Nahum: Faithful Prophet with a Fatal Flaw - Kelvin Redmile

Nahum: Faithful Prophet with a Fatal Flaw (as they all had).

Kelvin Redmile

Nahum was a faithful prophet who saw the “word of the Lord” come true - but how and in what way did it come to pass.

Let’s read the book from the end to the beginning so we are reading the prophecy not only in the light of Christ but with the benefit of hindsight. And hindsight is a wonderful thing.

The conclusion of the prophecy describes what Assyria was like and what its desolate condition is now. This violent oppressor has had a taste of its own medicine. How quickly Assyria forgot the grace of God granted to them in the days of Jonah only a few decades earlier. We too can forget his mercy and forgiveness so easily.

Look at the Assyrians brokenness and iniquity: 

1. Bloody Violence of every kind – ruining and wasting not only the earth but people
2. Sexual immorality, violence, and abuse
3. Liars and deceivers.
4. Robbers and looters

Sounds like the evil empire Babylon in Revelation. Much to mankind’s shame – Assyria is too much like the worst we see in mankind today.

But notice too how the book pictures humankind incurring a self-inflicted fatal wound from which it cannot recover. The resulting death means the end of everlasting cruelty. Is this not the grace of death? God bans Adam from the tree of life so that through physical death, he would eventually escape from the wound he had inflicted upon himself.

Here is my prayer for today on reading Nahum.

“O Lord, remove the Nineveh, the Assyria in me and set up a New Jerusalem in my heart.”¹

Working backward through the book we can see how the downfall of Assyria is all part of a historic, future, and present pattern of human empire building and human empire falling. All these empires were built upon bloody violence, manipulation, and coercion and then brought down by the same bloody violence, bullying, and coercion. We need a different kind of Kingdom.

Is it not true to say that we too want to revel in the glory of the bully or the oppressor finally being brought down? We used to restrain them in stocks and throw stinking rotten vegetables and worse at them.  (Nahum 3:5-6) This is Nahum's fatal human flaw. Is it really right to rejoice, to gloat in nationalist pride when our oppressor’s empire crumbles and falls and they seemingly get their just deserts!

However, do we see in the timeline of current recent history has there been times when an evil empire has been defeated there has been a Godly exception to this gloating; whereby the nation or empire which has been saved from the oppressor has then sought, not to occupy the oppressor lands, but to help rebuild and restore it and hold accountable those who take would take the life (i.e., the image of God).

Time for a hymn!

HOW MUCH MORE²

f human hearts are often tender,
And human minds can pity know,
If human love is touched with splendor,
And human hands compassion show.

If sometimes men can live for others,
And sometimes give where gifts are spurned,
If sometimes treat their foes as brothers,
And love where love is not returned,

If men will often share their gladness,
If men respond when children cry,
If men can feel each other's sadness,
Each other's tears attempt to dry,

Then how much more shall God our Father
In love forgive, in love forgive!
Then how much more shall God our Father
Our wants supply, and none deny!

How much more does mercy triumph over judgment! Is the scoreline 1-0 or is it a knockout blow? Does mercy just scrape through on points? But if mercy is everlasting,… – I’ll let you work out the final score.

And yet for all of Nahum’s gloating, despite his human flaw, he still is a faithful prophet. Remember he is only seeing in a glass darkly and only in part as the Messiah redeemer has not arrived in the flesh. And yet he speaks of the emergence of the splendor of Israel, the majesty of Israel, or the excellency of Israel even though the destroyer has devasted Israel and ruined the branches of the Vine.

Is Christ not the TRUE Israel in all his majesty, splendor, and excellency? Did he not suffer at the hands of an empire built on something other than mercy and forgiveness?

Did not the Christ win a victory over all evil empires at the Cross by the power of love and mercy in a way that no violent bully can ever match? He took the violence of the empire of humanity with all its anger and exchange it for the mercy of God. The mercy of God is on display for both the perpetrator and the victim. Man’s legitimate self-righteous anger (backed up by his own version of the law) expresses itself at the cross on an innocent who converts that anger into Love and mercy for all. Is this not a greater victory?

Could this splendor of Israel be Jesus? Yes, because at the end of chapter 1, here comes the messenger with the gospel – the good news. Nahum sees a messenger, bringing peace on his way to a glorious victory whereby all the people of Judah will rejoice with feasting as evil is no more.

So celebrate and worship, in the light of Christ – sin, death, and the devil (personified in Nineveh) will not triumph because of the messenger of the Good news of God who is able to restore ALL things including Nahum flaws and failings.

Now we can see with the benefit of hindsight and the bringing Jesus to bear on this prophecy that Nahum could only see a shadow of things to come as he only saw things in part as he did not know or experience the revelation of God in human form.

So, in the light of the revelation of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ how should we now read chapter 1?

Let me suggest the following:

Verses 2-3 reveal that Jesus the creator and sustainer of all is a jealous lover. God is a jealous lover of all he has created—especially mankind. God hates it when humanity damages, hurts, abuses, and kills any other man created in His Image.

He will take action to defend against all-comers who would wish to hurt others.

Sometimes a warning, sometimes a restraining order, sometimes discipline, sometimes chastisement – but be assured this Lover will be avenged and all sin will be dealt with.

Who can stand against the creator and sustainer of the cosmos? Who can stand against Jesus who can shake the world and the mountains? Can he not shake you as a consuming fire that purifies and restores? As rocks crumble, so a broken and crumbled heart can see the truth of verse 7 that “God is Good” that the powers of darkness – the chains that bind every human heart can be broken.

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble and he protects those who take refuge in Him.”

As one commentator³ puts it,

No one – not even the Assyrians should think that God is a mighty violent avenger as the prophet reveals (even though he doesn’t fully understand) the righteousness and compassion of God towards all who would take refuge in Him.

When man becomes angry, he loses his peace, love, and compassion, whereas God in his anger over evil is always compassionate.  The prophet Habakkuk understands this when he writes “In your wrath remember mercy!”

In God's anger over evil, God anticipates his mercy on the sinner.

But it says, “God is against them.” Yes, he is.

In God's judgments over evil, Jesus stands opposed and removes all the instruments of war and torture. (2:13). He disarms them.

In God's judgment over evil, Jesus exposes all so that its true nature, the ugly truth, can be seen and dealt with. (3:5).

Nineveh lies in ruins – who has sympathy for her? Who will comfort her? (3:7)

I wonder who would do that. Who would protect a murderer? Who would ensure that they had a mark on them so they could not be touched?

The Lord is good and protects all who find refuge in Him.

Lord Jesus have mercy on me a sinner. Remove that which is of Nineveh in peace and build up a new Jerusalem in – “a city of peace within.”

So, what is the final score in the fight between Mercy and Judgement?

I think Mercy wins with a knockout blow without ever swinging a fist!

Notes:

1. Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty, The Book of Nahum, Patristic Commentaries (2005) 

2. John Gowans

3. Malaty, Nahum (2005)