Slices
Prepare
Sometimes it’s hard to imagine things changing for the better in our personal or national lives. But God is with us and he’s always at work in his creation. Let’s pray that he will open our eyes to see this bigger picture.
Bible passage
Nineveh to fall
2 An attacker advances against you, Nineveh.
Guard the fortress,
watch the road,
brace yourselves,
marshal all your strength!
2 The Lord will restore the splendour of Jacob
like the splendour of Israel,
though destroyers have laid them waste
and have ruined their vines.
3 The shields of the soldiers are red;
the warriors are clad in scarlet.
The metal on the chariots flashes
on the day they are made ready;
the spears of juniper are brandished.
4 The chariots storm through the streets,
rushing back and forth through the squares.
They look like flaming torches;
they dart about like lightning.
5 Nineveh summons her picked troops,
yet they stumble on their way.
They dash to the city wall;
the protective shield is put in place.
6 The river gates are thrown open
and the palace collapses.
7 It is decreed that Nineveh
be exiled and carried away.
Her female slaves moan like doves
and beat on their breasts.
8 Nineveh is like a pool
whose water is draining away.
‘Stop! Stop!’ they cry,
but no one turns back.
9 Plunder the silver!
Plunder the gold!
The supply is endless,
the wealth from all its treasures!
10 She is pillaged, plundered, stripped!
Hearts melt, knees give way,
bodies tremble, every face grows pale.
11 Where now is the lions’ den,
the place where they fed their young,
where the lion and lioness went,
and the cubs, with nothing to fear?
12 The lion killed enough for his cubs
and strangled the prey for his mate,
filling his lairs with the kill
and his dens with the prey.
13 ‘I am against you,’
declares the Lord Almighty.
‘I will burn up your chariots in smoke,
and the sword will devour your young lions.
I will leave you no prey on the earth.
The voices of your messengers
will no longer be heard.’
Explore
This chapter reads like a running commentary. The prophet pictures the vivid colours of the retreating Assyrian army (v 3) as Nineveh is invaded by a greater power. It’s an extraordinary piece of prophetic imagination.
At the time of his writing, the Assyrian empire is at its peak, but Nahum sees beyond its imperial might to a more dominant regime. He attributes this to the actions of God, who is against the people of Nineveh (v 13), and he interprets world events through this understanding of God’s covenant with his people.
At the time of this prophecy, the Assyrian empire was beginning to wane and relied on the resurgent Egyptian army for support. In a dramatic power grab in about 610 BC, the Babylonians overwhelmed all their rivals and established their rule over much of Assyria. Not only did this mark the end of the Assyrian empire, it also meant the complete devastation of Judah as Jerusalem was captured and the people exiled to a distant land. But Nahum is no fatalist. This is God in action and no one can thwart his purposes.
Respond
‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’ (Romans 8:31). Through Christ, a new order has been inaugurated, where peace and reconciliation now have the final word. What does this mean to you today?
Deeper Bible study
‘The people walking in darkness have seen a great light’.1 Lord, keep that light burning in our hearts!
This chapter and the next provide a graphic description of what lies in store for Assyria. The attacker of verse 1 refers to the Medes and Babylonians, so soon to overthrow Nineveh. Some of the details are true to history: for example, leather shields were reddened with red ochre (v 3) to preserve them and add strength. However, although Nahum speaks of ancient warfare, he also ‘sees beyond the immediate to a greater reality. The flashing chariots call to his mind the flash of forked lightning (v 4), a traditional image for the display of God’s power in the forces of nature.’2 Just as God’s judgement is on the oppressor, so the other side of the coin is that his salvation and deliverance are for the oppressed (v 2).
The mention of lions (vs 11,12) calls to mind the goddess of violence and immorality, Ishtar, depicted in ancient Near Eastern art as mounted on a lion, or herself a lioness, and representing for Nahum ‘the demonic evil that incites humans to betray their humanity, and by their foul deeds to deny that they were created in God’s image’.3
The chapter ends with sombre words: ‘I am against you’ (v 13). There can be no worse scenario! It brings into sharp relief the title given to Jesus, ‘Immanuel (which means “God with us”)’.4 The contrast could not be greater! We are reminded of John’s words, ‘Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.’5 As we look around at our world, which in places is just as cruel and violent as that which Nahum describes, the urgency of spreading the gospel and encouraging our friends and neighbours to turn to Christ becomes acute. How can you play your part?
Thank you, Lord, that Jesus came into our messy world to bring salvation to those who put their faith in him. Use me to make a difference!
1 Isa 9:2 2 G Emerson, Minor Prophets II, Doubleday, 1998, p11 3 Emerson, p14 4 Matt 1:23 5 1 John 5:12
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Ecclesiastes 12; 1 Timothy 3
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray that Local Mission Partner Christians in Schools will be able to develop more lunchtime and after school clubs (Hub Clubs) in primary schools in Stockport where their work is based.
