____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ August 3, 1997 ____________________________________________________ Nahum: The Lord's Vengeance on Nineveh (Minor Prophets Series #8) by Jon Quinn Nahum's name means ``comfort'' or ``consolation.'' But when you read his prophecy you do not feel very comforted because it is a prophecy of the Lord's vengeance. But these words of promised destruction and devastation are words of comfort to the Lord's people, for they are directed against one of the most bloodthirsty and cruel civilizations ever known: the Assyrian empire and its capital city of Nineveh. When such an oppressive enemy is dealt with, then those who have suffered do find relief and comfort when the enemy falls. NINEVEH'S HISTORY ``The oracle of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite'' (NAHUM 1:1). Nineveh had a policy of world conquest and domination. A part of their plans included God's chosen people, Israel and Judah. The Scriptures relate to us how both Israel and Judah fell away from God. Of the two, Judah was the most faithful and so lasted longer than her northern brethren in Israel. Tiglath-pileser III (745-727 B.C.) was the first Assyrian king to raid into Israel and deported some as slaves back to Assyria. Shalmaneser V (727-722 B.C.) began to lay siege to Samaria, the capital city of apostate Israel, but died before the city fell. Sargon II (722-705 B.C.) completed the siege of Samaria which fell to him and Israel ceased to exist as a nation and was deported into captivity by Assyria. This was in accordance with the prophetic warnings that had been given to her through the many prophets God had sent to her urging her to repent, but to whom she refused to listen. Sennecherib (705-681 B.C.) This Assyrian monarch invaded Judah and laid siege to Jerusalem. Hezekiah, the faithful king of Judah, prayed for deliverance and received it. Sennecherib was murdered by two of his sons who were in turn driven out by another son who became king. Esarhaddon (681-668 B.C.) Ashurbanipal (668-625 B.C.). His campaign reached into Egypt and resulted in the destruction of the Egyptian city of Thebes (referred to as No-amon in Nahum). Said to be extremely cruel. Assur-etil-ilani (625-620 B.C.) Esarhaddon III (620-612 B.C.) Also known as Sin-shar-ishkeen, this king has the distinction of being in power when Nahum's predicted destruction of Nineveh occurs. When Nineveh was besieged by the Medes and the Chaldeans, he gathered his wives and children and wealth into his palace and burned it down, dying in the flames. Much of the above background material was gleaned from A Commentary on the Minor Prophets by Homer Hailey. Regarding the extreme cruelty of Assyria, their own records bragging of their victories is proof enough. Far from trying to cover their brutality, they actually gloried in it. Their monuments and histories brag about how ``space failed for corpses'' and about ``how unsparing a destroyer is Assyria's goddess Ishtar.'' They brag about how high the pyramids of human heads were which they built from their conquered foes and how they burned cities and impaled human beings and cut off hands and flayed bodies and so forth. Nahum announces that the time for divine judgment had arrived. Such words of destruction indeed would be words of comfort to a world so tormented by Assyrian cruelty. Perhaps, too, we can better understand Jonah's hesitancy to take the Lord's warning to Nineveh a century before. He did not want Nineveh to repent. He wanted it to be destroyed. He felt it would be much better that way, the problem was that it had not been his decision to make. THE LORD IS SLOW TO ANGER AND GREAT IN POWER ``A jealous and avenging God is the Lord, the Lord is avenging and wrathful...the Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means leave the guilty unpunished'' (NAHUM 1:3,4). The date of Nahum's prophecy is between 663 and 612 B.C. We know this from the historical information in the book showing that Thebes had already fallen (663) but that Nineveh had not yet fallen (612). Most put the writing around 630 B.C. or later. The Lord is characterized as jealous and avenging and wrathful. This is not a side of God that many care to think about or even admit that exists. I am afraid that many of us today pretend the same thing apostate Israel did during these times: that either God will not or cannot execute judgment on wicked nations. But just because the Lord is slow to anger does not mean that He lacks the power or will to act. Israel found out the hard way. So did Assyria. Speaking of being slow to anger, it had been a century since Jonah had preached to Nineveh and the city had repented. Evidently, the repentance had been short-lived, though there is some archaeological evidence of a brief encounter with monotheism on the part of Nineveh about Jonah's time. After a century of extreme cruelty and wickedness, God's slowness to anger was running out. Nahum points out that when God acts, none can stop Him (1:6). Even in the midst of this oracle of judgment, there is a reminder that God is good and that He is a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him. God's severity does not diminish from His goodness, nor does His goodness diminish from His severity. He is not ``either/or'' but He is both. ``Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise, you, also will be cut off'' (ROMANS 11:22, cf. 2:2-11). The words of comfort to the people of Judah are found in the final verse of the first chapter: ``Behold...Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; Pay your vows. For never again will the wicked one (Assyria) pass through you; he will be cut off completely'' (NAHUM 1:15). THE FALL OF NINEVEH ``And it will come about that all who see you will shrink away from you and say, `Nineveh is devastated! Who will grieve for her?' Where will I seek comforters for you?'' (NAHUM 3:7) Nineveh is to be utterly destroyed. The Lord says that He will find none to mourn her passing. Chapter two begins with the warning that Nineveh's destroyer is coming and describes the defensive preparations Nineveh attempts (2:1,2). The approaching army has their shields colored red and its soldiers are dressed in scarlet. This seems to identify the Chaldeans as the ones who would destroy Nineveh, whose soldiers indeed were dressed in red (see Ezekiel 23:14). The plunder and destruction of the cruel, once proud city is then vividly described throughout the remainder of the book. An important point to be made here is the fruitlessness of any attempt to thwart divine judgment. The Lord challenges Nineveh to man the fortress and watch the road and to summon all your strength. None of it will matter. Men cannot withstand God and prevail. Not Assyria. Not Babylon. Not Rome. And not even our own nation should we continue to follow the course away from God. All of the events prophesied in this book came to pass. In 612 B.C. Nineveh fell to Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Chaldeans. Judah survived intact until it, too, was carried away into captivity by Babylon (the Chaldeans). Judah would suffer captivity, and a remnant of both Judah and Israel would repent and return to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. The nation would be reborn, because God was not finished with them yet. Then, six centuries after the fall of Assyria, and in accordance with God's timetable, the Messiah would come, born in Bethlehem, of the tribe of Judah. Not even powerful, wicked Assyria could thwart God's plan. Today, the ancient city is barely discernible. The place where it once stood consists of two mounds of earth. Indeed its destruction was complete and final. Unlike with Judah, there would be no rebirth for Nineveh. ``Whatever you devise against the Lord, He will make a complete end of it. Distress will not rise up twice'' (NAHUM 1:9). ___________________________________________ Book, Chapter, Verse by R. L. Morrison ``Book, chapter, verse'' preaching is passe in so far as the majority is concerned today. But when that kind of preaching was done, people were converted, the churches were strengthened, and error was exposed for what it is. That kind of preaching is almost a thing of the past. The absence of scripture is pronounced in much of the preaching heard in churches of Christ today. Most of the preaching today does not have the ``old Jerusalem ring'' to it. I have heard a number of preachers say in the last few years, ``I do not preach like I used to.'' When asked why not, the reply might be -- if one gets a reply -- ``Well, people have changed; times are not like they used to be.'' But what really changed? Sinners?? Sin?? The gospel?? The need for the gospel?? I think not! The gospel is yet God's only power to save the sinner. The desire to obtain the favor and popularity of men seems to be replacing the ``book, chapter, verse'' preaching of the past. -- Via The Preceptor (August 1993) ___________________________________________ CAPTIONS by Tom Edwards "I love you this much," said the caption of a picture I once had hanging in my room that was representing Jesus being sacrificed and suffering for the sins of the world. (cf, John 15:13; Rom. 4:6-11) As I thought back on this, I also wondered what descriptive caption would best describe the "picture" of our lives. Would many of us perhaps feel the need to become a little more spiritually "photogenic" first? to make a few changes prior -- or maybe even have an entire "makeover"? Let us never forget the importance of a continual godly life (Heb. 12:14; Titus 1:16) -- a life which can speak for itself through righteous deeds and put a happy smile on our countenance (Jms. 1:18; 1 Pet. 2:12; Matt. 7:15-20; Gen. 4:6,7). Remember: How we live says much more to others than how we say we live. ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES I begin holding a gospel meeting today for the Daugherty Street church of Christ in Charleston, West Virginia. Services through the week will be 7:30 nightly and will continue through Friday. If you live nearby, why not come out to be with us? We would love to have you. We are thankful to have Brian McCauley, from Crosslanes, West Virginia, preaching for the Tri-state church of Christ this morning, teaching during the adult Bible class, and leading the singing during the worship hour. Brian attends where Bill Robinson preaches in Crosslanes, a group that recently merged with the Dunbar church of Christ where Bill was formerly preaching, and where Brian had also been a member. Tonight, another treat for the group: Arthur Parker, from Wheelersburg, Ohio, will be preaching for the congregation here, and leading the singing. I've known Arthur for several years now, and have often enjoyed his encouraging and welcoming words when we would meet at gospel meetings in the area. For this coming Wednesday night, I'm happy to say that Rick Fleeman will be able to fill-in for me. Rick doesn't need any introduction to most of the group here -- though we now have a few new ones who haven't had the pleasure of hearing him before. We are thankful for these men who will be helping out with the services here during my absence. I wish I could hear them all. Here are a couple women we need to be praying for: Carol Music's mother, Mrs. Ernest Hamm, recently underwent a catheterization for two blockages in her arteries. She is now back home recuperating. Barbara Withrow's mother, Christine Stambaugh, recently fell and broke her wrist and foot. She is also back home. If you are visiting today, thanks for being with us! Your attendance is a great boost of encouragement to us. ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 713 13th Street, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________