S3E290 – Nahum 1-3: Beyond the Pale

Transcript Podcast Introduction Today is Prophecy Friday and we’ll read the book of Nahum. I do have an on this date in church history for you. I’m calling today’s episode “Beyond the Pale.”   Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Erda Estremera on Unsplash Comments on Nahum 1-3 Nahum means “comforter”. There is comfort for God’s people, to be sure. But for Nineveh, not so much. Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria, and the book of Nahum was written about a hundred years after God sent Jonah to Nineveh to warn them that unless they repented, God’s judgement would destroy them. You probably remember that Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh to give the warning, because Nineveh was so evil that Jonah didn’t want them to repent. Jonah didn’t think they deserved a chance. But God is love and does not want anyone to perish, so He is patient and pleads with the sinner to turn from their wicked ways. And after Jonah was swallowed by the great fish, *he* repented and did deliver the warning to Nineveh. And Nineveh repented and thus avoided God’s judgement. But now, just a short hundred years later, they are a truly evil, foul and Godless city. They are a great and powerful city. According to one description I found, it was 60 miles across, with walls a hundred feet high. Many thousands of inhabitants.  In chapter 3 it was referred to as a city of bloody violence. In reading through the Bible, there are occasional times where we are surprised by how descriptive its language is. But overall, it is quite reserved in its language. Such is this reference to Nineveh. “Bloody violence” doesn’t even begin to describe what went on there.  The Assyrian rulers were cruel in the extreme. And they were proud of their cruelty. Monuments that they had created to tell of their heinous acts have been found, and are now in museums. Listen to what some of them say: · “I cut off their heads and formed them into pillars.” · “Bubo, son of Buba, I flayed in the city of Arbela and I spread his skin upon the city wall.” · “I flayed all the chief men who had revolted, and I covered the pillar with their skins.” · “Many within the border of my own land I flayed, and spread their skins upon the walls.” · “I cut off the limbs of the officers, the royal officers who had rebelled.” · “3,000 captives I burned with fire.” · “Their corpses I formed into pillars.” · “From some I cut off their hands and their fingers, and from other I cut off their noses, their ears, and their fingers, of many I put out their eyes.” · “I made one pillar of the living, and another of heads, I bound their heads to posts round about the city.” So yes, Nineveh was an evil, evil city. And there was much, much more that I haven’t even mentioned. They truly were beyond the pale. God gave them a chance, but after a short time of repentance, they reverted back to their old ways. So getting to the bottom line, Nineveh was completely and utterly destroyed. Some even doubted that ever even truly existed until ruins were discovered in 1840.  Judah had been taken into captivity by the Assyrians and suffered greatly under them. And now finally, God is going to exact vengeance on them. Romans 8:31 says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”. That is a comfort for those who have confessed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. But on the other side of that coin, for those who are not His, it is equally true that if God is against you, then who can be for you? God was against Nineveh, and no one could save them. Nineveh was once a great and mighty city. No one could conceive of its destruction. Everyone thought that such a city would always be great. But they turned to their own way, and they were brought down. Is there a lesson for us here? I believe there is. We as a nation MUST return to God if we are going to ever see His blessing on us again. If we don’t, our fall is sure. God gave Nahum a vision of the destruction of Nineveh. And God has given us His Word to show what happens to nations and kingdoms who forsake Him. The good news is that when nations and kingdoms repent, He blesses. I do not think it is too late for us. There are still many of us praying for America. Let us not grow weary. Your thoughts? Today’s Bible Translation Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 1-3 GW Support This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT. Transcript Download .txt file. STEVE WEBB – 0:00But God is love and doesn’t want anyone to perish. INTRO S12E289 – 0:10Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible and podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. And today’s Prophecy Friday, so we’ll read the book of Nahum. Of course, after the reading, I’ve got some comments and we’ve got an on this date in church history segment for you as well. I’m calling today’s episode, “Beyond the Pale”. The show notes page for today’s at lifespringmedia.com/s12e289. My email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s get started. NAHUM 1 (GWT) – 0:46Nahum, chapter one. (1) This is a revelation from the Lord about Nineveh. This book contains the vision of Nahum from Elkosh. (2) God does not tolerate rivals. The Lord takes revenge.The Lord takes revenge and is full of anger.The Lord takes revenge against his enemiesand holds a grudge against his foes.(3) The Lord is patient and has great strength.The Lord will never let the guilty go unpunished.Raging winds and storms mark his path,and clouds are the dust from his feet.(4) He yells at the sea and makes it dry.He dries up all the rivers.Bashan and Carmel wither.The flowers of Lebanon wither.(5) The mountains quake because of him.The hills melt.The earth draws back in his presence.The world and all who live in it draw back as well.(6) Who can stand in the presence of his rage?Who can oppose his burning anger?He pours out his rage like fireand smashes the rocky cliffs. (7) The Lord is good.He is a fortress in the day of trouble.He knows those who seek shelter in him.(8) He will put an end to Ninevehwith a devastating flood.He will pursue his enemies with darkness.(9) What do you think about the Lord?He is the one who will bring Nineveh to an end.This trouble will never happen again.(10) The people of Nineveh will be like tangled thornsand like people drunk on their own drink.They will be completely burned up like very dry straw.(11) From you, Nineveh, a person who plans evil against the Lord sets out.His advice is wicked. (12) This is what the Lord says:Though the people of Nineveh are physically fit and many in number,they will be cut down and die.Though I have humbled you, Judah,I will not humble you again.(13) But now I will break Nineveh’s yoke off of youand tear its chains from you.(14) The Lord has given this command about you, Nineveh:You will no longer have descendants to carry on your name.I will remove the wooden and metal idols from the temple of your gods.I will prepare your grave because you are worthless. (15) There on the mountains are the feet of a messengerwho announces the good news: “All is well!”Celebrate your festivals, Judah! Keep your vows!This wickedness will never pass your way again.It will be completely removed. NAHUM 2 (GWT) – 3:10Nahum, chapter two. (1) The one who will scatter you is coming to attack you.Guard your fortress!Keep a lookout on the road!Prepare for battle!Be very courageous! (2) The Lord will restore Jacob’s glory like Israel’s glory,although enemies have looted itand have destroyed its vines. (3) The shields of his warriors are painted red.His soldiers have red uniforms.The metal on his chariots flashes fiery red,so do the spears when they are wavedon the day he prepares for battle.(4) Chariots are racing madly through the streets,rushing this way and that in the city squares.They look like torches, like lightning, as they dart about.(5) He remembers his best fighting men.They stumble over themselves as they march.They hurry to Nineveh’s wall.The shield has been set up for the battering ram.(6) The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace melts away. (7) The Lord has determined:“It will be stripped.It will be carried away.Its young women will be mourning like dovesas they beat their breasts.”(8) Nineveh was like a pool of water from its first day on.But now its people are fleeing.“Stop! Stop!”But no one turns around.(9) Steal the silver! Steal the gold!There is no end to what is stored here—everything a person could ever want.(10) Nineveh is destroyed, deserted, demolished.Hearts are melting.Knees are knocking.Every stomach becomes upset.Every face turns pale. (11) Where is the lions’ den,that feeding place for young lions?Where are the lion, the lioness, and the lion cub who moved aboutwith no one to terrify them?(12) The lion tore its prey to pieces to feed its cubs.It strangled the prey for its mates.It used to fill its caves with torn carcassesand its dens with torn flesh. (13) “I am against you, Nineveh,” declares the Lord of Armies.“I will send your chariots up in smoke,and a sword will kill your young lions.I will remove your prey from the earth,and no one will ever hear the voice of your messengers again.” NAHUM 3 (GWT) – 5:13Nahum, chapter three. (1) How horrible it will be for that city of bloody violence!It is completely full of lies and stolen goods—never without victims.(2) The sound of the whip!The sound of rattling wheels!Horses gallop!Chariots bounce along!(3) Horses charge!Swords flash!Spears glitter!Many are killed!Dead bodies pile up!There is no end to the corpses!...