The prophet Nahum’s message, which we turn to today came about a century after Jonah preached to Nineveh and saw the people repent. This time the Ninevites would not repent and they and their nation, the Assyrians, would fall. God had used the Assyrians to judge Israel, the northern Kingdom in 722 BC. Now, in the early 600’s BC, the Assyrians would fall to the Babylonians. As we have seen throughout the prophetic writings, the LORD used pagan nations to judge Israel and Judah and one another. After all, He is the LORD of history.
Nahum 1 tells Nineveh she will fall. We are reminded the LORD is slow to bring forth judgment, and righteous in His acts, but He will not avoid judging those who do evil, who worship idols. The idols will be broken, and the people will be brought to account. The end of chapter one tells Jacob they will rejoice at the good news. The good news for them is the judgment of the Assyrians, personified by Nineveh.
Nahum 2 continues with more words of judgment for Nineveh, and more words of comfort for Judah. It might be hard for us to see how the destruction of a city and a nation are “good news” for another, but we can all think of societies throughout history that needed to be stopped, and the world was better off when they were. Thus, the LORD calls Nineveh to account, and the people of Judah would rejoice.
Nahum 3 concludes with a final pronouncement of judgment against Nineveh and Assyria. The LORD compares the nation to a prostitute, and “she” will be humiliated in her destruction. She will be like Egypt who suffered the same fate. She will be destroyed and scattered. The LORD’s concern goes far beyond the people of Israel and Judah. He concerns Himself with all people. We see that in its fullness when Jesus comes to the earth. While He carried out His entire ministry in Israel, His death on the cross was for the entire world, and His redemption is available to every person who will receive it.
As we return to John 4, we revisit Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well. She had been married five times and was living with a man who wasn’t her husband, a life far beyond scandalous in those days. She belonged to the hated (by the Jews) nation of Samaria, yet Jesus received her, asked for her help, and ultimately offered her and the people of her village redemption. This shows us the truth of the final statement in the concluding summary of Nahum. Jesus’ love is for the people of every nation. His death paid the penalty for every human sin. His redemption is available to every person who will trust Him personally as the Messiah and receive the new life He came to give!