It’s time to get through these minor prophets, maybe quick like? Like Nahum 1 2 3, right? Well NO, my goal of an artificial finish date of writing through the old testament is unreasonable unrealistic and unbalanced – in other words I NEED TO SAVOR AND STUDY THESE DEEP CHAPTERS. 

Like the cat who will sit with me in the still of the morning, while writing, it’s good to savor the season of study, especially with some much good scripture to absorb.

And I’m now in the book of Nahum, inside the issues of Nineveh, where at one point Jonah, warning them, probably thought the inside of the whale was more desirable than being in evil Nineveh. We can see from previous chapters that Judah, the region of chosen people descendants of Jacob, was often upset by Nineveh. Nineveh on the map is in the Mesopotamian region, modern Iraq. 

Why so MANY stories about people in the old and new testaments? Stories of God’s prophets and messages? There’s something here to learn from the people of the pastby us now, and surely those of the future. We are told that there will be the greatest of awakenings yet to come, so surely the Lord had set up the biggest set of lessons and hopes, in these pages, stories of empires who rise and fall, peoples through David in whom God keeps the seed of Jesus kindled, and now in the reminder that God wants our attention still. Yes, every piece of the Word is alive.

Does God change His Ways or change people to see His Ways differently? I’d have to say the later. God has harsh treatment for Nineveh, calls out their evil, both in Jonah’s time and hundred years later in Nahum’s, yet we learn in the middle of Nahum 1, that God is merciful and the prophesies teach this:

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 the realm of darkness.

Nahum was a prophet, an Elkoshite, this is where I dig a little deeper myself and consult scholars, including my favorite overview in the Bible Project videos ( I usually try to read the chapter first and then go to the video if needed). So, would we need to know what an Elkoshite is? Well, I like geography and knowing God’s calling for His Word to travel. Nahum’s messages were to travel to the area of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, which would take part in the crushing of the northern split kingdom of Israelites and Judah-ites, only to be crushed later by Babylon, who in itself was showing evil ways. The layers of turmoil remind us that these days turmoil is not new, and world powers now and to come have MUCH to learn from the past, especially how God is SOVEREIGN and will defeat the nations that rise up in evil ways.

God wants our attention. 

God wants us to praise and listen. That IS the unchanged GOD of past present and future. Jesus, took away the sting of sin and death and God will defeat all evil once and for all. Pray for that day and our Way getting there…

I will contemplate the Lord in these readings in many ways these days. Just because there’s chaos in the world doesn’t mean God isn’t calming inside. We learn, listen, work and wait. We work on sharing the Word, because it is the Word that saves the oppressed. 

Let us praise, for God’s rallying for His children, forever.

Amen

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Nahum 1 – A prophecy concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

The Lord’s Anger Against Nineveh

The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies.

The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebukes the sea and dries it up; he makes all the rivers run dry.

Bashan and Carmel wither and the blossoms of Lebanon fade. The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it. Who can withstand his indignation? Who can endure his fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before him.

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 the realm of darkness.

Whatever they plot against the Lord he will bring to an end; trouble will not come a second time. They will be entangled among thorns and drunk from their wine; they will be consumed like dry stubble. From you, Nineveh, has one come forth who plots evil against the Lord and devises wicked plans.

This is what the Lord says: “Although they have allies and are numerous, they will be destroyed and pass away. Although I have afflicted you, Judah, I will afflict you no more. Now I will break their yoke from your neck and tear your shackles away.”

The Lord has given a command concerning you, Nineveh: “You will have no descendants to bear your name. I will destroy the images and idols that are in the temple of your gods. I will prepare your grave, for you are vile.”

Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed.

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Good Bible Project video: