For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Nahum 1:1-11    

1 A prophecy concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
    the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.
The Lord takes vengeance on his foes
    and vents his wrath against his enemies.
3 The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;
    the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.
His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,
    and clouds are the dust of his feet.
4 He rebukes the sea and dries it up;
    he makes all the rivers run dry.
Bashan and Carmel wither
    and the blossoms of Lebanon fade.
5 The mountains quake before him
    and the hills melt away.
The earth trembles at his presence,
    the world and all who live in it.
6 Who can withstand his indignation?
    Who can endure his fierce anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire;
    the rocks are shattered before him.

7 The Lord is good,
    a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,
8     but with an overwhelming flood
he will make an end of Nineveh;
    he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness.

9 Whatever they plot against the Lord
    he will bring to an end;
    trouble will not come a second time.
10 They will be entangled among thorns
    and drunk from their wine;
    they will be consumed like dry stubble.
11 From you, Nineveh, has one come forth
    who plots evil against the Lord
    and devises wicked plans.

A. Find Out:

1. How is this book described? v.1
2. How is God described? v.2,3a
3. Where does Nahum see God’s hand? v.3b-6
4. How does he describe the Lord? v.7
5. But what will the Lord do? v.8-10
6. Why? v.11

B. Think:

1. What aspect of the Lord does Nahum cover in v.2-6?
2. How does he apply that in verses 8-11?
3. How is verse 7 such a contrast?

C. Comment:

Nahum speaks primarily against Nineveh; that is the thrust of the book.  He starts off though, by declaring something of God’s activity against evil.

Note, first, God’s motivation for coming against evil: it is relationship!  Jealousy (v.2) is a word that springs out of relationship, or rather its breakdown.  There is a right jealousy.   It is right to be jealous for your wife if you are a husband who sees another man advancing on your spouse.  God’s people are sometimes described as his bride, and He has hopes for His bride so that when someone (perhaps the devil through evil men) comes against His people, He feels jealousy for them.

Why is Nineveh the focus of God’s attention?  It is because someone has come from there plotting evil against God (v.12) and against His people (v.15).   God has watched this over a period of time (v.3a) but will now rise up against this place.  Nahum describes God’s activity in terms of power, the power seen in nature that cannot be withstood (v.3-6, esp. v.6a).   This will result in the bringing down of Nineveh (v.10).

But, in the midst of this comes an amazing word of reassurance – God cares for those who trust in Him (v.7).   He is a refuge for them in the midst of all this.  There IS a refuge in the midst of chaos!

D. Application:

1. In a world being judged, God is still our refuge.
2. For God to be our refuge we must trust Him.

Passage: Nahum 1:12-15

12 This is what the Lord says:

‘Although they have allies and are numerous,
    they will be destroyed and pass away.
Although I have afflicted you, Judah,
    I will afflict you no more.
13 Now I will break their yoke from your neck
    and tear your shackles away.’

14 The Lord has given a command concerning you, Nineveh:
    ‘You will have no descendants to bear your name.
I will destroy the images and idols
    that are in the temple of your gods.
I will prepare your grave,
    for you are vile.’

15 Look, there on the mountains,
    the feet of one who brings good news,
    who proclaims peace!
Celebrate your festivals, Judah,
    and fulfil your vows.
No more will the wicked invade you;
    they will be completely destroyed.

A. Find Out:    

1. What does the Lord say about Nineveh? v.12a
2. What does He say about Judah? v.12b,13
3. What does He then say about Nineveh ‘s future? v.14a,b
4. What does He say He will do specifically? v.14c,d
5. Who is coming? v.15a
6. What does He say to do and why? v.15b-

B. Think:

1. How has the Lord apparently used Assyria and Nineveh?
2. How was He now saying “Enough!”?
3. Look back over the chapter.   How has it developed?

C. Comment:

So far this chapter has been a song of revelation about the Lord (v.2-7) and about His plains to foil the wickedness of Nineveh (v.8-11).   Now it becomes a specific word from the Lord (v.12a) which speaks about the end of their oppression against Judah.

Nineveh feels strong because it has plenty of allies who will support it, but the Lord says they will soon be gone (v.12). It seems that the Lord has used Assyria to chastise Judah (Israel) but that is about to come to an end.

Then it returns to a general word against Nineveh (v.14 on). God has given a command, a decree has been issued from heaven, which cannot be thwarted, that Nineveh ‘s end has come.  There will no descendants, no future.  All of their idol worship is coming to an end for God has decreed the death of Nineveh for its evil.

So, He says to Judah, look, there on the mountains is coming a messenger who is bringing the good news to you of the downfall of Nineveh and your release from their oppression.  Peace is coming, so you can celebrate your festivals again.  No more will they come against you, it’s over!

In these few verses history is encapsulated: God has used an evil nation to chastise Israel , but now He has decreed its end.

D. Application:

1. Do we understand that God is sovereign over history? Worship Him!
2. Hard times come, but their time is limited. Be patient.