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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 5 of 5
Nahum 2:1-13
Nineveh, capital of the kingdom of Assyria, seems to have been founded by Nimrod, the rebel, shortly after the flood (Genesis 10:8-12). Animated by the same spirit as this "mighty hunter before the LORD", it delighted in hunting other nations like prey (vv. 11-13). God’s book, which has recorded its proud beginning ("the day when she hath been", v. 8 JND trans.), now calls us to witness its sudden end. Nineveh is ironically challenged to defend itself against him who "dasheth in pieces" (v. 1). But "except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain" (Psalms 127:1). It is recorded that in the course of the siege the river Tigris, whose waters had until then isolated and protected the city, became swollen in sudden spate (vv. 6, 8) and carried away part of the ramparts. There entered by this breach the merciless soldiers whom we see invading the streets and houses for murder and pillage (vv. 3, 4, 8-10).
"The voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard," concludes v. 13. We remember Rab-shakeh, that insolent herald of the king of Assyria, who confronted Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:19 . . .). His threats were never fulfilled. Thus will the world pass away for ever, with its glory, its arrogance, its scorn and its blasphemies.
