The Grace and Justice of God- Nahum

1. The Grace and Justice of God- Nahum Expository series on the book of Nahum part 1/4

2. The Old Testament Overview

3. 2165 1445 1405 1398 1043 931 586 516 415 0 The Overview of the Nation of Israel

4. Author Nahum, the name means "comfort" and is related to the name Nehemiah, meaning "The Lord comforts" or "comfort of the Lord." Date In 3:8-10 the author speaks of the fall of Thebes, which happened in 663 b.c., as already past. In all three chapters Nahum prophesied Nineveh's fall, which was fulfilled in 612. Nahum therefore uttered this oracle between 663 and 612 , most scholars say its 660 BC

5. Historical Background • Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian empire. • Nineveh was the city built to last forever. • Assyria was a ruthless enemy that practiced brutality on men, women, and children.

6. Assyria was always the scourge of the nations; every nation feared her and tried to win her approval. • Prophet Jonah cried out against this mighty city about 150 years back, which brought about their revival in the Lord, the people of Nineveh have returned to their defiant, immoral ways.

7. Nahum’s preaching is not to call them back to repentance, as was Jonah’s, but he brings a decree of death for an evil and wicked people who have not changed their ways. • Finally in 612 B.C., Nineveh was destroyed by the Medes and the Babylonians; and so complete was their conquest that the ruins of the city remained undiscovered until 1842. • God used Assyria as rod of his anger to punish His guilty people of Israel but finally this rod had to be punished itself for its haughtiness and its malice

8. Special Features Nahum is not mentioned anywhere else in Scripture. Romans 10:15 however reads “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” This verse renders the very similar expressions of Is. 52:7 and Nahum 1:15 and links them together. Themes From Nahum God's righteous and just His kingdom will ultimately triumph, for kingdoms built on wickedness and tyranny must eventually fall, as Assyria did.

9. Nahum declares the universal sovereignty of God. God is Lord of history and of all nations; as such, he controls their destinies. Key word The key word here in this book is “Judgement”. Key Verses 7 The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him, 8 but with an overwhelming flood he will make an end of [Nineveh]; he will pursue his foes into darkness. Nah 1:7-8

10. 5 "I am against you," declares the Lord Almighty. "I will lift your skirts over your face.I will show the nations your nakedness and the kingdoms your shame. 6 I will pelt you with filth, I will treat you with contempt and make you a spectacle. 7 All who see you will flee from you and say, 'Nineveh is in ruins — who will mourn for her?' Where can I find anyone to comfort you?“ Nah 3:5-7

11. Key Chapter The key chapter is Chapter 1. Chapter 1 portrays the Patience, Power, Holiness and the Judgment of the living God. Outline

12. Repentance should be the way of Life. Nineveh was the city that responded to the warning of God. 4 On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." 5 The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. 6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh:"By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish." 10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened .Jonah 3:4-10

13. God wanted to rescue these people and he reached out to them. Jonah 4:10-11 10 But the Lord said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?" In fact they did the opposite, they turned against the Lord, From you, [O Nineveh,] has one come forth who plots evil against the Lord and counsels wickedness. Nah 1:11

14. Pride leads to Ruin. The Lord was against them Nah 2:13 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." 5 "I am against you," declares the Lord Almighty. "I will lift your skirts over your face.I will show the nations your nakedness and the kingdoms your shame. Nah 3:5

15. We can change this city of wickedness to the city of God. Ps 46:4-7 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.