Sing
Nahum
© Carolyn Randall
Can be sung to the tune:
"London Bridge is Falling Down"
Nahum saw Nineveh destroyed,
flooded out, and made void,
Judah's splendors be restored,
Hope from the LORD.
click to enlarge
Teach
Nahum saw Nineveh destroyed: How did he see this?
Nahum saw what God was going to do in a vision God gave him.
Flooded out, and made void: What happened to Nineveh?
Remember when Jonah went to Nineveh and said God would destroy the city in three days if they did not turn from their sin? They listened to Jonah and turned for just a short time. This is about 140 years later and Jonah sees in his vision Nineveh being flooded and completely gone. Made void means the city is completely gone. It was taken over by the Babylonians.
Judah’s splendors be restored: What does this mean?
He also sees in his vision the nation of Judah being made beautiful again.
Hope from the Lord. How does this book bring hope from the Lord?
God cares about how people are treated and he will bring justice on evil. Nahum 1:7 says,
“The Lord is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him.”
Preparing: This gave God’s people comfort and hope during a very hard time, that God was just and would soon deal with the ruthless, (very, very terrible) Assyrians.
Pictures: In Jonah we saw the picture of God’s grace and compassion toward the people of Nineveh. Here we see that though the Lord is slow to anger, He is a just judge. He will not leave the guilty unpunished. We are all guilty of sin and that is why God provided the Savior who took the just wrath against sin on Himself. He cares for those who trust in Him.