><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (Nahum) CHAPTER 1 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1 What do we learn in this chapter about God (a) in relation to His own people, and (b) in relation to His enemies? Cf LK 18: 7, 8; 2 Thes. 1:8; Nu14:17,18; Ps. 46:1. 2 Nineveb's boastful spirit is seen in Is. 36: 18-20; 37:23-25; Zp.2:15. But how does Nahum regard her in relation to God's power? See verses 3b-6, 9-12a,14; and cf Ps. 37:35, 36. 3 Consider how verse 7 is illustrated in the story of 2 Ki. 18 and 19,which happened less than a century before Nahum's time. Have you your own illustration to give out of your own experience? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (Nahum) Chapter 1 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- *Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- (1) God is a strong protector for His people and takes vengeance on His enemies. He is zealous for His people. In the 1st chapter, you can see the dichotomy clearly, a major change of tone when speaking of His own or His enemies. 2)Nahum seems to say Nineveh has NO CHANCE. If God is against you, watch out - it's over! It seemed that Nineveh caught this idea at first (Jonah), yet slid back to their old, corrupt ways. They were brutal and violent toward their enemies. However, they would be destroyed, v8, "with an overwhelming flood He will make an end of Nineveh; He will pursue His foes into darkness." -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- Nahum Chapter 1 Merciful God Hates Sin 1:3 - The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. Nahum means "comfort". It is a source of comfort to the inhabitants of Judah who suffered under the cruelty of the Assyrians. Nineveh fell in 612 BC, being completely destroyed by the Medes from the North and the Babylonans from the south because their sins and the wicked kings. About 150 years ago, Jonah preached in Nineveh and they repented. The people in that city were saved; it shows the mercy of God to mankind - The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 "Woe to the BLOOD CITY! It is all full of lies and robbery." 3:1. "Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off." Romans 11:22 1:7 "The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him. 2 Timothy 2:19 'Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- The book of Nahum shows a picture of God's Character in Chapter 1. It is a book about the mercy of God, and the nature of his holiness. God cannot and will not tolerate evil. It is also about the importance of passing on God's values and the knowledge of God to the next generation. The Ninevites of Jonah's day repented(in fact the whole city!) but they were lax in passing this salvation knowledge and the teachings of God on the 3rd and 4th generations, and their children returned to the evil ways. 1) We learn in Chapter1 that the Lord is Awesome and mighty. He is a jealous God who wants His people to obey only Him. He takes vengeance on His enemies,woe to His enemies. 2) Nahum sees Nineveh as unable to stand even in any way against the Lord's power and his judgement. The Lord will completely ruin any plan you put against Him. He is all powerful. The praise chorus Our God Reigns borrows its first two lines(and probably its inspiration) from verse 15 of Nahum. "How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him, who brings good news, good news. Announcing peace, ploclaiming news of hapiness, Our God Reigns, Our God Reigns!" 3) 2 Kings 18,19 talk about the reign of Good king Hezekiah, a man who remained with God. The Lord blesses those who follow Him. In fact the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrians in their sleep due to Hezekiah's faithfulness to Him. Truly "The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him. May we each one put our trust in Him and take refuge in Him ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (Nahum) CHAPTER 2-3 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= These two chapters are two separate odes describing the fall of Nineveh. In chapter 2 the prophet depicts the approach of the enemy (verse 1a) and ironically summons the people to defend their city (verse ib). Then follows a description of the attackers within and without the walls (verses 3-5). The river gates are forced, the palace is in panic, the queen captured, the people flee (verses 68), and looting follows (verse 9). The chapter ends with a picture of Nineveli overthrown, lying desolate in her ruins. Chapter 3 declares the city's guilt and her punishment (verses 1-7), and bids her take warning from the fate of Thebes (verses 8-10). Nineveh's strength fails (verses 11-15a) Though her people are without number, and her merchants are as numerous as locusts, yet, like locusts, they will fly away (verses 15b-17). Her rulers perish, her people are scattered. All who hear of her fall will rejoice (v18, 19). 1 Read each chapter aloud, if possible in Moffatt's translation What were Nineveh's sins that brought upon her so terrible a retribution? See also 1:11. What does this show of God's attitude even to non-Christian societies? Does He care whether they are righteous or corrupt? If God cares, should we? 2 How does Nahum show the converse of Rom. 8:31; i.e., if God be against us, who can be for us? Cf Ps. 34: i6;Je. 37:9, 10. Have you ever experienced this in your own life, with all circumstances going against you, that in fact God was against you? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (Nahum) Chapter 2-3 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- (1) Nineveh was violent and corrupt to the core: city of blood, full of lies, plunder, victims, causualties, piles of dead, bodies without number, harltotry and witchcraft. God hates sin and cannot stand it; however, as we recall He offered pardon to nineveh and the received it. It is only when they fell into their old ways that they were so wrathfully destroyed by the Lord. Therefore, we can see that God was merciful to them. It was their own sin that finally caused them to be destroyed. 2) The book of Nahum is really vivid in imagery and poetry about destruction. It gives the sense of just how much God abhors sin. How terrible to have God against you - you will NOT stand. How can we avoid this predicament? Obey His commands, but not out of compulsion, but out of realization of how much love He has for us. He sent Christ out of love, not for condemnation but that we might be free and spotless in His sight. -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- Nahum Chapter 2 The Fall of Nineveh N. will be destroyed by the enemy come from south, Balylon of their chariots, by flood, 2:6; 1:8 and fire, 2:13; 3:13 &15. Because of the Lord of hosts is against her. Where now is that great Nineveh, lion of the nations, full of fight and boldness, where even the old and feeble, as well as the young and tender, lived unafraid? O Nineveh, once mighty lion! You crushed your enemies to feef your children and your wives and fiffed your city and your homes with catured goods and slaves. [vs. 2:11-12 of Life Application Bible] Chapter 3 Sin and Cruelty Caused Her Destruction Her Sins are lies, plunder, sorceries and prostitutes. Her cruelty, 3:19 - Assyria's king Ashubanipal was very cruel. He skinned captives alive, forcing a prince to wear around his neck the bloody head of his king. He feasted with the head of a Chaldean monarch hanging above him. [Salem Kirban Reference Bible] Her great wealth and strength were not sufficient to save her, 3:8-19. Isaiah 10;12-15 - When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, 'I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes. For he says: By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, because I have understanding. I removed the boundaries of nations, I plundered their treasures; like a might one I subdued their kings. --- Does the ax raise itself above him who swings it, or the saw boast against him who uses it? ---- -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) The sins of Nineveh were great. The evil leadership that plotted against the Lord was at the heart of their problems. God wants even non- Christian societies to be mindful of Him. We too should desire that societies that are very closed to Christianity be made aware of Jesus Christ. Once a 2) In v13 of Chp 2 Nahum shows that if God be against us, nothing can deliver us. This is a direct inverse of who can be against us in Rom 8:31. Even a city described as once a mighty lion had no chance against the Lord's judgement and wrath. It is hard to imagine God being against us, but I feel that sometimes when we are going against his will, God is against what we are doing, so to correct us and to put us in line with His will he will put us in situations that will make us return to Him.