Nahum 3

Why is God going to judge Assyria?  Ch. 3 offers some powerful, practical insights.

·        3:1-4: First, Nineveh is a bloody city, a reference to violence, cruelty and oppression.  It is interesting that this is also applied to Jerusalem (Ezek. 22:2; 24:6).  In this regard both Israel and the Nations are held to the same standard. 

o   3:4: The reason for this bloodshed is because of the sorceress, the harlot that sells nations and families.  This refers to the woman in the basket (Zech. 5:5-11) and the harlot Babylon (Rev. 17-18).  This female figure is the principle of wickedness present in all the world.  This principle of sin was at the root of Assyrian religion, politics and economic life.

·        3:5-7: As a result of this harlotry God again says I am against you (cf. 2:13).  God was for Nineveh in Jonah’s days; now He is against them because they no longer fear and worship Him.

·        3:8-11: Another reason for Assyria’s judgment is that it is consistent with God’s works in the past.  Nations and empires that were no worse than Assyria were judged by God; thus He must and will judge Assyria.

o   3:8: No Amon was the capitol city of the Nile Delta region of Egypt, a prominent city with impenetrable defenses.

o   3:9: Ethiopia bordered Egypt to the south and they were allied.  Put refers to modern-day Somalia; the Lubim refer to modern-day Libya; both these were also with Egypt.  Yet with her natural defenses and helping neighbors Egypt was still carried into captivity.

o   Here is what is interesting about all this.  When the Assyrian army came against Jerusalem in the days of Hezekiah the military commander (the Rabshakeh) taunted the people of Jerusalem.  “What nation has been able to stand up to us?  You will be no different than the rest” (Isa. 37:8-13).  Yet what does God say here?  He says to Assyria, “You will be no different than the nations, the empires before you.  Your pride will lead to your fall.”  And here is the powerful twist in this.  Do you know who it was that that God used to do all this to Egypt and her neighbors?  He used the Assyrians!  Think about this.  Assyria didn’t learn from Egypt, that God keeps His word.  The principle be sure your sin will find you out applies to all, to the wicked around me AND to me.

·        3:12-17:  This paragraph says that Assyria will not be able to defend herself when this judgment comes.  All her plans will fail.  We often think of this when our leaders in the United States speak of our great army and how no one can stand against our weapons.  Have we also forgotten how foolish it is to put your trust in armies rather than in God (Psalm 118:5-9)?

Nahum closes (3:18-19) with a charge against Assyria’s leadership, her shepherds.  They have lead the nation down a deadly path from which there is now no recourse.  Let us remember.  We are each responsible to fear and follow the LORD God, even if and when our leaders take us down the wrong path.