Nahum 1:1-2:2

What’s Happening?

The book of Nahum is a collection of poems and prophecies against Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire (Nahum 1:1). Nineveh and Assyria violently oppressed Israel, exiled her people, and exacted steep taxes from Judah. They were known for their brutality and unprecedented military and political power. But Nahum warns Nineveh that God will protect Israel by executing swift justice against Nineveh (Nahum 3:1).

God will avenge his innocent people by attacking those who oppress them (Nahum 1:2). God will be nothing but pure, unrelenting justice towards the guilty Ninevites (Nahum 1:3). Like a storm, he is coming. No ocean, mountain, or river will provide quarter (Nahum 1:4-5). Like a volcano, he is all-consuming, and nothing but ash will be left in his wake (Nahum 1:6). 

Nahum tells Israel that God is good and he will break off their Assyrian chains. In bringing the guilty to justice, God cares for and protects the innocent. In the same moment he tears down the bloodthirsty, he builds a safe space for those who take refuge in him (Nahum 1:7). No enemy nation can out-maneuver God’s justice. He has delivered the verdict of guilty against Nineveh, and there are no second chances (Nahum 1:9). 

Even though Assyria is a global superpower, it will fall (Nahum 1:12a). God will make the king infertile and dig a grave for his dynasty (Nahum 1:14). And on the same day Nineveh falls, God will send messengers to Judah carrying good news (Nahum 1:15a). A gospel of peace will be declared, Judah will be freed, and Assyria will never rise again (Nahum 1:13). 

For clarity’s sake, many Bible translations add the words “Nineveh” where Nahum’s prophecies simply say “he” (Nahum 1:11). Nahum doesn’t mention Nineveh in the body of his prophecy in chapter one because Nahum wants to comfort and warn a wider audience than just Israel and Assyria. Nahum’s prophecies are universal ones. Nahum is speaking to all oppressive nations and all oppressed peoples throughout time. God doesn’t change and so he will by no means clear the guilty who harm and do violence to God’s people (Nahum 1:3). 

Where is the Gospel?

In Nahum’s prophecies, we see a vision of Jesus. Jesus, like an unstoppable storm, comes to bring justice against evil in order to save and protect the innocent. When John the Baptist asks if Jesus is the storm against evil he expects, Jesus details his healing among the sick and the proclamation of good news to the poor and oppressed (Matthew 11:5). And then a few verses later, Jesus calls for the destruction of cities who, like Nineveh, refuse to recognize the justice he is bringing (Matthew 11:20-24). And then again he invites all those who are weary and heavy laden to find rest in his guidance and care (Matthew 11:28). Like Nahum expects, Jesus will bring justice to the guilty while providing shelter for the innocent. 

We see this same paradigm on the cross. Jesus died for our guilt (Romans 8:23) and demonstrates what happens to all guilty parties who fail to turn back from their evil—they die (Romans 3:23). But by dying in our place, he also demonstrates what happens to all who run for shelter under his cross—they’re vindicated and even raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:21). In the same moment he was torn down by the bloodthirsty, he also proved there is no storm, ocean, mountain, river, or city that can provide quarter from his resurrection power and mercy to those who trust his judgment.

The good news is that God will by no means clear the guilty because God is perfectly just. And while we still might suffer today, soon Jesus will return and there will be no more tears, sorrow, or sadness because there will be no evil left to cause it (Revelation 21:4). God will not clear the guilty. All nations, empires, religions, and people who devote themselves to evil will pass away in the unstoppable storm of God’s justice. But all who cry to him for help will be saved. 

See For Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see the God who does not acquit the guilty. And may you see Jesus as the one who cares for the oppressed and vindicates the innocent.