NAHUM at a glance

PURPOSE: To pronounce God’s judgment on Assyria and to comfort Judah with this truth.

AUTHOR: Nahum, was born in Elkosh. The ancient site was located twenty-five miles north of ancient Nineveh.

DATE WRITTEN: Nahum wrote this book sometime during his prophetic ministry (more than likely between 663-612 BC).

SETTING: This particular prophecy took place after the fall of Thebes in 663 BC (see Nahum 3:8-10).

 

            Assyria was the most powerful nation on earth. Proud in their self-sufficiency and military might, they plundered and slaughtered their victims. 100 years earlier, Jonah had preached in the streets of the great city of Nineveh; the people had heard God’s message and had turned from their evil ways. However, generations later, evil had once again taken hold. It was the prophet Nahum who pronounced judgment on this wicked nation.

            Nahum predicted that this proud, powerful nation would be utterly destroyed because of its sins. Judgment fell on Nineveh within 50 years of the warning being issued.

Righteous and evil people alike can learn a valuable lesson from this situation.  Those believers who are living for the Lord will invariably pray for something to either take place or have God stay his hand. Only God knows the timeframe to which the answer will come. Nineveh’s judgment came within 50 yrs, not right away.  When the Jews were ushered off to the Babylonian exile none of them thought they’d be in this foreign land against their will for 70 yrs. Do you think they learned their lesson? Re: Nineveh, the longer they were made to wait for the impending judgment to come must have led them all to believe that no such judgment would take place after all, but it did, in God’s timing.

In this judgment of Assyria and its capital Nineveh, God was judging a sinful world. The message was clear: Disobedience, rebellion, and injustice will NOT prevail but will be punished severely by a righteous and holy God that rules over all the earth. 

 

THE BLUEPRINT - Nahum’s prophecy was pointed directly at Assyria’s capital, Nineveh. Since Assyria was completely dominating Judah regularly, you can imagine how relieved they were to hear the warning of judgment against their most fearsome enemy. No longer would they be forced to pay tribute as insurance against invasions. Judah was no doubt comforted to know God was still in control. God is sovereign over even those who are seemingly invincible.  We can be confident that God’s power and justice will one day conquer all evil.

 

            Up next is the Mega-Themes from the book of Nahum. Until then walk with the King today and be a blessing.

In his name & for his glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible