Seeking for the truth
© 2004 -
It is not known exactly when Nahum lived, but probably it was written after the northern kingdom of Israel had been carried off as captives to Assyria.
This was during the reign of Hezekiah king of Judah, but before the Assyrian army had surrounded Jerusalem.
This invasion, led by Sennacherib, is thought to be predicted in
Nahum 1:11-
"From you, [O Nineveh,] has one come forth who plots evil against the LORD and counsels wickedness.
This is what the LORD says: "Although they have allies and are numerous, they will be cut off and pass away."
God utterly destroyed the Assyrian army, (this is told in: 2 Kings 19:32-
Same God of the Old Testament as the New
Let's move on about 100 years from Jonah, to the prophet Nahum.
Nahum could have been writing to the same people as in Jonah's time, but it was more likely to have been their children, or grand children.
We need to note that this time God did not send the prophet to Nineveh.
It was a prophecy written against them.
The trouble was that the people were not following the Lord.
He was no longer their God.
They had rebelled away from the light given by Jonah's preaching.
Nineveh was unaware that they were under the axe that was about to cut them down.
They were unaware that God was contending with them, so they are told here in Nahum's prophecy, what their Enemy was like.
For that is what they had become; an enemy of God.
Therefore He rose up in anger against them.
Nahum's description of God uses these words:
"...a jealous and avenging God...
takes vengeance and is filled with wrath....
maintains his wrath against his enemies...
His way is in the whirlwind and the storm...
The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away.
The earth trembles at his presence...
Who can withstand his indignation?
Who can endure his fierce anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before him...
he will pursue his foes into darkness...
they will be consumed like dry stubble...
I will prepare your grave, for you are vile..." (Nahum 1)
Is this our God?
Is this the God of love that we are so often told about?
Yes it is!
We are told in 1 Samuel 15:29 that:
"He, who is the Glory of Israel, does not lie or change his mind;
for he is not a man, that he should change his mind."
He is God, and He does not change.
He is the same God in the Old Testament as in the New.
Here are some descriptions of God in the New Testament, which describe Him in similar ways to that of Nahum.
It shows us what He is like now, at this moment:
"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven
against all the godlessness and wickedness" (Romans 1:18)
For anyone who rejects Jesus, their situation is that:
"God's wrath remains on him." now! John 3:36
Ephesians 5:7 "God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient."
And the writer of Hebrews speaking about God being a Judge to avenge and repay people says:
"It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:31 (NIV)
Does all this make us think, "No, God is not like that!"
Or does it open our eyes to the Living God, the God of the Bible, and we feel we must worship in awe before Him?
Nahum gives us a glorious description of the Lord, the Sovereign of the world.
He gives a magnificent display of the glory of God, of His Majesty and power.
images: thanks to Serif ART Gallery CD
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