Nahum versus Nineveh: Take Nahum with the Points

Last updated on: September 13, 2016 at 11:05 pm by John Mark N. Reynolds

Nahum versus Nineveh: Take Nahum with the Points 2016-09-13T23:05:41-04:00 John Mark N. Reynolds

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The_thrones_and_palaces_of_Babylon_and_Ninevah_from_sea_to_sea;a_thousand_miles_on_horseback(1876)_(14754982076)_opt Some Bible names are everywhere: forms of John and Mary have gone global, but at least in the English speaking world I have yet to meet a man named Nahum.

He was God’s messenger called to take on the power and corruption of an imperial power: Nineveh. We ought to remember Nahum just now because his story and message give us hope.

The Church of God around the world is being persecuted. In Syria, one of the first homes of the Faith, martyrs are made daily. Religious zealots impose a horrible, twisted form of false religion on vast areas of the globe. The Church, with her love for all humankind, is brutally attacked because we are too tolerant and too peaceful.

In the United States, the Church is in the grip of materialism and complacency. We see injustice in the speed of our Internet browser and mock the moral limits. US military power is unmatched in the history of humankind as is our pop-culture influence globally and we are using both types of muscle to spread decadence. We are mocked, though not yet persecuted, as zealots for our half-hearted defense of ethical reality.

The world seems like one giant Nineveh . . . partly brutal, yet containing effete elites. The two forces hang in the global Nineveh in equipoise: the inherited technology and power of the decadent give them power, but the zeal that will die for ideas and most of the children being born are found in the brutal parts of the world.

Against this hideous strength, the faithful seem very small and weak.

Nahum faced a worse situation. Most of his people were in exile, all political power smashed. Most important, God’s people were not (much) better than the men of Nineveh. If you were taking a bet about whose power and writing would endure, you would have taken Nineveh and given Nahum points! You would point to his insignificance, his poverty, his marginal people group.

Nahum won going away. His name may not have caught on, but his short message made it into the Hebrew Bible and Christians adopted it as well. God’s fire breathes in Nahum and when he speaks, Nahum does not shield Nineveh from the heat of the wrath of God.

What is God’s message?

Nahum says God is merciful, thankfully, but He will not wait forever. Time passes, but God’s judgment waits until the time is right. Eventually the burden of evil provokes an equal and opposite reaction and justice rolls down on the men of Nineveh. The Jewish people will endure, even if only as a remnant, but Nineveh will not last.

The lust for power and the sexual immorality of Nineveh cannot last and despite her plans and powerful armies, Nineveh will be destroyed. For those who love justice, the poor, and are faithful, there is always hope. The news is good, because God may wait, but He does not sleep. He knows. He sent Jonah (of the big fish fame) to preach mercy and Nineveh heard God’s words for a time, but then they forgot and returned to their old, wicked ways.

Why not? Was not Nineveh great in the earth?

Nahum said: “No.” And Nahum was right.

If we side with God, then He will fight the battle. We are not called to sack Nineveh, the sins of the City will raise up foes they have created by their evil. We do not have to be afraid, because God will always allow a remnant to survive and even thrive. Meanwhile what should we do?

Celebrate your festivals, O Judah,
fulfil your vows,
for never again shall the wicked invade you;
they are utterly cut off.

We should celebrate and do our duty. God will take the weapons of their power and throw them into confusion. This is inevitable, because to defy the moral laws of God rots the reason and ends in either ugly demonic religion that can tolerate no thought or in the vacuity of the decadent. Both are confused and both will destroy the other.

Meanwhile, we must pray that every person finds peace with God and the clarity and celebration that results!

Nahum was on God’s side so Nahum won. I look at my own soul and say: Think about Nahum’s courage today, say his name, and do your duty! A remnant will thrive!

Spiritual Reflections

Previous Post

September 12, 2016

The Napoleonic University

Next Post

September 14, 2016 Avoiding Spiritual Plagiarism: A Damnable Offense

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Apologetics Art Culture Education On Books On Education Philosophy Politics Pop Culture Spiritual Reflections Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 July 2025 June 2025 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 December 2023 June 2023 September 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which New Testament book has the most Old Testament quotes?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Matthew Hebrews Romans Revelation

Books by This Author John Mark Reynolds

See All Titles »