Thank you for listening to Servants for Christ. In all that we do, in all that we say, we want to give glory and honor to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for tuning us in as we get into the wonderful Word of God. For the next few minutes, let's take the beautiful Word of God and share it with each and every one of you as we have a sense of anticipation to take the Word of God and to listen to its truth for each and every one. Amen, thank you for tuning in to my Wednesday in the Word. As we continue on in our Bible study, here is we start up in the book of Nahum. Around 713 B.C. is the time frame. And it seems that there was the burden of Nineveh and the book of the vision of Nahum, the Elkoshite. Now, Nahum was from the village of Capernaum, which means the village of Nahum. And so, we know that the book of Jonah records the repentance of Nineveh, while Nahum predicts its destruction. And so, Nahum prophesied about 100 years after Jonah, with the city being destroyed about 100 years after that. Now, we know that Nahum was a contemporary of Isaiah and Hezekiah. And so the burden of Nineveh concerns the weight of the message that the Lord had laid on the prophet's heart. And I wanna call the name of chapter one of Nahum, verses one through 15, Nineveh's fate foretold. Nineveh's fate foretold. And I'm glad that when we look at the word of God, as we read it, as we go forward in just a moment, as we open up with an introduction, Nineveh's had a dominance in the Western Asia. It was the capital and culture center for over 200 years, Nineveh. was a cultural leader of Western Asia, influencing fashion, art, and religion. It had a strategic location. It was located on the eastern bank of the Tigris opposite the modern-day Mosul. And so, It had fortifications. The city was heavily fortified with walls, towers, moats, and forts known for their impressive size and strength. But Nineveh, Oso, we see the city was a symbol of tyranny, with its inhabitants feared and hated for all of their brutal ways of conquest. Nineveh's troops committed atrocities such as killing children, enslaving kings, and stealing gods from other nations. And so, the new threat was the Scythians, a nomadic people, they had a new threat with their speed and military tactics. And their invasion indicated of a swift shift in power, giving hope to all of the other oppressed nations that were around. Everybody wanted to see Nineveh fall. The Medes and the Scythians, probably around 625 BC, the Medes and later the Scythians began to defeat Nineveh's fortresses. And so Nineveh ultimately fell in 612 BC, leading to a widespread relief and much rejoicing. And so the Assyrian rulers like Shamaneser III, Tilgrapeser III, Sargon II, Sennacherib, and Ashurbanipal played significant roles in the biblical events depicted as brutal conquerors. Nahum's prophecy reflected the universal desire of Assyria's downfall due to its cruelty. And so we see Nahum's prophecy. Nahum, his name meaning comforter, predicted Nineveh's destruction, offering hope to those oppressed by Assyria. And so, Nahum is called the Elkelshite with various origins because his message declared the complete annihilation of Nineveh, which was fulfilled as the city vanished from history. And so as we get on with our introduction and we see that the symbol of tyranny, Nineveh's fall marked the end of an era of oppression and Nahum's predictions were so accurate that Nineveh disappeared completely unlike any other ancient city that continued under new rulers. And so the story of Nineveh serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of tyranny and the certainty of divine justice as foretold by the prophet Nahum. Here we see Nahum's prophecies of judgment and peace that it brings on. And so, Sennacherib was a representation of Satan or a similar ruler that symbolizes Satan due to his deliberate plotting of evil and leading others into wickedness. And the ruler's actions reflect a nature that is opposed to God and akin to Satan's character. And so here we see that there's going to be a promise of judgment. that will be coming this way. And so, let's get started in Nineveh's fate foretold in Nahum chapter one, verses one through 15. We'll be reading the scripture as we go forward, but before we do anything else, let's open up with a mighty word of prayer. Father, we come before you to take your word, Lord, Father, we know that we can preach a better sermon with our life than with our lips, but grant us wisdom and understanding as we explore the message that you've conveyed through your prophet Nahum. Open our hearts to receive your truth and may it transform our lives. And Lord, I pray, may we always preach, not ourselves, but Christ Jesus, the Lord, and ourselves, your servants, for Jesus' sake, amen. You know, far too often, when we think of the Assyrian city of Nineveh, most likely, we think of the prophet Jonah. But there is another prophet, his prophecy centered on the city of Nineveh, Nahum. Nineveh was the capital city of the most powerful Assyrian empire in the world. Nahum's prophecy came at the height of the Assyrians' power, and they were well known for their violent, ruthless, barbaric treatment of other nations that they captured. Nineveh had repented under Jonas preaching 100 years earlier, but by now they had relapsed into their former sin and wickedness. They had already taken captive the northern kingdom of Israel, and now they were threatening the southern kingdom of Israel Judah. Now, you know what? When we look and realize that is a God of love also capable of expressing wrath? Nineveh was proud, wicked. It was situated on the Tidrus River, absolutely impenetrable with its walls, its fortress, and yet Nahum is talking about the wrath of God coming. We know that God is a God of love because of 1 John 4, 8 declares that God is love, but is God also a God of wrath? If so, who does God pour out His wrath on? Why doesn't He pour out wrath immediately on sinners? How can His wrath be avoided? Well, God's wrath is promised against his enemies is what we're first of all gonna be talking about because Nahum begins by saying the burden of Nineveh. And the word burden in the Bible usually introduces a threat of divine judgment. Nahum wastes no time in introducing God as a God of vengeance. And so I'm glad that when we look and start out reading in the word of God, Far too often when people discuss God, they ignore His justice and judgment and emphasize only His love. This is dangerous, for God's nature is both loving and it is just. But God's justice and judgment are based upon His love. And it's God's love for all who truly believe in and trust Him that arouses His righteousness, judgment to strike out against those who mistreat His followers. God loves His holy name. and all that his name stands for, love, joy, peace, righteousness, but God will execute vengeance on all who reject, all who ignore, all who neglect, and all that curse his holy name. It is definitely gonna happen. And so, we see that through God's righteous vengeance, in the ancient world, people known as The Assyrians set out to build the greatest empire ever known to the human race, conquering one nation after another, and the Assyrians achieved their ambition. And so Nineveh, that magnificent capital of Assyria, ruled the world during this time. However, they ruled and they controlled the nations with an iron fist of terror. They were vicious. They were bloodthirsty people. And some 100 years earlier, the Lord had shown mercy to Nineveh as the Assyrian people by sending the prophet Jonah to warn them. And the Assyrians repented under Jonah's preaching. Their commitment to the Lord was short-lived because the people had returned to the cesspool of sin, giving themselves over to all the forms of wickedness and immoral, lawless, and violent behavior. God was now left with no choice. The Assyrians had gone too far. with their behavior far beyond the point of ever repenting. God sent his prophet Nahum to pronounce his righteous vengeance on the cruel, cold-hearted Assyrians. And this here Bible study tells us about the vengeance that will be applied to all people of all generations because you know I was reading about a man who was waiting for his garden to bloom despite the harsh weather and sun and had embodying hope and trust in the process. And it mirrors God's patience with humanity because it offers us grace and mercy while we're waiting on repentance. One of the first things that we see in verses one, two, and three is that we see God's patience. We see God's patience because it starts out in the King James of Nahum chapter one, verse one, the burden of Nineveh. the book of the vision of Nahum, the Elkloshite. Now, when we see this, we see the account of a vision seen by Nahum. He goes on, he tells us in verse 2, God is jealous and the Lord revenges, the Lord revenges and is furious The Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries and reserveth wrath for his enemies. He goes on in verse three. The 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. What is he saying? The Lord does not easily become angry, but he's powerful. He never lets the guilty go unpunished and where the Lord walks Storms arise and the clouds are the dust raised by his feet and so We see the proclamation of Nahum's ruin. The contrast between Jonah and Nahum, Jonah had a revival. Jonah preached revival to a repentant Nineveh, but Nahum had ruin. Nahum proclaimed ruin for Nineveh was at the height of its power. And Nineveh's out overreach and God's anger because the instrument of judgment, Nineveh, had been used by God to punish Samaria. In God's fury, we see the excessive cruelty provoke God's wrath in Nahum 1, 2. And out of the Assyrian atrocities, the deportation and cruelty, the Assyrians deported the entire populations, invaded Judah, committed numerous atrocities, and they captured fortified cities, and they spread terror across Hezekiah's land. And so the Assyrians defiled God's land and despised his name and God's promise to curse those who harm Abraham's descendants in Nahum chapter 1 verse 2. We see the Assyrians mocked Judah's God and compared him to powerless idols in Isaiah 36 7 and Isaiah 36 verses 18, 19 and 20. God's judgment fell on the Assyrians for their blasphemy, according to Isaiah 37, verses 21 through 37. God has reserved wrath, and so the Lord reserves wrath for his enemies, similar to the future judgments prophesied against other nations like Russia in Ezekiel 38, 18. and God's patience is often misunderstood as indifferent, but he will not acquit the wicked. In other words, he will not let the wicked get away with what they're doing. God's time indifference from human perception as shown in his promise to Abraham in Genesis chapter 15. But wicked nations mistake God's patience for indifference. But ultimate justice is going to be certain. And so Nahum's message highlights the certainty of divine justice and the consequences of arrogance. against God's chosen people. His prophecy assures that God's patience has limits and his judgment is ininvitable for the unrepentant. And so we see God's patience in verses one, two, and three. But also picking up in the last part of verse three, Going down to verse five, we see God's power. God's power, because he says, continuing on in verse three, where we pick up in the middle, the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He goes on, he says, he rebuketh the sea, maketh it dry, and dry up all the rivers by shine like wished, and Carmel and the flower of Lebanon like wished. And so, I'm glad he goes on in verse five, the mountains quake at him and the hills melt and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world and all that dwell therein. And so the hills melt before him, he said, the earth shakes when the Lord appears and the world and all of its people tremble. You know what? We see the natural disasters as reminders of God's power even today. The thundering tornadoes with the force that demonstrates God's might. The angry storms that showcase the overwhelming power of nature under God's control. The terrifying earthquakes that serve as a reminder of Earth's instability and God's supremacy. The erupting volcanoes that illustrate the raw power of creation and God's sovereignty. The drought and desolation where the rivers dry up highlights God's control over the water and the vital resources. The fertile lands wilting like Bashan, Carmel, and Lebanon suffering drought reflecting God's power to bless or curse the land. And so the significance of Bashan and Carmel and Lebanon. They're the renowned of fertility in all the places. These regions were known for the abundant produce and fertility. But when we look at the boundaries of the geographical areas marked in the eastern, western, and northern boundaries of the promised land in the Old Testament times, We see how human limitations come on because the nations have vulnerability. Even the mightiest nations are powerless against the forces of nature. And nature consistently reminds humanity of its limitations and God's limitless power. And so Nahum's contemplation of the natural disasters and the desolate of fertile lands serves as a powerful reminder of God's omnipotence and the forces of nature under God's control. Humble, even the strongest nations affirm of the truth that no power can stand against the might of the Almighty. And so God's power is unmatched, controlling nature itself. His ability to command creation demonstrates His sovereignty and authority over all things. And so verses one, two, and three, we see God's patience. And verses 3 down to 5, we see God's power. But in verses 6, 7, and 8, we see God's presence because it tells us in verse 6, who 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. In verse seven, the Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and he knoweth them that trust in him. He goes on in verse eight, but with an overrunning flood, he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies. He says, like a great rushing flood, he will completely destroy his enemies, and he'll send them to their death, those that oppose him. We see the devastation of Assyria, their relentless force spreading death and destruction throughout the land. But here Nahum likened Assyria's invasion to a flooding river, overwhelming everything in its path. we see the sudden destruction of Sennacherib's armies. Nahum prophesied the sudden downfall of Sennacherib's armies. And he predicted Sennacherib's death in the house of his God in Isaiah 37, 38. And then Nahum foresaw Nineveh's complete destruction by flood, not by siege or famine, but by the overflowing flood that we see in verse eight. And so the river that once protected Nineveh would become the means of its defeat. God uses various means to execute His judgment, demonstrating His power over the nations, as He did in Ezekiel 38, verses 19 through 22. And so God possesses numerous weapons and strategies to bring about His judgments on the wicked. And like Nineveh, nations that provoke God's wrath will face His divisive and overwhelming response. And so, Nahum's prophecies vividly illustrate God's power to bring down the proud and the mighty, and the imagery of the flooding river symbolizing the swift and complete destruction that awaits those who defy God's sovereignty. Nahum's words serve as a warning to all nations that God's judgment is certain and His justice exonerable. And so, God's presence is both a refuge for those who trust Him and a consuming fire for His enemies, and He's a stronghold in times of trouble, providing comfort and protection to the faithful. And so, in verses 1 through 3a, we see God's patience. In 3B through verse 5, we see God's power. In verse 6 through verse 8, down to verse 8, we see God's presence. But last and closing, or getting close to it, we've got one more point after that, is we see God's plan. because he tells us in verse nine that he says, what do you imagine against the Lord? He will make an utter end. Affliction shall not arise up the second time. He says, what you're plotting against the Lord, he's gonna destroy you and no one will oppose him more than once. But he goes on in verse 10, he says, for while they be folding together as thorns and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry. What does he mean by that? Like tangled thorns and dry straw, you drunkards will be burned up is what he's saying. And he says in verse 11, there's one outcome of thee that imagineth evil against the Lord, a wicked counselor. He says, From you, Nineveh, there came someone full of wicked schemes who plotted against the Lord. But he goes on in verse 12 and he says unto King James, thus says the Lord, though they be quiet and likewise many yet, thus shall they be cut down when he shall pass through though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more. He's telling us in verse 12, the Lord says to his people Israel, even though that the Assyrians are strong, even though they're numerous, they will be destroyed. They will totally disappear. And he says, my people, I made you suffer, but I will not do it again. And then he says in verse 13, And the King James, for now will I break his yoke from off thee and will burst thy bonds in sunder. You know what he's saying, I'm going to end Assyrian's power over you and I'm going to break the chains that bind you all this time up until now. And he goes on in verse 14 of the King James and he said, and 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, and I will make thy grave for thou art vile." He's telling them that the Lord has decreed this about the Assyrians, that they will have no descendants to carry on their name. And I'm going to destroy the idols that are in the temples of their gods, and I'm preparing a grave for every last Assyrian, and they don't deserve to even live, is what he's saying. And he says, finally, on down, As we look and realize that he's talking about here that he's telling us he says here that Nahum declared that God's patience with Nineveh has reached its limit due to their horrendous atrocities and Nahum questioned Nineveh's arrogant defiance against the Lord highlighting their imaginations and all of their idolatry and so he's talking about how swift that is going to be. Nahum prophesied that Nineveh's destruction would be complete it would be final and never to rise again. And so, Assyria's invasion, how Nahum describes the invasion of Judah by Sennacherib's armies, mocking the Assyrians as a thorn bush, vulnerable to destruction, in verses 10 and 11. and how the role of Rakshakin, Nahum condemned Rakshakin, a wicked counselor and propagandist, for his blasphemy against God and his people. Also in Isaiah 36 verse 7 and 18 through verse 20, And Nahum recounted God's intervention when he miraculously destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers besieged in Jerusalem in 1-9 in 2 Kings chapter 19 verses 35 and 36. And so, through this, we look and we see God's mercy and restoration because despite the afflictions, Nahum prophesied that God would no longer afflict Judah and would break the Assyrian yoke from them in verses 12 and 13. And then we also see that he's talking about the end that's coming for the tyranny of Assyrians because Nahum proclaimed the downfall of Sennacherib's lineage and the doom of the Assyrians' idols and all of their temples in verse 14. And so, Nahum assured Judah that Assyrian's power over them was coming to a close and an end, offering hope, offering assurance of God's sovereignty. And so, Nahum's prophecies resonate with timeless truth about God's justice and mercy. And they illustrate his patience with the nations and yet also his swift judgment on those who persist in wickedness and arrogance. The story of the Assyrian serves as a powerful reminder that no kingdom or power can stand against the Almighty when he decrees judgment. Nahum's words encourage faith in God's promises and hopeful deliverance from the oppressors and his faithfulness to his people throughout history. God's plan involves the ultimate destruction of evil and the liberation of his people, and he reassures that affliction will not arise again and the enemies will be utterly defeated. And so in verses one through three, God's patience And three through five, God's power. In verses six through eight, God's presence. But then we see God's plan in verses nine through 14. But lastly, in verse 15, thank God we see God's protection. Because as we look at the mighty word of God, he tells us, behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that published peace, O Judah, keep thou solemn feasts, perform thy vows, for the wicked shall no more pass through thee. He is utterly cut off. Here comes the announcement of peace. Nahum's prophecy of peace and restoration is being told in this last verse of 15. He foresaw the messengers proclaiming peace and joy upon the mountains and announcing the downfall of Nineveh and the end of the Assyrian threat. And I'm glad that the news would bring relief and celebration to Judah, signaling the removal of the wicked oppressors and the restoration of the peace. And I'm glad that we see that a revival because Nahum encouraged Judah to resume their solemn feast and vows which had been hindered during the Assyrian occupation and the siege of Jerusalem. And so, King Hezekiah's reforms initially successfully in removing idolatry and restoring true worship faced challenges after his death, nobly under his son Manasseh's reign in 2 Kings chapter 21. But, we see a spiritual renewal and future hope. Because Nahum recognized the dangers of the spiritual complacency during the times of peace and prosperity. And yet he looked forward to a future when wickedness would no longer oppress God's people. Praise his mighty name. And so Nineveh's fate foretold. Nahum's vision extends beyond immediate circumstances to a future era of peace and righteousness, symbolizing the ultimate restoration and fulfillment of a millennial hope. Nahum's prophecy combines the immediate relief for Judah with a broader vision of this renewal and ultimate peace, highlighting the challenges of faith during times of peace and prosperity, and offering hope in God's faithfulness to deliver and restore. God promises peace and protection for each and every one of us. And so God's wrath was promised against his enemy, the burden of Nineveh, amen. And so, We see God's wrath is not immediately poured out on his enemies, amen. Nineveh did not get in its wickedness state overnight. They had been continuing in wickedness for years upon years. Why hadn't God judged them? Where was God's wrath? Why doesn't God judge sin immediately today? Why do wicked nations and wicked people seemingly get away with sin and wickedness? The Lord is slow to anger that he said in verse three. God is patient. He's got a very long fuse. And we should all rejoice in this blessed truth because God has been long suffering with Nineveh. But Nahum announces that wrath is coming and God's wrath comes suddenly on his enemies. But I'm going to tell you, you know, when storms of God's judgment finally break forth, it happens very suddenly and unexpectedly. As hard as man may try, they're like putty in God's hands in a time of wrath. And so I'm telling you, when we look and realize that the very, very river that had protected them on the walls against the armies of Babylon's and all of the other things was the water that God used to destroy this nation. God's wrath can always be avoided by his enemies. Here, this chapter is one of darkness and judgment. But in the mist comes the shining light. I'm glad that when we look and realize what God is wanting to do because We look back at verse seven and he said, the Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble and he knows them who trust in him. I'm glad the Lord is good and a stronghold in the day of trouble. And I'm glad that that was proved by Hezekiah when he took refuge in the Lord and was delivered and the Assyrians were destroyed. I'm glad that he knows them who trust in him. And I'm glad that he's concerned with the delight of us that trust in him and his word. And so I'm glad he says he knows, amen. And I'm glad, ain't that powerful words? I'm glad that he knows those that trust him, those that are in the church, those that are recognized by him, praise God. And so God has provided a way of escape for all of his enemies in the world. Jesus Christ has made a full, complete payment for the sins of mankind. And when a person places their faith and trust in Christ, they're no longer the enemy of God, but they're made at peace with God. And so I'm glad we see that God's wrath is promised against his enemy. Why is this? Because God is just. God's wrath is not immediately poured out on his enemies. Why? Because God is patient. And God's wrath comes suddenly on his enemies. Why? Because God's powerful. And I'm telling you that God's wrath can always be avoided by his enemies. How can that happen? Because God is merciful. And so God is a God who longs for peace. But Nahum declared to Judah that despite Nineveh's vicious power, messengers would come to them and they would declare peace. You know what? Tonight, we have a message of peace for this world. May God find every one of us, declare the message of peace to all individuals across the world. What is it? It's the message of Jesus Christ. I thank God that when we look, God promises peace and protection for all of us, amen. God's message through Nahum reminds us of his patience, his power, his presence, his plan, and his protection. But we must recognize his sovereignty and seek refuge in him, knowing that he is in control and will ultimately bring peace no matter what's happening across the world. because regarding God's vengeance, peace, and freedom of worship, as we look in Nahum, we know that there is a vengeance of God and there's a purpose of vengeance, amen, and there's a source of peace as well, and there's freedom of worship. And I'm glad that Nahum's prophecy finds its fulfillment in the fall of Nineveh in 612 BC. And so, how does Nahum Verse three illustrate God's patience. It shows us that God is slow to anger, giving people time to repent before executing judgment. And what does verse five tell us about God's power? It demonstrates God's control over nature, causing mountains to quake and hills to melt. And what about verse seven? What, when we look at it, How can we find comfort in God's presence? We see in verse seven that God is a stronghold in times of trouble, providing refuge and knowing those who trust in him. Let me read it one more time, if you didn't catch it the first time, when I reiterated what it said in the powerful verse of verse seven. And the Lord is good. a stronghold in the day of trouble and he knows them who trust in him. Don't forget the power that God has because when we look and realize and we see what God is wanting to do in all of our lives, amen. we see right here of what God is wanting to know. None of us' fate is being foretold, amen. And so I'm glad that as we close out, Lord, we thank you for your word and the truth that it reveals. Help us to trust in your patience, your power, your presence, your plan, and your protection. May we seek refuge in you, live in obedience to your will, Heavenly Father. And Lord, as we close out, I pray for your justice and mercy revealed in Nahum's prophecy. Help us to understand your wrath rightly and to share your message of peace with a world that's in need. In Jesus's marvelous mighty name, amen. you