The bible - Book of Nahum

1. The Bible - Book of Nahum – 8th
February 2017
“The LORD isgood, a refuge intimes of trouble.He cares for those who trust in him.” (Nahum1:7).
The author of the Bookof NahumidentifieshimselfasNahum(inthe Hebrew “Consoler”or
“Comforter”) the Elkoshite aswe findin Nahum1:1, “Aprophecy concerningNineveh.The bookof the
visionofNahumthe Elkoshite.” There are manytheoriesasto where thatcitywas thoughthere isno
conclusive evidence.One suchtheoryisthatitrefersto the citylatercalledCapernaum(whichliterally
means“the village of Nahum”) atthe Seaof Galilee. The Hebrew name Nahummeans“compassion,”or
“comfort” andis interestinginlightof God’spromisesthroughoutthe bookof comfortanddeliverance
for hispeople.VerylittleisknownaboutNahum, butfromhiswritingwe gainasense of hiskeen
intellectual andliteraryabilities,hiscommandof certainthemesand literatures,andperhapsmost
importantlyhislove andhumilitybefore agracious,holyGod.
Giventhe limitedamountof informationthatwe know aboutNahum, the bestwe cando is narrowthe
timeframe inwhichthe Bookof Nahumwaswrittentobetween663 and 612 B.C. Two eventsare
mentionedthathelpustodetermine these dates.First,NahummentionsThebes(NoAmon) inEgypt
fallingtothe Assyrians(663 B.C.) inthe past tense,soithad alreadyhappened.Second,the remainder
of Nahum'spropheciescame true in612 B.C.
Like some otherProphetical booksinthe Old Testament,Nahumdidnotwrite thisbookasa warningor
“call to repentance”forthe people of Nineveh.Godhadalreadysentthemthe prophet Jonah150 years
earlierwithHispromise of whatwouldhappenif theycontinuedintheirevil ways.The people atthat
time hadrepentedbutnowlivedjustasbadif notworse than theydidbefore.The Assyrianshad
become absolutelybrutal intheirconquests thatincluded hangingthe bodiesof theirvictimsonpoles
and puttingtheirskinonthe wallsof theirtentsamongotheratrocities.Now Nahumwastellingthe
people of Judahtonot despairbecause Godhadpronouncedjudgmentandthe Assyrianswouldsoonbe
gettingjustwhattheydeserved.
Ninevehonce hadrespondedtothe preachingof Jonahandturnedfromtheirevil waystoserve the
Lord God. But 150 yearslater,Ninevehreturnedtoidolatry,violence,andarrogance asstatedin Nahum
3:1–4. Once again God sendsone of Hisprophets NahumtoNinevehwarningof judgmentinthe formof
the destructionof theircityandexhortingthemtorepentance.Sadly,the Ninevitesdidnotheed’s
Nahum’swarning,andthe citywas broughtunderthe dominionof Babylon.
Paul repeats whatisstatedin Nahum1:15 in Romans10:15 in regardto the Messiahand Hisministry,
as well asthe apostlesof ChristinHis time. We can readfrom Nahum1:15, “Look, there onthe
mountains,thefeet of one whobringsgood news,who proclaimspeace! Celebrate your festivals,
Judah,and fulfill yourvows. Nomore will the wicked invadeyou; they will be completely destroyed.”
It may alsobe understoodof anyministerof the Gospel whose businessitisto"preach the Gospel of
peace."Godhas made peace withsinnersbythe bloodof Christ,andhas giventoHis people the peace
that “transcendsall understanding”aswe can learn fromPhilippians4:7,“Andthe peace of God,which
transcendsall understanding,will guardyourhearts andyour mindsin ChristJesus.” We mustbear in
mindthat a preacher’sworkisalso to "bringglad tidingsof goodthings",suchasreconciliation,
righteousness,pardon,life,andeternal salvationbyacrucifiedChrist.The preachingof sucha Gospel,
and bringingsuchnews,make theirfeetbeautiful.The imageryhere isof one whoruns to others,eager
and joyful toproclaimthe GoodNews.

2. The practical application fromthe bookof Nahumisthat God ispatientandslow to anger.He gives
everycountrytime toproclaimHimas theirLord. But He isnot mocked.Anytime acountry turnsaway
fromHim to serve itsownmotives,He stepsinwithjudgment.Almost220years ago,the UnitedStates
was formedasa nationguidedbyprinciplesfoundinthe Bible.Inthe last 10 yearsthat has changed,
and we are turningdailyinthe opposite direction.AsChristiansitisourdutyto standup for biblical
principlesandscriptural truth,forTruthis ourcountry’sonlyhope.
Key Verses:
Nahum1:14, “The LORD has givena commandconcerningyou, Nineveh:‘Youwill have no
descendantsto bear your name.'”
Nahum1:15, “Look, there on the mountains,thefeet of one who bringsgoodnews, who proclaims
peace!” See also Isaiah52:7 andRomans 10:15.
Nahum2:13, “'BeholdI am againstyou,' saysthe Lord ofhosts.”
Nahum3:19, “Nothingcanheal your wound;your injuryis fatal.Everyone who hears the news about
you clapshishandsat yourfall,for who hasnot felt your endlesscruelty?”