We are back in Nineveh, the chief city of Assyria. They had been warned once, by Jonah, and had avoided destruction because they repented. Nahum’s graphic prophecies, about 140 years later, described as a ‘burden’, revisit a city returned to its old ways. They were an empire known for horrific torture – removing ears and noses of their prisoners, child sacrifice, and genocide, reflected in Nahum’s words, ‘Woe to the city of blood, full of lies, full of plunder, never without victims!’ (Nahum 3:1). In his brief prophecy Nineveh takes the role of personifying evil. And God assures us that evil will be destroyed. Evil entered this world in Eden, with the first Adam, and has been an ever-present influence on humanity since then. It was there at Jesus’s birth, guiding the activities of Herod. It was there in the wilderness for 40 days and nights, attempting and failing to destroy God’s plans to rescue His people. It was defeated on the cross when that plan was secured ‘once for all’ (Romans 6:10) by Christ, the second Adam. 

In the same way that Nineveh was not given another chance – evil will not be given another chance. When the Babylonians, with the Medes, Persians and others,  attacked Nineveh it was obliterated, and that is the future of evil. Nahum predicted its downfall in great detail, even to the specifics of the river swollen by rains breaking down a defensive wall. (Nahum 1:8).     

Israel and Judah had both suffered under the cruelty of this empire and the other message of Nahum is that God had not forgotten them. Here God is telling them that their punishment is over – ‘Assyria’ is destroyed and they are free to worship their God as he desires: ‘Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed.’ (Nahum 1:15). Nahum brings good news for Judah. And the peace that is promised to these two nations is extended to all through the encompassing sacrifice of God’s Son. 

Peace, as understood by this world, is a cessation of war – and we know from experience it will be temporary. It apparently takes any population just two generations to forget the absolute horror of war and be prepared then to go into that theatre all over again. No wonder the Bible warns that the ambassadors of peace will weep (Isaiah 33:7). In the long term there is nothing to celebrate. Judah was promised peace and the comfort it brings, but history tells us that they failed in returning the love that God extended to them. The promises of a peace that is permanent is for the people that Judah represents in Nahum. It is promised in the gospel through Jesus to anyone who accepts him as Saviour – his are the feet on the mountain, bringing ‘good news’, proclaiming ‘peace’.

Local congregation:
GCI Market Harborough
9 The Point
Rockingham Road
Market Harborough 
LE16 7QU

Meeting time:
Sunday 4.00 pm

Local congregational contact:
Sinead Henderson 

Email: sinead.henderson@gracecom.church

Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church