The book of Jonah ended well overall. Jonah learned some lessons and Ninevah repented and was saved. Nahum shows us the ultimate fate of Ninevah, which was a much different ending. The opening begins with referring to God as “jealous”, “furious” and that He will “take vengeance on His adversaries.” These are strong and some may call them harsh words that do not align with a loving God. I disagree.
2God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
3The 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. – Nahum 1:2-3 KJV
Consider, God created the heavens. The highest angel lucifer sought to be greater than God and when he was cast out, one third of the angels created by God had followed in his pride and too were cast out. These angels were all living in glory with God and yet they chose to turn against Him. Then, satan proceeded to defile God’s human creation in the Garden of Eden and since then, he has sought to harm and destroy mankind. He continues to seek to “steal, kill and destroy”, petitioning against the saints of God in heaven. The evil triggering God’s wrath has sought the demise of God’s people continuously. Don’t God’s people deserve protection? Don’t they deserve justice?
Think of all the human pain and suffering from creation to now. How could a loving God who cares for His creation that chooses and seeks Him NOT be jealous, furious and seek justice for those who love Him, have been faithful to Him and have been harmed?
God is reverent, perfect and true in His love for His creation, us! The wickedness of Ninevah rose to God in the time of Jonah. It has again risen to God and this time there will not be a warning to repent.
The first chapter goes on to describe the rise of an evil leader.
11There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counseller.
12Thus saith 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.
13For 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 1:11-14 KJV
These verses parallel those prophesied in Revelation. Evil will rise, but like Ninevah, it will ultimately be destroyed in the end by Jesus Christ. God reminds us.
15Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off. – Nahum 1:15 KJV
God tells His people to stay true to His commands and have faith for the wicked will be cut off.
Nahum describes the destruction of Ninevah.
13Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard. – Nahum 2:13 KJV
Ninevah ceased to follow the ways of the Lord to the point of destruction, just like Sodom and Gomorrah. Chapter 3 verses detail the fall of Ninevah, similar to those detailing the fall of Babylon in Revelation.
1Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not; – Nahum 3:1 KJV
Those ruling Ninevah are destroying their own and the prey within Ninevah. That prey was either deceived or scared, but they did not leave. They may have believed the lies of the rulers of the time, or like those living in Germany during the rise of Hitler, they thought the Nazi’s would not come for them. Regardless, they were frozen in their daily lives in Ninevah.
3The 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 3:3 KJV
Swords and spears were used to slay multitudes.
5Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.
6And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock.
7And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee? – Nahum 3:5-7 KJV
Just like Babylon the whore in Revelation.
4And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. – Revelation 18:4 KJV
God destroyed the evil perpetrated in Ninevah and He will likewise destroy Babylon and all who are in her. Abomination and filth will be cast out and those looking upon her will flee. Ninevah was “laid waste”, as will be Babylon.
13Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women: the gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies: the fire shall devour thy bars. – Nahum 3:13 KJV
15There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts. – Nahum 3:15 KJV
17Thy crowned are as the locusts, and thy captains as the great grasshoppers, which camp in the hedges in the cold day, but when the sun ariseth they flee away, and their place is not known where they are. – Nahum 3:17 KJV
19There is no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually? – Nahum 3:19 KJV
Enemies of God’s people will devour by fire and will cut with swords. Those crowned in the kingdom will ultimately flee and hide. There will be no healing from the wound inflicted. God is consistent. His destruction of Ninevah foreshadows the future and final destruction of Babylon.