Nahum 2:11-13

Let's recap up to this point.

In Nahum 1:1 we are introduced to Nahum. Beyond what is in this verse, we know nothing else about him.

Nahum 1:2-8 stressed the character of God
Nahum 1:9-11 began the announcement of the judgment upon Nineveh.
God is referred to in the third person in this section.

Nahum 1:12-14 God spoke of judgment in first person.

Nahum 1:15-2:10 the judgment against Nineveh is described in very vivid terms.

And now let's enter a brief reflection on Nahum 2:11-13 where the imagery is of a lion (Nineveh) now decimated. Additionally, God spoke again in first person in verse 13 using the image of a lion for Nineveh.

Verses 11-12
Where now is the den of the lions,
the feeding place of the young lions,
where the lion, lioness, and lion cub once prowled
and no one disturbed them?
The lion tore apart as much prey as his cubs needed
and strangled prey to provide food for his lionesses;
he filled his lairs with prey
and his dens with torn flesh.

The lion is probably the most fierce animal in the ancient world. Elephants might be bigger but the sight of a lion pouncing on its prey and tearing it apart must have been one of the most scary and awe-inspiring sights. In the NETBible study note #77 on this passage, it said the Assyrians saw themselves as lions. Thus, this part here turns their national image of themselves on its head.

This section concluded with God speaking out against them.

"I am against you!" declares the Lord who commands armies:
I will burn your chariots with fire;
the sword will devour your young lions;
you will no longer prey upon the land;
the voices of your messengers will no longer be heard."
NETBible

We usually prefer thinking in more positive terms: if God is for us, who can be against us?

Here it is turned upside down, if God is against us, what chance do we have?

And indeed, Assyria was utterly destroyed.

How do we stand in the face of God in response to a passage like this?

I recently heard a lecture on the life of John Calvin. The speaker, Fred Sanders, admitted he was trained at a seminary that wasn't supportive of all of Calvin's theological ideas. But he believed he learned very much about how to approach the Scriptures in an honest and thorough way by reading John Calvin's magnum opus, Institutes of the Christian Religion. Sanders admired Calvin's attitude of "doing theology before the face of God." In the end, Sanders shared, when we "do theology" we are trying to express our understanding of God and in order to do it seriously, we have to be willing to say our theology back to God.

Because of this endorsement from a non-Calvinist, I have decided I'll try to read this famous work. I suspect it will be in fits and starts as it is a very large work and not always the easiest reading!

I came across this in Chapter II, part II:
"... he embraces him not less as the avenger of wickedness than as the rewarder of the righteous; because he perceives that it equally appertains to his glory to store up punishment for the one, and eternal life for the other."

Yes, God is the God of the simple but profound truth, "Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong."

As I read Nahum, do I also embrace this God who is the "avenger of wickedness?"

Lord, as one who wants to understand your ways and live for you, it isn't easy to think about the hard things of God. But, indeed, if I am to praise your goodness and kind mercies, I need to praise you for your justice that will fall upon those who are wicked. In this passage in Nahum, I see that no one escapes and judgment fell upon an evil nation. Lord, have mercy and help bring about repentance and reconciliation in the world today in all its hard places. Thy Kingdom come and with may the fullness of justice and restoration and reversal come too. Amen.