 Woe to the bloody city,
all full of lies and plunder-- no end to the prey! 2 The crack of the whip, and rumble of the wheel, galloping horse and bounding chariot! 3 Horsemen charging, flashing sword and glittering spear, hosts of slain, heaps of corpses, dead bodies without end-- they stumble over the bodies! 4 And all for the countless whorings of the prostitute, graceful and of deadly charms, who betrays nations with her whorings, and peoples with her charms. 5 Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts, and will lift up your skirts over your face; and I will make nations look at your nakedness and kingdoms at your shame. 6 I will throw filth at you and treat you with contempt and make you a spectacle. 7 And all who look at you will shrink from you and say, “Wasted is Nineveh; who will grieve for her?” Where shall I seek comforters for you? 8 Are you better than Thebes that sat by the Nile, with water around her, her rampart a sea, and water her wall? 9 Cush was her strength; Egypt too, and that without limit; Put and the Libyans were her[b] helpers. 10 Yet she became an exile; she went into captivity; her infants were dashed in pieces at the head of every street; for her honored men lots were cast, and all her great men were bound in chains. 11 You also will be drunken; you will go into hiding; you will seek a refuge from the enemy. 12 All your fortresses are like fig trees with first-ripe figs-- if shaken they fall into the mouth of the eater. 13 Behold, your troops are women in your midst. The gates of your land are wide open to your enemies; fire has devoured your bars. 14 Draw water for the siege; strengthen your forts; go into the clay; tread the mortar; take hold of the brick mold! 15 There will the fire devour you; the sword will cut you off. It will devour you like the locust. Multiply yourselves like the locust; multiply like the grasshopper! 16 You increased your merchants more than the stars of the heavens. The locust spreads its wings and flies away. 17 Your princes are like grasshoppers, your scribes[c] like clouds of locusts settling on the fences in a day of cold-- when the sun rises, they fly away; no one knows where they are. 18 Your shepherds are asleep, O king of Assyria; your nobles slumber. Your people are scattered on the mountains with none to gather them. 19 There is no easing your hurt; your wound is grievous. All who hear the news about you clap their hands over you. For upon whom has not come your unceasing evil? Meditation Christians can rejoice in times of testing and trial because we know we are being refined to reflect the character of our Savior (1 Peter 1:6-7). Our struggles are not the end of the story so we are free to rejoice in persecution and problems (Matthew 5:12). On the one hand we know God’s love secures us eternally. On the other hand, we trust God will eliminate His enemies and eventually all evil. This truth should give us concrete confidence and strength to persevere. The book of Nahum focuses on the Lord’s sovereignty over, and punishment of, the evil empire of Assyria. Assyria oppressed, exploited, and abused people to build power. Conquering Israel before violently carrying them into exile (722BC). The prophet promises God is a stronghold for all who trust in Him (Nahum 1). Nahum ends with Divine taunting and warning from God that mocks the perceived power of Assyria, exposing empty claims and shallow accomplishments. God will undo the pride of the empire, a woe of warning to “bloody cities full of lies and plunder” (1-7). God taunts Assyria historically (8-11), militarily (12-15), economically (15-17), and governmentally (18-19). God’s woe of warning is holistic. God’s enemies must be warned- Evil’s time of prosperity is short lived. God’s justice will prevail! And God’s people should hope. The struggles from problems and persecutions are refining us to reflect our Savior. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you about the wholistic woes and warnings God gives Assyria through Nahum? -How does God’s promised demise and destruction of evil empires offer power to persevere persecution and problems coming from their perceived success? -Jesus promises rewards eternally to those who endure persecution. He will return in glory, remove His enemies, and restore God’s glory! How does this truth fuel hope and faithfulness in your life and labor? Key Verse 18 Your shepherds are asleep, O king of Assyria, your nobles slumber. Your people are scattered on the mountains with none to gather them. Comments are closed.
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