Nahum: Comfort

Vengeance (1:1-15)

Neal Pollard

Nahum is not really a sequel to Jonah, but it does constitute a Paul Harvey-like “rest of the story.” Achtemeier rightly observed that this short prophetic book “has been almost totally ignored in the modern church” (Nahum–Malachi. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1986. Print. Interpretation). Quick. Name one thing you know from this short book! Why is that this book is so vague and mysterious to us? Maybe it is because it sits almost dead center in the middle of one of the least known sections of the Bible–the Minor Prophets. Yet, in this book is a beautiful, powerful picture of God.  Assyria, to whom God showed unexpected grace in Jonah’s time, is now in the crosshairs of God’s judgment in Nahum’s time. 

Written probably in the middle of the seventh-century B.C., by which we are clued in through two events which Nahum mentions, the first the fall of Thebes (663 B.C.) which Nahum speaks of in past tense in Nahum 3:8-10 and the second the fall of Nineveh (612 B.C.) which is the subject of the book itself. That is a pretty plausible explanation for when. The author, Nahum, gives us no biographical information. His name means “comfort.” Jerome puts Elkosh, his hometown, as a village in Galilee while Pseudo-Epiphanius says it is in the territory of Simeon 20 miles southwest of Jerusalem (Migne, 409; Catchart, 38). His message is one of comfort, not for Assyria but for Judah. Remember that Assyria attempted to conquer Judah as they did Israel, but they were repelled by God Himself (Isa. 37; 2 Ki. 19). Now, God through Nahum foretells the total downfall of this Gentile nation. As to the why, Kenneth Barker says it well that “Nahum’s message is essential and timeless: the Lord reigns and will have the final word against evil. This means hope and deliverance by God for God’s people” (NAC, Vol. 20, 137). 

Chapter one is devoted to God’s vengeance against the evil of Nineveh and Assyria. It is an “oracle” (burden) of Nineveh. It is a vision of Nahum. In these opening words, we glean so much insight and appreciation into the amazing nature and character of God.

“The Lord is avenging and wrathful” (2-3). This is perhaps the overriding theme not only of this chapter, but the whole of this brief book. He used Assyria to punish His disobedient people of the northern kingdom (Isa. 9:8; 10:5), but He watched both their cruelty and their callous wickedness. Nahum says God will take vengeance on His adversaries and reserves wrath for His enemies. They would pay for their own guilt! The prophet depicts the power and splendor that are demonstrated as He exhibits these attributes (3b).

“The Lord is slow to anger and great in power” (3-6). This is a blessed combination! As it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb. 10:31), it is wonderful to remember that the Lord is patient and slow to distribute judgment (2 Pet. 3:9). Yet, His deliberate dispensation of divine decrees is often mistaken for indulgence or indifference. Didn’t Solomon say, “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil” (Ecc. 8:11). Think about His power, as recounted by Nahum–rebuking seas and drying up rivers (4), withering blossoms (4), and shaking and dismantling even the earth (5). Nahum rhetorically asks who can stand before such indignation, burning anger, and fiery wrath (6)? We must have a balanced view of God, perfectly holy, patiently holding out, but also powerfully honorable! 

“The Lord is good…” (7ff). Nineveh could attest to this, if they remembered Jonah’s visit. He delayed their overthrow for 150 years! For comparison, we would look back to the administration of Ulysses S. Grant! That’s a long time. Now, this message is for Judah in the midst of a sermon about Assyria’s impending doom. His goodness is demonstrated in a variety of ways. He gives us strength in our troubled times (7). He has a relationship with us as we hope in Him (7). He avenges His enemies on our behalf, if our enemies are His enemies (8-11). He cuts them off and destroys them utterly (12-14). He gives us gospel preaching, repeating that beautiful promise, “Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace!” (15a; Isa. 52:7; Rom. 10:15). He invites His restored people to commune with Him in worship (15b). He promises protection for His people from their enemies (15c). When we are struggling, we may lose sight of God’s goodness (cf. Rom. 11:22). Yet, it is in His nature to show His goodness to His people (Psa. 23:6)!