Lesson 18 The Prophet Nahum

Nahum Before we continue with Josiah we need to consider the Prophet Nahum The exact date of Nahum is not known He mentions the destruction of Thebes That took place around 663 B.C. The fall of Nineveh was in 612 B.C. The book can possibly be dated between 640 and 620 B.C.

Nahum Nahum cries out – “Nineveh is fallen” Judah is joyful over the message of Nahum This gave Judah assurance that God is just He is avenging the wickedness of Assyria The book can be outlined as follows: Chap 1 Gods righteous anger & fall of Nineveh Chapter 2 The destruction that is to come Chapter 3 The guilt of the City of Nineveh

Nahum Chapter 1 The two-fold nature of God The goodness and severity of God Rom. 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. God never lets His enemies go unpunished God is a jealous and avenging God

Nahum Chapter 1 The Lord is slow to wrath, but judgment will surely come v3The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. God is all-powerful, and all knowing He is the same yesterday and today and forever

Nahum Chapter 1 v 4He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. 5The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. 6Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

Nahum Chapter 1 7The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. 8But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies. Assyria’s history was one of rebellion to God He WILL cut them down

Nahum Chapter 1 God used Assyria to punish Judah for her wickedness, but now it is time for Him to punish Assyria because of their wickedness It will be so severe that Assyria’s descendants will not bear her name v13For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder. 14And the LORD hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.

Nahum Chapter 1 Look Judah There comes one over the mountains He is bringing good news about the fall of Nineveh Gather together and celebrate your feast Your enemy is defeated We should celebrate today when the devil is defeated and a child returns to God or one is baptized into Christ

Nahum chapter 2 “O Nineveh,” guard your fortress Watch the road Brace yourselves Make yourselves strong for destruction is coming His soldiers shields are red His warriors are clad in scarlet The chariots metal will flash on the day they are made ready

Nahum Chapter 2 The chariots will storm through the streets going back and forth They look like flaming torches and dart about like lightning Destruction is everywhere The people of Nineveh cry, “Stop! Stop!” There will be non to listen They will plunder their silver and gold

Nahum Chapter 2 The city will be pillaged, plundered, stripped Hearts will melt, knees will give way, bodies will tremble, and faces grow pale Where now is thy cruelty Assyria? You were the lion who devoured others and now you are the prey The Lord says, “I am against you, O Nineveh!” The voice of thy messengers shall not be heard

Nahum chapter 3 Punishment was deserved from God Woe to the bloody city! It is full of lies and robbery There will be many casualties Bodies everywhere v3The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses:

Nahum chapter 3 God is going to strip her naked and let all the nations see her filthiness v5 All will flee when they see her shame v7 No one will defend her This is what Nineveh deserves Are you better than Thebes? It had been cruelly destroyed by Ashurbanipal

Nahum chapter 3 Your strongholds will be shaken loose like ripe fruit on a tree v12 Your people will be like defenseless women Avoid complete destruction by throwing open your gates and surrender to the enemy Prepare for battle Draw water for a siege v14 Strengthen your defenses Fire will devour you v15

Nahum chapter 3 Gather a large army Even though there are many they will flee in the heat of battle v17 The high officials, captains will all flee All are dead – never to rise again The city will never be rebuilt All who hear of her destruction will clap v19 There will be no pity for all have been harassed by wicked Assyria

We now return to Josiah in the 18 th year of his reign 2K 22:3-7; 2Chr 34:8-13 After cleansing the temple and removing idols he sent men to repair the house of Jehovah Josiah sent men to Hilkiah the priest and took the money which had been collected, and delivered it to the workmen The workers did their work faithfully Many from Manasseh, Ephraim had given money for the temple came to worship

Book of the Law found 2K 22:8-13; 2 Chr 34:14-21 When Hilkiah went to carry the money out of the House of God, he found…. The book of the law of Jehovah, given by Moses, and placed in the house of the Lord This is what we call the Pentateuch, that is Genesis through Deuteronomy The two tables of stone were the only things in the ark of the covenant, in the days of Solomon 1 K 8:9

Book of the Law found Deut 31:24And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, 25That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying, 26Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee. 27For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?

Book of the Law found 2K 22:8-13; 2 Chr 34:14-21 Shaphan took the scroll with him and went to the king to report the progress of the repair work on the temple. 2 Chr 34:16 He reported the work done by the workers Hilkiah the priest has given me a book he found.v18 Shaphan opened it and began to read Josiah must have never heard this before v19 We are not told what passage was read

Book of the Law found 2K 22:8-13; 2 Chr 34:14-21 We are told when Josiah heard the words of the law, he rent his clothes in distress He heard of the consequences that were told would happen if they did not obey Josiah wanted to know from Jehovah if the wrath of Jehovah was about to be poured out on the people because of their fathers not keeping the law? v21

Book of the Law found 2K 22:8-13; 2 Chr 34:14-21 He sent to Huldah, a prophetess who was living in the lower city of Jerusalem, to ask if the thing Josiah was concerned about was going to happen. v22 She said, “Jehovah is going to bring calamity upon this place, and upon the people, even all the curses that are written which have been read before the king”v24 I will do this because they have forsaken me and burned incense unto other gods v25 Deut. 28:15-25 lets look at these curses from Moses

Book of the Law found 2K 22:8-13; 2 Chr 34:14-21 Go tell the king that because he humbled himself before God, rent your clothes and wept before Him, you will go to your grave in peace. v27 Your eyes will not see all the calamity which I will bring upon this place and upon the inhabitantsv28 Josiah was more determined to worship Jehovah and try to turn the hearts of the people back to Him.v30