Justice will be Satisfied

Read Nahum 2. How does God mock Nineveh in this chapter (v. 1, 11)? What does this teach us about God’s power?

In Nahum 2:13 God declares, “I am against you.” What is the result of God being against them (see the rest of the verse)?

In the sermon we talked about the danger of unchecked pride and human autonomy. How was Nineveh proud? How was Jerusalem proud? In what ways do you struggle with pride? The antidote to pride is found in 1 Peter 5:5-6. How will you apply these verses this week?

Daniel Timmer says, “Nahum 2 focuses on the Lord’s commitment to eliminate a very visible incarnation of evil from the ancient Near East. The fact that Nahum delivered his oracles prior to the fall of Nineveh is a powerful reminder that believers can have confidence that in due time God himself will deal with evil in general, with their persecutors in particular, and indeed with the Devil himself” (read

Rev. 20:10). Do you have confidence that justice will be satisfied? Why or why not?

Read Nahum 3. In verse 1 we see reasons why the Lord destroyed Nineveh. What are the reasons?

Verses 8-11 can be confusing. Daniel Timmer explains this historical context:

“The taunt (vv. 8–11) compares Nineveh to the Egyptian city of Thebes, which Assyria had conquered in 663 BC as punishment for Egypt’s decision to stop fulfilling its duties as a vassal state. Thebes

was hundreds of miles south of Egypt’s northeast border and so was presumed to be safe from an Assyrian threat. The description of Thebes as surrounded by water is probably meant to parallel Nineveh’s water defenses (moats, etc.) even though the Nile, which ran through the center of Thebes, would have done little to protect the city from an attack. Although there was no wall surrounding

Thebes, many of its royal temples were surrounded by sizable walls, which are compared to immense water defenses in verse 8. In addition to its safe location and defensive features, Thebes (as part of Egypt) could also have drawn on the military support of its numerous allies: “Cush . . . Put and the Libyans” (v. 9). Despite these advantages, Thebes fell to Assyria and suffered the shame and violence that came with defeat: citizens taken into exile, children slaughtered, men sold into slavery or taken as captives of war (v. 10). Applying the picture of violent defeat to Nineveh, verse 11 focuses on its drunkenness (implying it has drunk deeply from the cup of the Lord’s wrath; read Isa. 49:26; Jer. 49:12) and its vain effort to escape capture and destruction by attempting to hide from its attackers. Thus, the surprising fall of a large city apparently far from danger, deep within an empire, with numerous allies and significant defenses, provides Nahum with an example that he applies to Nineveh, which despite its even more impressive defenses will also fall. The point of the comparison in Nahum 3:8 is not that Thebes had superior defenses (it did not) but that the final condition of Nineveh will be no better than that of Thebes (“Are you better than Thebes . . . ?” can also be translated “Will it go better for you than it did for Thebes?”).

How do you see God’s justice satisfied in Nahum 3? How does this give you confidence that God’s justice will be satisfied today?

How are you bringing the gospel into your world? Judgment is coming for all people. As Nineveh fell, then Jerusalem just 26 years later, we need to know that judgment is coming. What steps will you take to bring the gospel into dark places this week?

Do you pray for justice? When you have opportunity do you practice justice? Read Micah 6:8. What does the Lord want us to do?

Read Psalm 78:4. What does this verse instruct us to do? What are ways you are teaching the younger generation about the Lord?