Nahum 1
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The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
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.
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.
4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
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.
7 The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
8 But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
9 What do ye imagine against the Lord? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
10 For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
11 There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the Lord, a wicked counsellor.
12 Thus saith the Lord; 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.
13 For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.
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.
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.
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Commentary
Nahum re-affirms that God is the greatest “super-power” who maintains control of world events and governments. When the “nations rage and the people plot a vain thing, when the kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord… He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision” (Psalm 2:1-4).
Though Assyria might have controlled much of the biblical world in the seventh century B.C., their cruel abuses and rejection of prophetic warnings fast-filled their cup of iniquity and brought judgment. The blessings of leadership come with responsibilities to use authority and power to insure basic human rights for the good of all.
The unknown prophet, Nahum, reminds the Assyrians that God keeps account of the nations. If the opportunities for serving mankind are squandered, then beware. Divine anger is slow, but Infinite judgments will surely prevail.
Ultimately, God will not only deliver His people from oppression, but will put an end to evil forever; it shall never rise again. Even when enduring injustice and persecution, God’s people can put their trust in His goodness, because it is “a strong hold in the day of trouble” (Nahum 1:7).
Gary Councell
Chaplain (Colonel) U.S. Army (Retired)
Gen. Conf. Chaplaincy Ministries Dept.
