Nahum 2: Judgement and Restoration

​Key Verses
2 For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob as the majesty of Israel, for plunderers have plundered them and ruined their branches.
 
Meditation
God’s sovereign grace will level enemies who stand against Him, raise up the lowly who trust in Him, and restore majesty that will glorify Him.
 
Israel had been decimated by Assyria as “plunderers had plundered them and ruined their branches” (v.2). Yet this flex of strength from the world’s superpower was not the final word. God rules over every power and principality (Colossians 1:16), and His plan will prevail.
 
Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria and Nahum prophesized God’s determination of their devastating judgement. Enemies of God should not get comfortable in their perceived victories. God will come in justice. 
 
In today’s reading, the Lord invites Nineveh to ready their defenses (v. 1) before a torrent of trash talking. The Lord warned Nineveh will lose their security (vv. 3-4), authority (vv. 4-5), sense of order (vv. 6-9), strength (v. 10), and future generations (vv. 11-12). God will trample His enemies under His feet.
 
Historically, God sent Jonah to offer salvation to Ninevites (see Jonah 3) but their repentance didn’t sustain. Covenantally, Jesus came to accept the justice and judgement His enemies deserve so those whose faith is in Him can receive God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness. 
 
The gospel is amazing. From a place of perceived defeat, the prophet promised “The Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob!” (v. 2) In the midst of devastation, how can God make this promise of restoration?!? Through His own faithfulness. God Himself lost His majesty in Christ so the lowly and humble can have majesty restored by trusting in Him for salvation and promised restoration.
 
Today’s Reading
The scatterer has come up against you.
    Man the ramparts;
    watch the road;
dress for battle;
    collect all your strength.
2 For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob
    as the majesty of Israel,
for plunderers have plundered them
    and ruined their branches.
3 The shield of his mighty men is red;
    his soldiers are clothed in scarlet.
The chariots come with flashing metal
    on the day he musters them;
    the cypress spears are brandished.
4 The chariots race madly through the streets;
    they rush to and from through the squares;
they gleam like torches;
    they dart like lightning.
5 He remembers his officers;
    they stumble as they go,
they hasten to the wall;
    the siege tower is set up.
6 The river gates are opened;
    the palace melts away;
7 its mistress is stripped; she is carried off,
    her slave girls lamenting,
moaning like doves
    and beating their breasts.

8 Nineveh is like a pool
    whose waters run away.
“Halt! Halt!” they cry,
    but none turns back.
9 Plunder the silver,
    plunder the gold!
There is no end of the treasure
    or of the wealth of all precious things.
10 Desolate! Desolation and ruin!
    Hearts melt and knees tremble;
anguish is in all loins;
    all faces grow pale!
11 Where is the lions' den,
    the feeding place of the young lions,
where the lion and lioness went,
    where his cubs were, with none to disturb?
12 The lion tore enough for his cubs
    and strangled prey for his lionesses;
he filled his caves with prey
    and his dens with torn flesh.
13 Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall no longer be heard.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you in today’s reading, especially the promise of God’s restoring majesty in the midst of enemy assault?
 
-Where do you struggle to believe God’s sovereignty over evil of the world and enemies of Him and His people?
 
-How does the gospel give you hope and security, strength to trust His love and serve for His glory? Where, specifically, do you need to apply this reality?
 
Key Verses
2 For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob as the majesty of Israel, for plunderers have plundered them and ruined their branches.