made God angry—they had gone too far and were too proud! Therefore, God says, through his prophet, Nahum, that the strongly protected Assyrian capital, Nineveh, will soon be destroyed.
We might remember the city of Nineveh from the Bible book of Jonah. God then had mercy upon that great city because she believed Jonah’s prophecy and repented. Because God is very patient and loving, he gave the Assyrians one hundred years to change their ways. However, they became evil once again. The LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished! (Nahum 1:3) Now, Assyria is wicked and abusive to all nations, including God’s beloved people, Israel. The LORD is going to exercise vengeance and give Judah some peace and comfort. Never again will the Assyrian army invade her land, for the Assyrian nation will be destroyed.
The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him, but with an overwhelming flood he will make an end of Nineveh; he will pursue his foes into darkness. (Nahum 1:7-8, NIV)
Soon after Nahum’s prophecy, torrential rains flood the nearby Khosr River. Whether this causes the flood in their city or their enemies break down a dam, we are not sure, but one of its walls is destroyed. The flood may also refer to a surge of armies attacking the city. The Assyrians try to rebuild part of a wall, but their efforts fail as their enemies overcome them (3:14).
The battles fought are furious and intense, as the poetry of Nahum suggests.
Woe to the city of blood (Nineveh), full of lies, full of plunder, never without victims!
The crack of whips, the clatter of wheels, galloping horses and jolting chariots! Charging cavalry, flashing swords and glittering spears! Many casualties, piles of dead, bodies without number, people stumbling over the corpses—all because of the wanton lust of a harlot, alluring, the mistress of sorceries, who enslaved nations by her prostitution and peoples by her witchcraft. (Nahum 3:1-4, NIV)
God Shames the Troublemakers
Assyria shamed other nations, and now she is ashamed (3:5-7). The attacker (2:1) is Nabopolassar, the Babylonian who, with Cyaxeres the Mede, conquers Nineveh. They pillage, plunder, and strip Nineveh of the great wealth Assyria has acquired from other nations, which they powerfully slashed as a lion. Now the beast is slain.
Where now is the lions’ den, the place where they fed their young, where the lion and lioness went, and the cubs, with nothing to fear? (Nahum 2:11, NIV)
Nineveh is destroyed, and its cities are burned. She will never bother Israel again. She will never be rebuilt. Her injury is fatal, and the nations rejoice and clap their hands.
Comfort for God’s People
We, too, may wish some relief from the harassment of our enemies. Here are some comforting words: “God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day” (Nahum 7:11, NIV). Others may do us wrong, but eventually, the LORD will exercise punishment upon them. “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord” Romans 12:19, NIV. Praise the LORD for his perfect judgments and the peace he gives.
sources: The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the O.T., edited by Walvoord and Zuck, ©1985, pp.1494, 1496
The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the O.T., p.1495
The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the O. T., p.1500
Discussion
How can God’s vengeance bring us peace and comfort?
Should we avenge ourselves or not? What should we do?
Focus Verses
1Thessalonians 1:6-9 (NIV)
God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power.
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Looking Ahead: In our Next Lesson we will see a prophecy of how God will Sweep Away the enemies of Israel in a future Day of the LORD.
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