Where was Ninevah? This was the laugh of the Biblical critics - Ninevah was so destroyed, it was not uncovered until the 1980s. Today Ninevah is known as Mosul, Iraq.
Today Iraq sells off ruins to be used as military posts.
Nahum 1
1 An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.
2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
the Lord is avenging and wrathful;
the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries
and keeps wrath for his enemies.
3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,
and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.
His way is in whirlwind and storm,
and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
4 He rebukes the sea and makes it dry;
he dries up all the rivers;
Bashan and Carmel wither;
the bloom of Lebanon withers.
5 The mountains quake before him;
the hills melt;
the earth heaves before him,
the world and all who dwell in it.
6 Who can stand before his indignation?
Who can endure the heat of his anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire,
and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.
7 The Lord is good,
a stronghold in the day of trouble;
he knows those who take refuge in him.
8 But with an overflowing flood
he will make a complete end of the adversaries,
and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
9 What do you plot against the Lord?
He will make a complete end;
trouble will not rise up a second time.
10 For they are like entangled thorns,
like drunkards as they drink;
they are consumed like stubble fully dried.
11 From you came one
who plotted evil against the Lord,
a worthless counselor.
12 Thus says the Lord,
“Though they are at full strength and many,
they will be cut down and pass away.
Though I have afflicted you,
I will afflict you no more.
13 And now I will break his yoke from off you
and will burst your bonds apart.”
14 The Lord has given commandment about you:
“No more shall your name be perpetuated;
from the house of your gods I will cut off
the carved image and the metal image.
I will make your grave, for you are vile.”
15 Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him
who brings good news,
who publishes peace!
Keep your feasts, O Judah;
fulfill your vows,
for never again shall the worthless pass through you;
he is utterly cut off.
Where was Ninevah? This was the laugh of the Biblical critics - Ninevah was so destroyed, it was not uncovered until the 1980s. Today Ninevah is known as Mosul, Iraq.
Well - we encounter the wrathful God of the Old Testament. And perhaps this is a good day to point out to those who don't like the Word of God - um. He tends to be right.
The Authority of God is in all of His Word.
The Attributes of God are many. And as we read we learn about Father God in our lives.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
And now Nahum - Nahum prophesied at the beginning of the reign of Ahaz (740s BC). Others, however, think that his prophecies are to be referred to the latter half of the reign of Hezekiah (8th century BC).
Nahum could tell about Scripture because Nahum understood the Word of God Jesus proclaims.
Luke 4
36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives."
Man lives by every Word of Scripture. We need to do like James, the Brother of Christ proclaims to have wisdom to apply the Word of God to our lives.
I don't know a lot about the minor Prophets, but let me tell you, I am thrilled with this verse. Love it and hold on to this - Let's start with the explanation and go with the complete zinger.
7 The Lord is good,
a stronghold in the day of trouble;
he knows those who take refuge in him.
8 But with an overflowing flood
he will make a complete end of the adversaries,
and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
This explains Trouble in the World - the Lord overcomes and the DAY OF THE LORD -
9 What do you plot against the Lord?
He will make a complete end;
trouble will not rise up a second time.
There are times the Lord utterly removes the ability to rise up against Him. The season if over. The time is complete.
Some Trouble shines a Light to send more help.
And then you get Nahum 1 ~ The Ships of Tarshish - are gone. Tyre is gone. Nineveh - gone. Sodom and Gomorrah - Bitumen - and gone for ever. Try to find Bethsaida Julias; 2 Bethsaida of Galilee; 3 Were there two Bethsaidas? Archaeology is still wondering.
Chorazin - located up the hill from Capernaum. Maybe. Was ripped apart. Why? Well, rich fields caused the armies to destroy Chorazin for the food supplies. And the archaeology? Practically non-existent. The culture there was seen to be pagan and have disagreements.
When God helps...
Romans 5:4 perseverance, character; and character, hope
Capernaum. Jesus' adult hometown - archaeology is rich and flowing showing the city of Jesus prospered even during war. Sheltered from harm - needed for the rich fields and fishing. Going without harm to make first rate archaeological finds of Peter's house and the Synagogue. Beautiful. Continuing on until 600 A.D. and again until 1100. A bounty of the goodness of a land flowing with milk and honey - beginning ? About the time of Jesus.
The Hittite Empire? Was also a joke, completely missing the Empire, the whole Empire, before the Hittite Library echoed the battles shown where - The Word of the Lord.
Now you might wonder, if they repented???? Abraham begged the Lord eyeball to eyeball for mercy. God was merciful. After all Assyria never invaded? (Yes, its a miracle because Hezekiah quit paying the puppet/tribute to the Assyrian Empire.) Evidently the LORD saw...
Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him
who brings good news,
who publishes peace!
Keep your feasts, O Judah;
fulfill your vows,
for never again shall the worthless pass through you;
he is utterly cut off.
And when our Strength is from the Lord God Almighty - we rest in Him and rise up.
Seasons arrive and depart. The steadfastness of mankind, even in the Life of Jesus Christ has expands and narrows. We have to Trust Abba in Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 49:25
Surely, thus says the LORD, "Even the captives of the mighty man will be taken away, And the prey of the tyrant will be rescued; For I will contend with the one who contends with you, And I will save your sons."
We put our hopes on God.
1 Samuel 30:6
Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
Israel exists 2,000 years later. Jesus rises from the Victory of Death to Live. He goes to prepare us a place.
Peter explains.
John 6:68
Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
Jesus explains this:
John 12:50
"And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say."
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.
Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Father God,
God did not fly the Children of Israel to the Promised Land. He provided a way for them every day to Trust God some more.
Help us each day to rely upon You, Abba and in the Name of Jesus for ourselves and the ones we Love. Covering them with the Name of Jesus, to provide His Way, Truth and Life.
We will look to Life in the Light of Jesus for these cares. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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