God's Response to Brokenness – Nahum 1-3
The one of most powerful nation in the ancient world was Assyria; an empire infamous for its violence, brutality, and oppressive practices. At the height of Assyria’s power, the Prophet Nahum offers a dark and unbelievable prediction that the Assyrian empire and its capital city, Nineveh, will fall. Nahum knows the Israelite God is one of justice, despising evil, and correcting wrongdoing. Nahum’s work is a prophetic reminder that our God refuses to watch suffering from a distance, but rather draws close and enters into human history.
Nahum 1 :
The oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
the Lord takes vengeance
and is fierce in wrath.
The Lord takes vengeance against His foes;
He is furious with His enemies.
The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;
the Lord will never leave the guilty unpunished.
His path is in the whirlwind and storm,
and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.
He rebukes the sea so that it dries up,
and He makes all the rivers run dry.
Bashan and Carmel wither;
even the flower of Lebanon withers.
The mountains quake before Him,
and the hills melt;
the earth trembles at His presence –
the world and all who live in it.
Who can withstand His indignation?
Who can endure His burning anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire,
even rocks are shattered before Him.
The Lord is good,
a stronghold in a day of distress;
He cares for those who take refuge in Him.
But He will completely destroy Nineveh
with an overwhelming flood
and He will chase His enemies into darkness.
Whatever you plot against the Lord,
He will bring it to complete destruction;
oppression will not rise up a second time.
For they will be consumed
like entangled thorns
like the drink of a drunkard
and like straw that is fully dry.
One has gone out from you,
who plots evil against Yahweh,
and is a wicked counselor.
This is what the Lord says:
Though they are strong and numerous,
they will still be mowed down,
and he will pass away.
Though I have afflicted you,
I will afflict you no longer.
For I will now break off his yoke from you
}and tear off your shackles.
The Lord has issued an order concerning you:
There will be no offspring
to carry on your name.
I will eliminate the carved idol and cast image
from the house of your gods;
I will prepare your grave,
for you are contemptible.
Look to the mountains –
the feet of one bringing good news
and proclaiming peace!
Celebrate your festivals, Judah;
fulfill your vows.
For the wicked one will never again
march through you;
he will be entirely wiped out.
Nahum’s 3 Chapters:
Nahum is comprised of three short chapters, and each chapter serves a purpose.
Chapter 1: A Message of Deliverance
Chapter 2: The Fall of Nineveh
Chapter 3: A Woe Oracle
When we look at the book of Nahum we realize that there isn’t just one audience, but two.
This is a message of hope and deliverance for the people of God.
Three reasons the people of God would struggle with believing a message of deliverance from the Ninevites:
Power
Extreme Brutality
History
God is bringing forth the promise that although his people have been afflicted, he is going to bring relief. He is going to show himself as the comforter to his people.
Nahum 3:1-7:
Woe to the city of blood
totally deceitful,
full of plunder,
never without prey.
The crack of the whip
and rumble of the wheel,
galloping horse
and jolting chariot!
Charging horseman,
flashing sword,
shining spear;
heaps of slain,
mounds of corpses,
dead bodies without end –
they stumble over their dead.
Because of the continual prostitution of the prostitute,
the attractive mistress of sorcery,
who betrays nations by her prostitution
and clans by her witchcraft
I am against you.
This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts
I will lift your skirts over your face
and display your nakedness to nations,
your shame to kingdoms.
I will throw filth on you
and treat you with contempt;
I will make a spectacle of you.
Then all who see you will recoil from you, saying,
“Nineveh is devastated;
who will show sympathy to her?”
Where can I find anyone to comfort you?
God is slow to anger, abounding in grace. But he will not let injustice and evil reign forever.
Nahum's prophetic message is that God is faithful in the midst of the brokenness.
God does not negate our experience just because he knows the ending, because he knows what it feels like to walk through the valley of death.
Psalm 34:15-22:
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and His ears are open to their cry for help.
The face of the Lord is set
against those who do what is evil
to erase all memory of them from the earth.
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
and delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is near the brokenhearted;
He saves those crushed in spirit.
Many adversities come to the one who is righteous,
but the Lord delivers him from them all.
He protects all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
Evil brings death to the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
The Lord redeems the life of His servants,
and all who take refuge in Him will not be punished.
SPIRITUAL PRACTICE:
Experiencing Brokenness
Instead of withdrawing and isolating ourselves, lean in.
Instead of being hardened by our pain, be vulnerable.
Instead of being skeptical, be reminded.
Instead of running away, make space.
Being People Who Walk with Others Through Brokenness
Be present.
Listen with love.
Weep with those who weep.
Carry each other’s burdens.