Nahum 1:2-11

Nahum 1:2-11 continued our introduction to the book of Nahum. It sets the stage and begins the pronouncements of judgment upon Nineveh (Assyrians).

In some cases, Nahum spoke of God in the third person and on other occasions he spoke for God in the first person.

In this section, he used third person. There was much text describing God as fully capable and willing to let the hammer of justice fall! I've broken the text up into 5 blocks. If you only read blocks A, C and E, you may think that God is just mean! But blocks B and D put the fierce parts into context.

Take a look ...

(A)
The Lord is a zealous and avenging God;
the Lord is avenging and very angry.
The Lord takes vengeance against his foes;
he sustains his rage against his enemies.

(B)
The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;
the Lord will certainly not allow the wicked to go unpunished.

(C)
He marches out in the whirlwind and the raging storm;
dark storm clouds billow like dust under his feet.
He shouts a battle cry against the sea and makes it dry up;
he makes all the rivers run dry.
Bashan and Carmel wither;
the blossom of Lebanon withers.
The mountains tremble before him,
the hills convulse;
the earth is laid waste before him,
the world and all its inhabitants are laid waste.
No one can withstand his indignation!
No one can resist his fierce anger!
His wrath is poured out like volcanic fire,
boulders are broken up as he approaches.

(D)
The Lord is good -
indeed, he is a fortress in time of distress,
and he protects those who seek refuge in him.

(E)
But with an overwhelming flood
he will make a complete end of Nineveh;
he will drive his enemies into darkness.
Whatever you plot against the Lord, he will completely destroy!
Distress will not arise a second time.
Surely they will be totally consumed
like entangled thorn bushes,
like the drink of drunkards,
like very dry stubble.
From you, O Nineveh, one has marched forth who plots evil against the Lord,
a wicked military strategist.
(NET)

Does a fearsome God who destroys bother you?

I suppose if one thinks of God as some dawdling old grandfather who doesn't know what is going on this picture would be quite jolting.

This is NOT a passive God! This is a fierce and passionate God.

Block C testified to the power of God with vivid images. I don't know what kind of storms hit the Middle East typically but foul weather is scary whether it is a hurricane, tornado, thunderstorm or monsoon. This was followed by a set of images that are the exact opposite: things drying up which leads to the slow lingering death and suffering of drought. The last set are images of the upheaval of what we feel to be the most stable: the ground under our feet and the large mountains on the horizon.

But is this all that God is?

Blocks B and D show the God of patiences and justice and one who protects.

If God is just the God of blocks of B and D without A and C, how would we think of God?

Not possible! In order for what it says in blocks B and D to be true, A and C have to be true.

This sets the stage for the final part in block E: God's hammer of justice is going to fall on Nineveh. Nineveh was given warnings before in the famous book of Jonah. In that story, Nineveh did turn from their wicked ways and were spared. But, they fell back to their previous patterns and now Nahum warns them that they will fall.

I'm glad that God is compassionate and desires to reconcile us to himself and each other. But I'm also glad that God is just and when the time is right, his justice will arrive in full force.

How about you?

Lord, the world is a mess. Some days, I feel I want to call up on you to rain down destruction upon people who make children into soldiers, who oppress and abuse women, who blow themselves up and kill and maim people going about their lives. Lord, in your time, you will bring justice. Help me to trust in your timing. Until that time, continue to pour out compassion, move amidst your people to serve others, bring people to the peace that knowing you brings. Amen.