THE BOOK OF NAHUM

(“A Patient And Powerful God”)


Nahum 1:1-6 (NASU)


“The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means leave the guilty unpunished …”

(Nahum 1:3)



  1. JEAOUSY, VENGEANCE AND WRATH

(1) The first verse of the Book of Nahum tells us at least four things – that a man named “Nahum the Elkoshite” is the human author (c.f. II Peter 1:21) – that the content of the book originally came to him in the form of a “vision”, presumably from the Lord (c.f. Numbers 12:6) – that the prophetic message found in this book is directed toward “Nineveh”, capital city of the Assyrian Empire – and that the message is in the form of an “oracle” (or “burden”, as the NKJV puts it) (c.f. Nahum 1:1).

(2) Further study reveals that Nahum’s name means “comforter.”1 Yet, the message of his book is anything but “comforting” for the people of Nineveh (and by extension, any who follow in their wicked footsteps) – because the word “oracle” (c.f. Nahum 1:1) means the book1 is primarily a message of judgment,2 doom,3 and destruction1 – with God being the One who is ultimately doing the judging and destroying.

(3) It does turn out, however, to be a message of “comfort” for God’s covenant people. For one thing, since the Assyrians, represented by the city “of Nineveh” (c.f. Nahum 1:1), were one of “Judah’s” most dreaded enemies and persecutors, the overthrow of Nineveh would be a source of relief, as well as a cause for “celebration” (c.f. Nahum 1:15).

But there’s also a sense in which repentant Assyrians could find “comfort” – in places like verse seven, which says: “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and HE KNOWS THOSE WHO TAKE REFUGE IN HIM” (c.f. Nahum 1:7). In other words, even though God was going to make “a complete end of” Nineveh as a city, and Assyria as a nation (c.f. Nahum 1:8, 15), there was still hope that any individual Assyrians, who repented of their sins and threw themselves on God’s mercy (as their ancestors did one hundred years earlier – c.f. Jonah 3:5-9) (it’s possible they) may have been spared when the day of physical destruction came – and certainly when the day of eternal judgment comes.

(4) In keeping with the Book of Nahum being an “oracle” of judgment and doom (c.f. Nahum 1:1), verse two contains a sobering description of God as a righteous Judge4 (c.f. Nahum 1:2; Psalm 7:11; 89:14) – with emphasis on His attributes of “jealousy”, “vengeance” and “wrath” (c.f. Nahum 1:2). Since we’ve discussed each of these attributes at some length in previous messages, I will not go back over them now.

(5) I will remind you, however, that while fallen human beings generally think these things are sinful (in part, because when we express them they usually are) – God’s jealousy, and God’s vengeance, and God’s wrath (c.f. Nahum 1:2) must always be understood as characteristics that are holy and righteous and good4 (c.f. Romans 7:12). Without them, there would be no justice, either on earth or in eternity – without them there would be no settling of accounts in a fair and impartial manner (c.f. Lamentations 3:64-66) – without them there would be no retribution for the wicked, or vindication for the innocent (c.f. Revelation 6:9-11). Without them there would be no defense of God’s honor4 – nor any protection or restoration for His covenant people.

(6) We may not like to hear that the Lord is “a jealous and avenging God” – or that He is “avenging and wrathful” (c.f. Nahum 1:2). But think what the world would be like if He did not take “vengeance on His adversaries” – think what eternity would be like if He did not reserve “wrath for His enemies” (c.f. Nahum 1:2). Those who “vaunt themselves”, and “crush” God’s covenant people – who “slay the widow and … murder the orphan” would be right – “The Lord does not see, nor does the God of Jacob pay heed” (c.f. Psalm 94:4-7). If God were not avenging and wrathful, then not only would there be “no justice” on earth (c.f. Isaiah 59:15) – there would be no justice in heaven! And the Nineveh’s of this world – both in terms of nations and individuals – would go right on lying, and pillaging, and shedding innocent blood (c.f. Nahum 3:1) without fear of reprisal or retribution.

(7) We should thank the Lord, then – not only for His love, but also for His wrath. We should not only thank Him for His grace, but also for His vengeance. We should thank Him for His mercy, to be sure – but also for His jealousy, which makes Him zealous for the honor of His name, as well as for us. Without these attributes, there would be more chaos in the world than there already is (c.f. Romans 13:1-4) – there would be anarchy, and lawlessness, and disorder. The innocent would live in constant fear and under constant oppression – while the wicked would go on, unchecked, without fear of anything except those who are more wicked and more violent than themselves.

The attributes of God’s wrath and vengeance may be dreadful characteristics to contemplate – but so is a world, and an eternity without them.


(B) “THE LORD IS SLOW TO ANGER …”

(1) If verse two takes our spiritual breath away (c.f. Nahum 1:2), then verse three gives us a chance to catch it again (c.f. Nahum 1:3) – albeit only briefly. For in it we are reassured that the God we love and worship – the God who sent His only begotten Son to save us while we were yet sinners (c.f. John 3:16; Matthew 1:21; Romans 5:8) – even the same God who is about to “pour out His burning anger like fire” upon the people of Nineveh (c.f. Nahum 1:6), (this God – our God) is NOT short-tempered, NOR is He quick to avenge Himself on His enemies (c.f. Nahum 1:2). On the contrary, verse three says: “The Lord is slow to anger …” (c.f. Nahum 1:3).

(2) Let’s think about that for a moment. Lest someone object to the dreadful description of God found in verse two, saying: “Where is the God of mercy? Where is the God of kindness?5 How can He be so cruel? How can He act with such rage and fury?” – (lest someone object in this, or a similar manner) Nahum reassures us that God has NOT been in a hurry – that He has not been hasty to bring judgment upon the Assyrians. On the contrary, He has been extremely patient and tolerant of their offenses against Him and His covenant people (c.f. Romans 2:4). In fact, He has actually been slow to act (c.f. II Peter 3:9) – He has deliberately withheld His wrath and vengeance far longer than their sins deserve. He has given the Assyrians ample time to repent, and more – hence, the dreadful nature of His wrath, coupled with the swiftness with which it would be carried out, should not be mistaken for a rash or impulsive act. For the fact is, that Nineveh deserved God’s judgment LONG BEFORE it came to pass.

(3) We noted in an earlier message that Nineveh’s history dates all the way back to Genesis chapter ten (c.f. Genesis 10:11-12),6 shortly after the Flood – and that from her founding, the people living there had a reputation for arrogance (c.f. II Kings 19:10-13), and excessive violence, and cruelty7 (c.f. Nahum 3:1). My point is, that the Assyrians deserved God’s judgment many centuries earlier – yet, the Lord patiently chose to spare them (at least as a people and nation). In fact, He even extended His saving grace to the people of Nineveh during the days of Jonah, and actually redeemed many from that generation (c.f. Jonah 3-4) – people you and I are going to meet in heaven one day (c.f. Revelation 7:9-10).

(4) Unfortunately, subsequent generations of Assyrians reverted back to their old ways – so that, less than one hundred years after that great revival in Nineveh, they were once more a “bloody city, completely full of lies and pillage”, as the third chapter of Nahum says (c.f. Nahum 3:1). Hence, the statement found in Romans chapter two was true of them – in that they took God’s “kindness, tolerance, and patience lightly” – and in so doing “stored up wrath for themselves in the day of God’s righteous judgment” (c.f. Romans 2:4-5).

(5) God’s patience (like everything else about Him) is inexhaustible – however, that does not mean He extends it indefinitely. There comes a time when His inexhaustible patience toward unrepentant sinners is replaced by His inexhaustible wrath. He is (as Nahum says), “slow to anger” (c.f. Nahum 1:3) – but that doesn’t mean He will withhold His anger forever. Hence, there comes a time when the wrath He has mercifully withheld is finally “poured out like fire” (c.f. Nahum 1:6) on all those who are not covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. It happened to Nineveh – and it will happen to every person who dies in their sins (c.f. John 8:24).

(6) Scripture tells us again and again that the God of vengeance and wrath is FIRST OF ALL a God who is “slow to anger” (c.f. Nahum 1:3). The Book of Exodus says: “the Lord God, (is) compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth” (c.f. Exodus 34:6) – the Book of Nehemiah says: “You are a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness …” (c.f. Nehemiah 9:17) – the Book of Psalms says: “The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness” (c.f. Psalm 145:8) – even Jonah declared that God is “gracious and compassionate … slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness …” (c.f. Jonah 4:2).

Note, then, that the testimony of Scripture is that God is “slow to anger” (Nahum 1:3), not devoid of anger – that He is “slow to become angry” (c.f. Joel 2:13), not that He never becomes angry.

(7) O. Palmer Robertson says that “from the perspective of the new covenant, God’s ‘mastery’ of His own just wrath is seen most clearly in the endurance of the Father and Son in the hour of Christ’s crucifixion. Despite the awful crime committed against the Son of God, despite the maltreatment inflicted (on Him) by depraved sinners, the Father restrain(ed) His vengeance and heap(ed) judgment vicariously on His Son instead. The Son could have called for legions of angels to consume His oppressors (c.f. Matthew 26:53). But instead He crie(d), ‘Father, forgive them’ (c.f. Luke 23:34).”8

To this I would add – if anything can be added – that had the Father poured out His wrath and vengeance on us the moment we deserved it, you and I would never have lived long enough to have been saved. Hence, the fact God is “slow to anger” (c.f. Nahum 1:3) – the fact He does “not hasten suddenly to wrath” (as Calvin put it), but patiently deferred and suspended the punishment we deserved,5 is one reason why we lived long enough to repent of our sins and profess faith in Christ as Savior.


(C) “… AND GREAT IN POWER …”

(1) Since fallen men often mistake God’s “slowness to anger” for weakness, Nahum immediately goes on in our text to add that the Lord is also “great in power” (c.f. Nahum 1:3). Hence, no one should ever mistake His patience for powerlessness – or His longsuffering for a lack of strength.

(2) More to the point, however, especially here in the Book of Nahum, is the idea that God is powerful enough to overthrow the city of Nineveh, exactly as His prophet is predicting – and that (verse twelve), even though the Assyrians “are at full strength and likewise many” (c.f. Nahum 1:12) – i.e. even though they are at the height of their military and political power.

From a human perspective, it seemed impossible that any force could slow down Assyria’s ever-expanding empire – let alone call her to account, and destroy her.9 And yet, this is exactly what the Book of Nahum said was going to happen – and what history tells us did happen (but more about that in a future message).

For the moment, the point is that the Lord is “great in power” (c.f. Nahum 1:3) – that He possesses almighty, supernatural, invincible, omnipotent power9 – the same power that parted the Red Sea – the same power that destroyed the earth with a Flood – even the same power that created the universe and everything in it. Hence, anyone powerful enough to do all these things is certainly powerful enough to punish Nineveh for her sins – destroy her armies and mighty men – and bring an end to her existence as a nation. As David wrote, several centuries earlier, in Psalm Nine: 5“You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever. 6The enemy has come to an end in perpetual ruins, and You have uprooted (their) cities …” (c.f. Psalm 9:5-6) – and again: 19“Arise, O Lord, do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged before You. 20Put them in fear, O Lord; let the nations know that they are but men (and by extension, that You alone are God, and that You do exist). Selah” (c.f. Psalm 9:19-20).

This is exactly what Nahum said the Lord was going to do to Nineveh – and He would do it precisely because He is “great in power” (c.f. Nahum 1:3).

(3) This truth should not be left to languish in the past – rather, it needs to be applied to every nation and every generation, including our own. Nations rise and fall because God is “great in power” (c.f. Nahum 1:3). Nations come into existence and then cease to exist because God’s mighty “power” (c.f. Nahum 1:3) makes it happen (c.f. Acts 17:26). Hence, Daniel praised the Lord at one point, saying: 19“… Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for … 20It is He who changes … times and … epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings …” (c.f. Daniel 2:19-20) – while the psalmist said that: 5“The Lord … will shatter kings in the day of His wrath. 6He will judge among the nations, He will fill them with corpses, He will shatter the chief men over a broad country” (c.f. Psalm 110:5-6).

(4) We need to understand, then, that what God did to Nineveh was not a one-time event – like sending a great Flood in the Book of Genesis (c.f. Genesis 8:21), or causing the sun to stand still in the Book of Joshua (c.f. Joshua 10:13-14). This past Friday the United States celebrated its 232nd year of independence and existence as a nation. Let us not forget that it was God who gave our nation life, by virtue of His “great power” – AND, that He has the “power” (c.f. Nahum 1:3) to bring our existence as a nation to an end at any time. For what is true of us as individuals, is also true of us as a nation – namely, that “we live and move and exist” (c.f. Acts 17:28) only by His grace, and only by His power (c.f. Colossians 1:17).

(5) What’s more, if we want to continue to exist as a nation the most patriotic thing we Christians can do is not pray for our troops, or make sure we vote in the upcoming election (although we should do both). The most patriotic thing we Christians can do is throw ourselves on God’s mercy – by confessing our sins, both personal AND national (like Daniel did in Daniel chapter nine) (c.f. Daniel 9:3-19) – repenting of those sins (which means turning away from the ones we have been committing) (c.f. Isaiah 1:16-17; 55:7 – and then striving (by Christ’s enabling grace) to live as becomes God’s redeemed, covenant people (c.f. II Chronicles 7:13-14). If we do those things (which must be done “by the Spirit”, and not “by the flesh”) (c.f. Galatians 3:3) (if we do those things) – to quote the King of Nineveh, in the Book of Jonah – “Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish” (c.f. Jonah 3:9) (as a nation).

(6) The point is this – the Lord IS “great in power” (c.f. Nahum 1:3). And no nation, no generation, no family, no individual should ever take His power lightly.


  1. “… THE LORD WILL BY NO MEANS LEAVE

THE GUILTY UNPUNISHED …”

(1) And that brings us to the last phrase in tonight’s text, where Nahum addresses yet another error fallen men often make – namely, mistaking God’s “slowness to anger”, not only for weakness, but also for a lack of resolve. Hence, the prophet adds that, “the Lord will by no means leave the guilty unpunished” (c.f. Nahum 1:3). The lesson here is that no one should ever mistake God’s tolerance of their sins for His being tentative – or His “slowness to anger” for sloth – or His patience toward sinners for apathy. If there is one thing God is NOT, it’s apathetic or indifferent about sin (c.f. Psalm 7:11; 11:5) – and that includes yours and mine!

(2) This combination of God being “slow to anger”, coupled with the certainty that “He will punish the guilty” (c.f. Nahum 1:3), is found in numerous places in Scripture. For example, the Book of Exodus says: 6“The Lord (is) compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness … 7who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; YET He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished …” (c.f. Exodus 34:6-7). The Book of Numbers says: “The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; BUT He will by no means clear the guilty …” (c.f. Numbers 14:18). The Book of Psalms says: 8“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. 9(BUT) He will not … keep His anger forever” (c.f. Psalm 103:8-9).

(3) Hence, there is no conflict in Scripture when it comes to God being “slow to anger” on the one hand, and also making sure (since He is “great in power”) that “the guilty (do not go) unpunished” on account of their sins (c.f. Nahum 1:3). Those who presume upon God’s patience WILL BE PUNISHED. Those who do not confess their sins and repent – who do not profess faith in Jesus Christ – WILL BE PUNISHED. No sin will be left “unpunished” (c.f. Nahum 1:3). No sinner, not covered by the blood of Christ, will escape eternal punishment (nor will many – if any – escape some form of punishment during their time here on earth).

(4) O. Palmer Robertson writes that: “so long as a person, city, or nation continues to bear the burden of its own guilt, it cannot be declared free and clear of liability to punishment. BUT if (that) guilt is transferred to another party … then the Lord may (in the sense of He will) manifest His forgiveness.”10

God did NOT do this for the people of Nineveh, because they were not His sheep (c.f. John 10:26) – but He DOES do it for all His elect covenant people! Hence, Scripture says that: “God made Him (Christ) who had no sin to BE SIN for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (c.f. II Corinthians 5:21, NIV) – and again: “He Himself (Christ) bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness …” (c.f. I Peter 2:24) – and once more: “… the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him (Christ)” (c.f. Isaiah 53:6).

(5) So, it’s NOT that “the guilt of our sins has gone unpunished” – it’s that Jesus Christ took the guilt of our sins upon Himself, and was punished in our place. Hence, His cry from the cross: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (c.f. Mark 15:34) – the answer being, because “the Lord will by no means leave the guilty unpunished” (c.f. Nahum 1:3) – and Jesus took our guilt, and with it our punishment!

(6) The other side of the coin is this – it’s not as though we are still guilty in God’s sight, but will somehow manage to escape the punishment we deserve – unlike the Assyrians in tonight’s text. It’s that Christ’s righteousness has been transferred to us – so that, as far as “the Judge of all the earth” is concerned (c.f. Genesis 18:25), we are no longer guilty! And since we are no longer guilty, we are no longer the objects of His vengeance, and wrath, and anger. Hence, a passage we’ve quoted a lot lately says: “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (c.f. Romans 8:1).

(7) The Assyrians of Nahum’s generation perished on account of the guilt of their sins – and deservedly so. But, thanks to Jesus Christ, you and I won’t – because the guilt of our sins has been mercifully and graciously removed (c.f. Psalm 32:1-5; 103:12), and replaced with the righteousness of Christ!


BIBLIOGRAPHY


1Robertson: The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah;

The New International Commentary on the Old Testament; p. 56.

2Wiersbe: Be Amazed; p. 98.

3MacArthur: The MacArthur Bible Commentary; p. 1023.

4Robertson: Ibid; p. 59.

5Calvin’s Commentaries: Vol. XIV; The Twelve Minor Prophets;

Vol. III; Jonah, Micah, Nahum; p. 422.

6Boice: The Minor Prophets; Vol. Two; p. 57.

7IBID; p. 59.

8Robertson: Ibid; p. 62.

9IBID; p. 63.

10IBID; p. 64.