Bible Commentaries
Nahum 1

Verse 1

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NAHUM

Author: Nahum was from Elkosh which possibly was Capernaum ("City of Nahum"). The northern kingdom had already fallen captive to Assyria in 721 BC and Nahum’s message (to Judah and Nineveh, the capital of Assyria) is about the coming fall of Niveveth. The book has three chapters and only 47 verses.

Background:

Jonah had preached to Nineveh more than 100 years earlier and they had repented then but they have long since forgotten God and returned to their cruel ways. In Nahum’s day the city was at the height of its glory.

Chapter one contains a magnificent description of the character of God (cf. Nahum 1:2-8) and in chapter two you can almost hear the noise of the battle describing Nineveh’s destruction. The Assyrians fell to the Babylonians in 612 BC.

Message:

The message of Nahum centers on God’s vengeance upon the impenitent. God mercy and slowness to anger is demonstrated in Jonah’s mission to Nineveh. But now in Nahum we see that a nation, city, or individual must reap the consequence of wickedness if it does not repent.

Outline:

Ch.1 1-8 The Lord is unsparing in his attitude toward evil.

9-15 Nahum prophesied that Nineveh would experience God’s wrath in the form of a complete overthrow.

Ch.2 1-7 God gave Nahum a prophetic vision of the siege

8-13 and the plundering of the proud city.

Ch.3 1-7 All of this was to come about as punishment for sin

8-19 And God’s justice can never be averted.

Lesson: God is longsuffering to usward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (cf. Jonah). But is just and wickedness will be punished.

SERMON OUTLINE

God Is Our Stronghold

Nahum 1:7-8

Introduction:

1. With so many enemies about we wonder if we are on the right side? Is God really with us? Why does the wicked seem to prosper? Does God really care?

2. What Nahum was up against in his day is little different than what we often face today. Nahum 1:1-8

I. GOD’S PROVISIONS Nahum 1:7

1. Nahum describes the awesomeness of God in v.7. The Lord is good, we can be safe in His stronghold.

2. A perception of God’s provisions-- John Claypool in Tracks of a Fellow Struggler. "Does God make a difference when the bottom drops out?" Isaiah 40:30-31

a. The ecstasy "mount up with eagles"

b. The energy "run and not be weary"

c. The endurance "walk and not grow faint"

3. The contemporaries of Nahum were discouraged by their apparent difficulties. But God provides.

II. GOD’S PUNISHMENT Nahum 1:8

1. To Nineveh Nahum declared the awesomeness of God in Punishment. Nahum 1:8.

2. God runs the show. He will hold men accountable for their sins and transgressions. "Payday Someday"

3. God is the Creator, the Provider, and the Judge. Nahum 1:3.

Conclusion:

1. The awfulness of man is no match for the awesomeness of God. Nineveh and every wicked man will be swept up in the unfolding purpose of God.

2. God punishes the wicked, and provides for His own. "Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth." (Revelation 19:6 b)

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