Mike Sirignano: Let's pray.
Mike Sirignano: Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word.
Mike Sirignano: We thank you for the prophets of the Bible that declared your encouragement and your judgment to the people.
Mike Sirignano: We thank you for Old Testament history that the recordings of these events would be just as relevant for us today as the people they were spoken to.
Mike Sirignano: Please help us to learn from them and apply them to our lives, and we pray for this in the name of Jesus, amen.
Mike Sirignano: So the book of Nahum is the seventh in a series of 12 minor prophet books.
Mike Sirignano: It's named after the author, and little is known about him, except that he is described as an Elkishite, referring to either his birthplace or the location of his ministry.
Mike Sirignano: The date of this prophecy is also in question.
Mike Sirignano: There are no kings mentioned in the introduction, but the text portrays Assyria as a powerful nation, which suggests that this prophecy took place in the mid-7th century BC, during the reign of Manasseh, one of Judah's most evil kings.
Mike Sirignano: That means that Nahum preached during one of the darkest times in Judah's history, a time filled with idolatry of all kinds and a nation that had completely turned its back on God.
Mike Sirignano: Nahum forms a sequel to the book of Jonah, which Pastor Micah preached on a few weeks back and over a century earlier, jonah had recounted the remission of God's promised judgment against Nineveh because she had repented of her cruel atrocities and idolatrous practices.
Mike Sirignano: But that repentance did not last.
Mike Sirignano: And now Nahum comes to depict God's declaration and execution of his judgment.
Mike Sirignano: In summary, this book is a straightforward, prophetic announcement of God's destruction of Assyria and her capital city of Nineveh.
Mike Sirignano: There would be no calls for repentance, no second chances.
Mike Sirignano: God had decided Nineveh's fate and it was going to happen.
Mike Sirignano: His fate and it was going to happen.
Mike Sirignano: So, while the book was written to the Assyrian nation as a whole, this is not the same generation as Jonah had called to repent more than a century earlier.
Mike Sirignano: The generation he was speaking to had returned to their wickedness and their actions would lead to total destruction, and their actions would lead to total destruction.
Mike Sirignano: The book's description of the Lord's anger is harsh and, for some of us, even frightening.
Mike Sirignano: However, the Lord's judgment of the wicked is connected to his compassion for their victims.
Mike Sirignano: It's important to recognize that underlying the Lord's anger towards Nineveh is a deep sense of concern for the suffering of those who had been conquered, enslaved, terrorized and killed by Assyria.
Mike Sirignano: That is why the book is also written to the people of Judah, because the God of wrath is also the God of compassion.
Mike Sirignano: The prophecy brought comfort to Judah and all those who lived in fear of the cruel Assyrians that the Lord cares about them and will one day bring an end to the wickedness.
Mike Sirignano: In fact, the meaning of the word Nahum is comfort or consolation, and it is a short form of Nehemiah, which means comfort of Yahweh.
Mike Sirignano: The Lord's willingness to send Nahum into such a hopeless situation evidenced his unrelenting and overwhelming grace.
Mike Sirignano: So as we get started, we see a short book written in poetic form using imagery and symbolism.
Mike Sirignano: With only 47 verses.
Mike Sirignano: It is neatly divided into three chapters.
Mike Sirignano: Each chapter speaks to a different characteristic of Nineveh's destruction.
Mike Sirignano: So tonight's talk will be divided into three parts or points.
Mike Sirignano: Point number one focuses on chapter one, the destruction declared.
Mike Sirignano: Point number two focuses on chapter two, the destruction detailed.
Mike Sirignano: And point number three focuses on chapter three, the destruction deserved.
Mike Sirignano: So let's start with point number one, the destruction declared.
Mike Sirignano: Verse 1 introduces the author and his purpose.
Mike Sirignano: It says a prophecy concerning Nineveh, the book of the vision of Nahum, the Elkishite Notice.
Mike Sirignano: It says the book of the vision.
Mike Sirignano: This was more than a message communicated in just words or phrases from God.
Mike Sirignano: When we see the vivid description, the way Nahum writes, we understand that the book records what he saw in his vision.
Mike Sirignano: It was so real to him that in some way Nahum actually saw the events taking place, and we see that right away in chapter 1 and verses 2 to 8, where God's majestic power is illustrated.
Mike Sirignano: Nahum establishes the fact that God is omnipotent.
Mike Sirignano: A holy and jealous God who will punish the wicked and avenge his own.
Mike Sirignano: God has a burning zeal for Israel and often reacts passionately towards anyone who comes against him.
Mike Sirignano: But his jealousy does not suggest he is quick to anger.
Mike Sirignano: Instead, he is long-suffering, as shown by his response to Nineveh's earlier repentance.
Mike Sirignano: And we also see that God is far more patient than man.
Mike Sirignano: Although there is a time and a place where he does display his anger, it doesn't come quickly or randomly.
Mike Sirignano: Let me read you a quote by Charles Spurgeon on God's patience.
Mike Sirignano: It says God's sword of justice is in its scabbard, not rusted in it.
Mike Sirignano: It can easily be withdrawn, but held there by that hand that presses it back into its sheath.
Mike Sirignano: Crying.
Mike Sirignano: Sleep, o sword.
Mike Sirignano: Sleep, for I will have mercy upon sinners and will forgive their transgressions.
Mike Sirignano: But in the same way, god is not like an unjust judge who simply lets the guilty go free out of a false sense of compassion.
Mike Sirignano: Sin must be accounted for because he will not acquit the wicked.
Mike Sirignano: Nahum goes on to describe power saying man.
Mike Sirignano: A huge whirlwind or storm is nothing to God because he has his way in them.
Mike Sirignano: And although he is slow to anger when God is resisted long enough and rejected strongly enough, his judgment eventually comes.
Mike Sirignano: And when it does come, his fury is poured out like fire.
Mike Sirignano: Understanding this should make any person quick to repent.
Mike Sirignano: We should never presume upon God's patience.
Mike Sirignano: In verse 7, we see a glimmer of hope as Nahum speaks to the eventual restoration of Judah.
Mike Sirignano: He reminds us that God is compassionate to those who put their hope in him.
Mike Sirignano: It says the Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.
Mike Sirignano: He cares for those who trust in him.
Mike Sirignano: But he quickly switches back to Nineveh's fate by describing it metaphorically as an engulfing flood and darkness from which none can escape.
Mike Sirignano: Verse 8 says God will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness.
Mike Sirignano: Sounds to me like God is chasing them right into hell.
Mike Sirignano: In the second part of chapter 1, we see God's specific judgment on Nineveh, mixed with blessing and hope for Israel within the messages of doom upon the wicked nation.
Mike Sirignano: Nineveh was ripe for a devastating judgment.
Mike Sirignano: Now.
Mike Sirignano: This was not a harsh chastening like a father scolding his children.
Mike Sirignano: This was utter destruction to come upon the city.
Mike Sirignano: All Assyrian attempts to prevent God's judgment would be futile.
Mike Sirignano: Their end was determined and, unlike conquered nations who recovered, the promised affliction will not rise up a second time because the judgment will be so severe the first time.
Mike Sirignano: In verses 12 through 14, god himself speaks directly, first to Judah and then to Nineveh.
Mike Sirignano: He encourages Judah in verses 12 and 13.
Mike Sirignano: He says Although I have afflicted you, Judah, I will afflict you no more.
Mike Sirignano: Now I will break their yoke from your neck and tear your shackles away.
Mike Sirignano: So I'd like to pause for a moment to make a point Notice God says I afflicted you Although he used Assyria to invade and conquer Judah.
Mike Sirignano: It is always God who ordains a judgment.
Mike Sirignano: Assyria could do no more than God allowed them to do.
Mike Sirignano: And then, in verse 14, god turns his attention back to Nineveh.
Mike Sirignano: He says God turns his attention back to Nineveh.
Mike Sirignano: He says you will have no descendants to bear your name, I will destroy the images and idols that are in the temple of your gods.
Mike Sirignano: I will prepare your grave for you are vile.
Mike Sirignano: God lets them know that it will be total destruction for them there would be no descendants, a total wiping out of the people, their idols and their temple would be destroyed and finally the king of Assyria would be put to death.
Mike Sirignano: But then, in verse 15, god again gives the ultimate hope to his people.
Mike Sirignano: Look there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace.
Mike Sirignano: And thus the chapter ends with encouragement for Judah, the promise of the coming Messiah.
Mike Sirignano: So we saw the destruction declared, and now we move to point number two, the destruction detailed.
Mike Sirignano: Chapter two is a classic display of military assault.
Mike Sirignano: It begins with a call to battle in verses one and two.
Mike Sirignano: In the vision, nahum sees a mighty army coming against the city of Nineveh.
Mike Sirignano: Although he describes it in the present tense, he is looking 50 years ahead, when Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon would conquer the Assyrian capital.
Mike Sirignano: The Assyrians had a practice of scattering their captives all over the map, and this is the same fate they would face themselves.
Mike Sirignano: Verse 1 begins with the one who scatters has come up against you.
Mike Sirignano: Another translation says he who scatters has come up before your face.
Mike Sirignano: Nahum goes on to warn Nineveh that they should prepare themselves for this onslaught, but he also declares that God would restore his people by destroying their enemies.
Mike Sirignano: Also declares that God would restore his people by destroying their enemies.
Mike Sirignano: In verses 3 to 12 in chapter 2, nahum can see it all in his vision, both the battle and the outcome.
Mike Sirignano: The battle of Nineveh was fierce, and bloody Confusion reigned as the troops were assembled and the chariots hastily moved into position.
Mike Sirignano: In verse 6, it says the river gates are opened and the palace erodes away.
Mike Sirignano: Now, the city of Nineveh was located at the confluence of three rivers and they had built dams to minimize the damage of seasonal flooding.
Mike Sirignano: Verse 6 suggests that these dam gates were opened, causing the walls of the city to be destroyed and the palace to be captured.
Mike Sirignano: The people of Nineveh were taken away into exile and the spoils of silver and gold would be plundered.
Mike Sirignano: As the city is stripped bare, verse 10 describes it she is emptied, yes, she is desolate and waste.
Mike Sirignano: And then, in verse 11, nahum sarcastically asks where is the den of the lions?
Mike Sirignano: So let me explain.
Mike Sirignano: The lion was one of the national emblems of the Assyrian Empire.
Mike Sirignano: Their military style was similar to that of a lion.
Mike Sirignano: Nahum continues by taunting her, ridiculing her fall from power and glory.
Mike Sirignano: Verse 13 sums up God's wrath.
Mike Sirignano: Herself has become prey for other nations, all under the sovereign direction of God.
Mike Sirignano: Verse 13 sums up God's wrath.
Mike Sirignano: Behold, I am against you, says the Lord of hosts.
Mike Sirignano: I will burn your chariots in smoke and the sword shall devour your young lions.
Mike Sirignano: I will cut off your prey from the earth and the voice of your messengers shall be heard no more.
Mike Sirignano: Imagine hearing those words from the true and living God.
Mike Sirignano: I am against you.
Mike Sirignano: Those are words that we don't want to hear, and it is a good lesson for us today.
Mike Sirignano: The Bible says in Romans, chapter 8 and verse 31, that if God is for us, who can be against us?
Mike Sirignano: That answer is no one, unless it is God himself.
Mike Sirignano: So, to sum up what we have learned so far, we saw the destruction declared and the destruction detailed.
Mike Sirignano: Moving to point three, we see the destruction deserved.
Mike Sirignano: In chapter three, nahum asserts that the destruction of Nineveh was justly deserved and to prove his point, he makes three charges against her and follows each with the consequences.
Mike Sirignano: The first charge is in verse one.
Mike Sirignano: The first charge is in verse 1.
Mike Sirignano: Woe to the city of blood.
Mike Sirignano: Totally deceitful, full of plunder, never without prey.
Mike Sirignano: Throughout history, assyria proved to be a cruel and bloodthirsty nation.
Mike Sirignano: She conquered her enemies with ruthless treachery, filling her cities with the spoils of other nations.
Mike Sirignano: The consequence for this is in verse 3, where we see the armies of Nineveh in a state of disarray.
Mike Sirignano: They were so overrun that the streets were filled with corpses, so many that the defenders stumbled over them.
Mike Sirignano: The second charge against Nineveh was spiritual and moral prostitution.
Mike Sirignano: In verse 4, nahum describes the city's deep-seated wickedness, highlighting its immoral practices.
Mike Sirignano: This included acts of idolatry, sorcery, witchcraft and sexual immorality, which would ultimately lead to its downfall.
Mike Sirignano: Like a beautiful prostitute, nineveh was guilty of seducing other nations with her sinful enticements and, as a result, nineveh would be publicly exposed, resulting in shame and humiliation.
Mike Sirignano: In verses 5 and 6, god tells them I will lift your skirts over your face.
Mike Sirignano: I will show the nations your nakedness and the kingdoms your shame.
Mike Sirignano: I will pelt you with filth.
Mike Sirignano: I will treat you with contempt and make you a spectacle.
Mike Sirignano: Nineveh is in ruins, but there would be no mourning for her.
Mike Sirignano: In fact, there would be much rejoicing at her fall, none would be found to comfort her and she would bear her misery alone.
Mike Sirignano: The third charge against Nineveh was pride.
Mike Sirignano: One of the cities that Assyria destroyed was the Egyptian city of Thebes.
Mike Sirignano: Like Nineveh, thebes was a wealthy city that was protected by water.
Mike Sirignano: In verses 8 to 10, nahum reminds Nineveh about their destruction of that city.
Mike Sirignano: It says Her children were also dashed to pieces at the head of every street.
Mike Sirignano: They cast lots for her dignitaries and all her nobles were bound in chains.
Mike Sirignano: Now, thebes was a recent conquest for Assyria and it should have been very fresh in their minds.
Mike Sirignano: Like Nineveh by the Tigris River, thebes was situated next to the Nile, enjoying the security of conquered nations around her.
Mike Sirignano: No-transcript.
Mike Sirignano: Now there is a lesson for us in this present day.
Mike Sirignano: How often do we sit in pride and arrogance when it comes to those around us?
Mike Sirignano: We see people and nations judged.
Mike Sirignano: Just like the Assyrians saw Thebes destroyed, yet, like the Ninevites, somehow we think we will be spared, despite our sinful rebellion.
Mike Sirignano: So we must take heed and humble ourselves, because God is watching us.
Mike Sirignano: Now, as we move towards the end of the book, in verses 12 to 18, we see Nahum expose the weaknesses of both the people and the leaders of Nineveh.
Mike Sirignano: He compares their fortresses to ripe fig trees, easily shaken.
Mike Sirignano: He taunts their troops by calling them weak, and their city gates are wide open.
Mike Sirignano: The prophet practically mocked the people of Nineveh, cheering them on to do the best they could to defend their city.
Mike Sirignano: In light of the coming judgment, they could prepare as many provisions and people as they pleased, but it would all come to nothing under the judgment of God.
Mike Sirignano: Their leaders were numerous, like locusts and grasshoppers, but they would be ineffective in the face of the judgment.
Mike Sirignano: They were all powerless in the hands of the Almighty God.
Mike Sirignano: And the prophecy ends in verse 19, where Nahum declares the destruction complete.
Mike Sirignano: It says there is no remedy for your injury.
Mike Sirignano: Your wound is severe.
Mike Sirignano: All who hear the news about you will clap their hands because of you.
Mike Sirignano: For who has not experienced your constant cruelty?
Mike Sirignano: Because Nineveh was so known, even renowned, for its violence and cruelty, it's no wonder that Nahum sees the nations applauding when the city is judged and destroyed.
Mike Sirignano: The Assyrian leaders and army were dead and the people were scattered, and history records the fall of Nineveh to the Babylonians, who conquered the city in 612 BC.
Mike Sirignano: For Nahum and for us today, we take comfort in knowing that the judgments of the Lord are faithful and true.
Mike Sirignano: Now, in conclusion, let's look at some of the things we learned from the book of Nahum.
Mike Sirignano: Number one the Lord is a jealous and avenging God.
Mike Sirignano: Nahum's message to the world is nothing except true repentance and faith can spare you from God's wrath.
Mike Sirignano: Number two in Israel, god called a nation out from the rest of the world to be a blessing to the rest of the world.
Mike Sirignano: But even this chosen nation would incur his judgment because they themselves were corrupt.
Mike Sirignano: Yet there was hope for Israel, because God would keep his covenant with them.
Mike Sirignano: His gracious intention to bring them a Messiah from the line of David, the true and final king, would not be thwarted.
Mike Sirignano: Number three judgment is assured for those who will not bow the knee and take refuge in the Lord.
Mike Sirignano: No one is exempt from God's righteous judgment that will overtake those who remain hostile to him.
Mike Sirignano: Yet there is a hope for all those who do take refuge in God and in the Savior that he sent.
Mike Sirignano: Jesus Christ took God's wrath upon himself for the sake of all those who would believe in him, and this is the good news.
Mike Sirignano: This is the proclaimed peace that we saw back in chapter 1 and verse 15.
Mike Sirignano: Number four Nahum's prophecy resounds with one key theme above all others the terrifying experience of being judged by God when you are his enemy.
Mike Sirignano: He uses language that will communicate the awful horror that awaits those who reject God and abuse God's people.
Mike Sirignano: And number five we have comfort as believers in today's wicked world.
Mike Sirignano: No matter what present circumstances may indicate, the Lord will bring every evil deed under his righteous judgment.
Mike Sirignano: Romans, chapter 12 and verse 19 promises this.
Mike Sirignano: Friends, do not avenge yourselves.
Mike Sirignano: Instead, leave room for God's wrath, because it is written vengeance belongs to me, I will repay, says the Lord.
Mike Sirignano: Believers worldwide can take heart in Nahum's prophecy.
Mike Sirignano: We don't need to envy the unrighteous or seek vengeance against them ourselves.
Mike Sirignano: The Lord is with us.
Mike Sirignano: He will bring judgment in his own time.
Mike Sirignano: Let's pray.
Mike Sirignano: Heavenly Father, we thank you for this time spent in your word.
Mike Sirignano: Help us to stand firm on your promises, but take heed of your warnings lest we suffer the same fate as Nineveh.
Mike Sirignano: In Jesus' name, we pray, amen.