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Nahum 2
I am sure any of you have seen 'battlefields' depicted on TV or in a film. There are even some of you here this morning who have actually been involved in a military battle and the memory of that never leaves you. Sometimes in the film we are given a panoramic overview of a battle. The camera pans over the top of all the troops etc. That is exactly what happens here in Nahum chapter 2. Here is a battle account in poetry. In fact verses 1-10 of chapter were written to be sung. A song or ballad depicting the fierceness of the battle. The only thing is that the battle has not yet taken place. This is a prophetic song concerning a battle that was yet to come. Here we enter a journey of sights and sounds of the battle for Nineveh. So turn with me to Nahum chapter 2.
Verses 1-10 as I have said are a song or poem of the sights and sounds of the battle which is about to waged against Assyria and the city of Nineveh in particular. In verse 1 the Assyrians are called to military action because an 'attacker' or literally a 'scatterer' has come against them. This term was a common term for a victorious king but it also is used to describe the scattering of sheep by an enemy. The Assyrian king it is imagined shouts at his great army, his army of strength, "Stop them! Stop them!" It is of little consequence because his army is powerless against the Lord God. The king of Assyria, Sennacherib, had spent six years building up his army, it took a terrace of 40 acres to assemble the armoury and he had widened the road by 78 feet to accommodate the movement of his troops. Yet all of this would prove useless before the coming judgment of God. Militarily the army of Assyria seemed to be invincible, of great strength, but it could not be marshalled when God came against them. Nahum wants the people of God, and Assyria, to be under no illusions as to who it will be that defeats the Assyrians. It will be obvious to them all that it is the work of the hand of God and it will be manifested before their eyes.
Verse 2, what a contrast with the people of God. Here they are oppressed by this great Assyrian empire but God promises to restore them. Here is the promise of redemption at the start of the battle. They are assured of victory because it is God who restores them. God will elevate, exalt His people back to their former 'splendour.' It is God who will restore them. Please note this. The people of God do not restore themselves. The people of God can do nothing for themselves before the Assyrians. They will see the hand of God lift them from the pit of slavery and restore their glory, their pride and their position in the world. The Assyrians had destroyed the 'vines' of the nation of Israel. We read that and think little about it and yet it is full of meaning and significance. 'Vines' were the mainstay of the economy and a source of joy and fulfilment to the people of God. They were a symbol of life and of national identity. They had a significance to the people beyond that of food and wine. The Assyrians had devastated the 'vines of the land.' God would restore them to their former glory. That is why in the NT Jesus says "I am the true Vine" and why He speaks about the need to be connected to Him. He is the means of life, the means of joy and the only hope of fulfilment for man.
In verses 3-5 Nineveh's destruction is detailed.
Verses 3-4 here is a picture of the battle that will rage around Nineveh before it will collapse. There is a picture of the formidable wing of an army fighting in open terrain - the chariots. These were the fearsome vehicles of war of their day. Nahum speaks of the battle raging in the 'streets', the outer suburbs of Nineveh before the inner walls, the supposed impregnable walls, are breached. ANE history says that 3 battles were fought over Nineveh before the inner walls were breached and the city fell. These verses depict a battle that in its fierceness and swiftness is breathtaking and frightening. There is the power, speed and devastation of the chariots. The battle overruns all and sweeps all before it. It is a truly awesome and shocking picture of God's judgment falling on a sinful nation and city.
Verse 5 is open to some interpretation as to who it is that 'stumbles.' Some commentators believe it those who are attacking Nineveh who stumble over the dead before them so swift are they to overrun the city. Others believe it is the defenders of the city who stumble as they go to defend the city. In their complacency they are not ready for battle, never believing that such a day or moment would arrive at the inner walls of Nineveh. I am going to hedge my bets and opt for both interpretations because I believe that both fit the context. If you look at chapter 3 verse 3 you will see that there are so many dead bodies on the battlements that the attackers could well stumble over them as they press on into the heart of the city. Equally the defenders of the city had rested on their military superiority and become complacent and in the turmoil and tumult of the unexpected battle they stumble to get to their posts.
Verses 6-10 the Failing defences of Nineveh. Verse 6 marks a turning point in the, poem/ballad, battle. The main line of defence has been breached and the city is destroyed. Nineveh was built on three rivers. The Tigris flowed along its walls and two tributaries, the Khosr and the Tebitu, passed through the city. In fact all 15 gates of Nineveh opened out on to these rivers or canals from these rivers. Scholars reckon that some of these gates were floodgates that controlled the level of the river and kept the city from flooding. The opening of the 'gates of the river' flooded the city and it quite literally 'melted away' or 'collapsed' as the NIV states. The palace of Nineveh which was said to have no equal in the ANE at that time collapsed. Here is a picture of total annihilation and devastation. This once proud city, empire, will simply be washed away as the floodgates open and the waters of the Tigris flood in and metaphorically as the judgment of God floods over them. Nineveh had many watered gardens and parks and the very thing which seemed to bring beauty, riches and blessing in the end brings death. Isn't that so true in life? How often I have encountered people who believe that something in their life is bringing beauty, life, blessing and maybe even riches but a little while later that very same thing is bringing in death and destruction in all in its path. A relationship, a business deal, a habit - I could go on but you know exactly what God is saying to you this morning. Some things in your life look like safe rivers flowing along your walls and through your city but the floodgates of God's judgment are about to be opened and destruction is coming. At this moment it is only the mercy and patience of God that are holding back the tidal waves that if you persist on the path you are now on, God will remove His staying hand and destruction is inevitable. Heed the warning of these verses.
Verses 7-8 we read of the aftermath of this turning point in the battle. Those who survive are 'exiled' amid the mourning of the slave girls, exactly the fate of the people of God at the hands of the Assyrians. This exiling will be done at the 'decree' of God. It will be no arbitrary thing but the outworking of what God has decreed will happen. God, through Nahum, speaks these words of judgment and it comes to pass. God's will is fulfilled in the destruction of Nineveh.
Verse 9 what an end for Assyria. In the historical records of the ANE the kings of Assyria boast about the plunder that they have taken from the nations they had invaded and suppressed. Now the very same thing fate will befall them. All their treasures and wealth will become the plunder of others. All their valuables will be carried off as plunder. All the things they put their trust in, measured their worth by will be taken away before their eye. People of God listen to this verse this morning. Some of you are standing on a precipice this very morning and God is saying to you - all these things that you value I am about to remove from you and they will be taken away from you because my judgment is about to fall on you and your house. Your sin is about to be judged and exposed and the things that you say are of greatest value to you will be taken from you because your sin has led to this moment. I don't know who this is for this morning but God is saying to you - judgment is at your door and the floodgates of my wrath at your sin are about to be opened because you would not repent and you would not turn back.
Verse 10 - here is the summary of the total defeat of Nineveh and Assyria. The first line summarises the battle. The mood of utter defeat is captured in three words - pillaged, plundered and stripped. The physical reaction of the Assyrians/Ninvevites reflects the psychological trauma of the devastation visited upon them. This is a very depressing verse in chapter 2. Stop for a moment and read the words again. Can you feel the despondency in these words? Let me ask you a much more personal question: Can you identify with these words? Have there been times when this verse describes, accurately, how you felt? Will this verse be a description of what God will visit upon you? A frightening prospect isn't it? The psychological disturbance of God's judgment often manifests itself in the physical disturbance of our bodies. What a contrast to the words of Christ in John 14 - "peace I leave with you…"
Verses 11-12 Nahum now brings forward and interpretive analogy of what has just occurred in verses 1-10. He begins with two, what can only be described as mocking, rhetorical questions. The horror of the preceding verses are compared to a savage beast that is no more. In this case a lion. In the OT a 'lion' is often used as an imagery of destruction and here there is a calling to account for past actions of oppression and destruction. Verse 12 is dominated by 'killed' which depicts the brutality of the Assyrians. Their brutality had surpassed that of a lion who kills to feed her young and drags the prey into the lair. The Assyrians had killed and dragged off the plunder to their lair but that was all about to change.
Verse 13 the Judgment of the Lord. So that the people are left in no doubt as to who will bring this all to happen - God's voice is heard. "I am against you…" How devastating must it be to hear such word spoken against you? Those are words of judgment and condemnation. God, the living Almighty God, comes against them and publicly declares Himself against them. Their military might will be utterly destroyed. The chariots that were swift and brutal in battle will be burned before their very eyes. The strength of their young men will be devoured by the sword and there will be no plunder for them to drag off to their lair because they will be no more. No longer will their messengers run to bring the new of another battle won and another people defeated because they will be no more. They will be silent before the living God because He will have cut them off from the land of the living. This verse is frightening in its implications and it all hangs on that first phrase "I am against you."
If God is against you are powerless to do anything in response.
Application
What can I say to you this morning about these verses? How can I apply such a devastating passage to your life this morning? What would you have me do this morning? Would you wish for me to sweep it all under the carpet and not mention it again? Would you have me explain it in such vague terms that you leave comfortable and not disturbed? Would you have me explain it all away as being only for Nineveh and not for us? You know me well enough to know that I would not, in fact could not, do such a thing.
Suffice to say to us all this morning - we need to take seriously the words of judgment of this passage. Some here this morning have never come to Christ as Saviour and you are still in your sins this morning - be warned God's judges your sin and He will bring His wrath down upon your sin.
Some here this morning - well you are living a lie. You claim to belong to the people of God but you are living like the Assyrians. You are indulging in all the things of this world. Some of you are living double lives. Some of you are oppressing other Christians with your tongues and with your behaviour and God says to you - see what I brought on the Assyrians for oppressing my people?
Some of you believe you are safe and secure. You have become complacent and all the things that you presently put your trust in and your security in - be warned the floodgates are about to open and judgment is coming.
Some of you need to hear this promise this morning - verse 2. You have been through, or are going through, a hard time. You have been burdened by a heavy oppression and yoke and God stays to you this morning "I am going to restore you to the former things." God's promise to you this morning is to restore you to where you were before the Fall of man, before sin corrupted your life and this world. God promises you redemption and restoration. He restored Job, He restored David, He restored Rahab, He restored Zaccheus, He restored Peter and He promises to restore you. there are some of you here this morning and God says to you - take this verse today it is for you - it is a promise of my eternal word - I will restore you to the former glory and you will know that I have done it because it will be manifested before your eyes, and before the eyes of all people.
So this morning there is both a warning and an encouragement for us from Nahum. I don't know what you need to hear from God this morning but I pray your ears are open, your heart is receptive and by God's grace you respond to what He says to you today.
Amen.
