Class Lesson January 6, 2012

One way to understand God’s activity today and His plan for the future is to become familiar with His activity among His people in history. In this series of studies from texts from four Minor Prophets, we will see that the messages they delivered were anything but minor or insignificant. God addressed several issues that still are of importance to us in our day, such as rebellion, doubt, indifference, and wrong priorities. Christians will not only learn of the holiness, righteousness, justice, and mercy of God, but also about mistakes from the past to avoid. Nahum is the first of four of the Biblical prophets we’ll study, shows us a picture of God’s judgment. Two results: We’ll want to please God when our judgment comes and we won’t want to risk God’s wrath.

Our 4 lessons this month will include:

1. January 6   Nahum: A Message of God’s Judgment
2. January 13 Habakkuk: A Message of Faith
3. January 20 Obadiah: A Message of God’s Justice
4. January 27 Haggai: A Message of Hope

Who were the Minor Prophets? Why were they called minor?

• 12 Minor Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

Nahum - The Prophet of God’s Severity Assured

(Nahum 1:1-3:19)

Understanding the severity of the wrath of God is found in the actual experiences of life. It can be illustrated by a statement of Jesus, He said, ". . . I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." It is a simple statement yet it is clothed in mystery.


This statement of Jesus proclaims that the life of Jesus satisfies continually. One who eats of Jesus is not continually hungering and thirsting to experience the good life. He is satisfied with the life he is experiencing. Yet, there is not a man alive who at one time or another has not hungered and thirsted for a better life. When man finds himself in that condition, he has done what seems to be the curse of our intellect, attempting by our minds to experience the good life in the events of life.


The events or circumstances of life themselves can never produce the continual good life. For example, when all the accolades of an event in which the participants are attempting to experience life are over, they are driven to create new circumstances or new challenges to rekindle the passions of life. Living in events or circumstances always produces a life that hungers or thirsts for more. The participants of the events become trapped in the attempt to repeat bigger and better events over and over again. They are caught in the bondage of the earthly realm. They must simplify their lives once again.


In doing so, however, they often forget the real reason their lives became perplexed and troubled with the pressures of life. The events that led to Jesus making His Bread of Life statement portray the crux of the problem for man. When Jesus said, "I am the bread of life . . .," the men who heard him, as with all men, knew only one realm of experience. They knew only how to attempt to live on the earthly realm, in the events or the experiences themselves. They could not perceive life from the spiritual realm. These men who came seeking Jesus were perplexed how He had crossed the sea without a boat. They had previously seen him perform many miracles and they were wondering if another miracle had occurred. Jesus responded to their question with "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled" (6:26). They did want the miracles but beyond that they wanted what the miracles could do for them. The miracles would enhance their own lives. They, as with all men, were attempting to experience life through the events of life. They desired to have their lives enhanced by the healings, the food on the table, and the "walking on the water," which were all great moments in their lives.


Jesus then told them to "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the son of man shall give unto you . . . ." The implication seems to be that there are two kinds of meats. There are two sources from which man may attempt to experience life. However, one perishes and the other "endureth unto everlasting life." The severity of God’s wrath is seen in the "meat that perishes." It is not that God scrutinizes every move man makes to punish those who disobey his commands. It is when man seeks after the "meat that perishes" that it will finally perishes. When it does, man finds himself trapped in a life of gloom, despair, and agony. All brought on by the simple attempt to experience life in the events or circumstances rather than the spiritual realm that operates beyond those events and circumstances.


This is the message of the prophet Nahum to the ancient city of Ninevah. Ninevah was the greatest city in the world at the time of Nahum, the capitol city of Assyria. A century before another prophet of God had went to Ninevah to proclaim its doom unless it turned from the ways of man to the ways of God. Heeding to that initial call of repentance, they turned from the perplexities and from the hassles of chasing life by one event after another. Their attempt to clarify their life by just enjoying the simplicity of experiencing life in the life of God, however, did not last. They soon found themselves once again in the woes of a misguided search for life. The meat of which they were attempting to live finally perished.


As Nahum says, "The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not acquit the wicked," those who attempt to find life in the "meat that perishes." The meat that perishes will perish: Assyria will fall - Chapter 1; the siege and capture of Ninevah - Chapter 2; and the reason for Assyria’s destruction - Chapter 3.

The mighty city of Nineveh was located about 220 miles north of the modern capital of Iraq (Baghdad). 


Life Goal

Understand God’s judgment and pursue His righteousness.



Lesson Summary

Many believers see God only in terms of their personal relationship with Him; however, God is concerned about nations as well. Therefore, just as He judges sinful individuals, God will judge wicked nations.


This lesson serves as a warning that disobedience to God at any level will not prevail but will be exposed and severely punished by a holy and righteous God. We can choose behavior, but we cannot choose if God judges us or not.

I. JUDGMENT BRINGS GOOD – NAHUM 1:7-9, 12-13

Destruction of Nineveh

7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in a day of distress; He cares for those who take refuge in Him. 8 But He will completely destroy Nineveh with an overwhelming flood, and He will chase His enemies into darkness. 9 Whatever you plot against the Lord, He will bring it to complete destruction; oppression will not rise up a second time.

Promise of Judah’s Deliverance

12 This is what the Lord says: Though they are strong and numerous, they will still be mowed down, and he will pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no longer. 13 For I will now break off his yoke from you and tear off your shackles.

What is the lesson to be learned from the destruction of Nineveh and the Titanic?

• The impenetrable city of Nineveh captivated the psyche of the Assyrian masses as an emblem of human invincibility. As a super-power the nation had basked in its unmitigated conquests for centuries. Their kings passed the time with their death-defying lion hunts. And as a fortified city, it was matchless. Serendipitously situated in a kink of the formidable River Tigris, Nineveh lay bordered on three sides by this natural moat. One could imagine a civil servant quipping that not even Yahweh could conquer this city.
• When the Babylonians were commissioned by God’s providence to destroy the city, it seemed a fool’s errand. Until an unpredictable flood deftly discarded the very fortification that made the city unassailable. The very river they trusted in proved to be their undoing. And lest anyone think it was mere coincidence that the flood’s timing intersected with God’s command, Nahum predicted the flood in Nahum 1:8 and Nahum 2:8. In numeric-mnemonic symmetry, it is Nahum 3:8 that remind Nineveh that drowning in their own confidence was also the fate of another arrogant and “invincible” moated city, namely Thebes on the Nile. Some blame God for disasters, using the insurance company’s convenient “Act of God” moniker.
• But the truth is that pride comes before a fall. There is something inherent in pride that makes the fall more painful. But we live in a cursed world where bad things happen to…everybody. Rather than blame God, we should thank Him for reminders that this life is fragile but our souls can be safe from heights or depths, life or death (Rom 8:39).
• Tsunamis, Titanic, Thebes, Nineveh, New Orleans, and countless other watery wastelands serve to remind us that our safety is soluble, but our Savior is a waterproof stronghold (Nahum 1:7).

How can judgment of any kind bring good? What good came out of Nineveh’s destruction?

• Nahum preached his message to people who had struggled under the oppressive rule of the Assyrians for more than a century. The Assyrians attacked their neighboring nations. They had captured both the northern tribes of Israel and the southern nation of Judah. Now God’s judgment was coming on the Assyrians. The powerful capital city of Nineveh would fall. For people disobeying God, including oppressing God’s people, this book shouts judgment. But there are promises of hope for rebellious ones who have turned back to God.

What does it mean to “plot against the Lord?”

• Assyrians were the top empire of the time. A powerful position fed arrogance and cruelty. Does the United States share in this analysis?

Do you think the Ninevites perceived themselves as plotting against God? How might you or I plot against God without realizing it?

• We must always consider how God is viewing our actions. He pays attention and notices. We must live with a sense of His goodness. God holds us accountable for the way we act.

How does 1:12-13 relate to how God interacts with people today? Does it give you reassurance or fear? Can this fear lead to good actions?

• If we live courageously in this world, we can delight in the reality that God and good will triumph. We pay attention to our behavior.
• The decline of Nineveh led to Assyria’s fall.
• God is good beyond our ability to comprehend.
• God’s goodness does not mean He will withhold judgment against wickedness.
• God judges and disciplines His people, but He tempers His judgments with mercy.
• Nahum 1:7 is an important verse to note in the midst of a discussion on God’s judgment: “The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.” God’s ways are not capricious, cruel, or uncaring. Even though He must deal with wrong, He is a compassionate God who cares deeply for those who look to Him for refuge and comfort.

The judgment of Nineveh reminds us of the futility of any earthly power shaking its fist, as it were, in the face of God and His people. Indeed, the power of God to protect and deliver is a message of comfort to Israel today as her enemies vow her destruction.

II. GOD JUDGES EVIL – NAHUM 2:8-13

8 Nineveh has been like a pool of water from her first days, but they are fleeing. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one turns back. 9 “Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!” There is no end to the treasure, an abundance of every precious thing. 10 Desolation, decimation, devastation! Hearts melt, knees tremble, loins shake, every face grows pale!

11 Where is the lions’ lair, or the feeding ground of the young lions, where the lion and lioness prowled, and the lion’s cub, with nothing to frighten them away? 12 The lion mauled whatever its cubs needed and strangled prey for its lionesses. It filled up its dens with the kill, and its lairs with mauled prey. 13 Beware, I am against you. This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts. I will make your chariots go up in smoke and the sword will devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the sound of your messengers will never be heard again. 

The Assyrians looted and taxed those they dominated this made them a rich nation. Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian empire. God will judge evil – Nineveh had become evil, wicked, rebellious and cruel to their captives, specifically Israel and Judah.



What is the gist of Nahum’s message in 2:8-13?

• Nineveh was once a grand empire, powerful and beautiful. People there chose evil though and that led to their destruction. Once a wonderful place, it now became desolate.

How do you think the people would react to such a message?

• Did the Ninevites hear Nahum’s message? They may have scoffed at it, thinking their power would stand. This is in contrast to the days of the prophet Jonah, earlier, when the people of Nineveh were willing to repent.

What nations and groups of people behave brutally and immorally today? Are we one of these nations?

• Nahum reveals that God is aware and deals with injustice.
• The United States is in a cesspool of perversion where godlessness is held up like a trophy, and the Bible is mocked with contempt. Pornography is our number 1 export and is rampant throughout the country. The US has even engaged in human trafficking for reproductive slavery and sexual exploitation. Our murder rate remains disproportionately sky-rocket high, our abortions now top 53,000,000 through 2010, our churches are abandoning God’s word and stand in apostasy, and our moral dilemma reaches to the high offices of our President, Congress, and Senate who have spent the US to the bottom of the heap in debt in the entire world. Our country is in love with idols that take away from our created purpose, worshipping a living LORD. We’re not worshiping idols you say. Well, deny this: there are singing artists, movie stars, money, and sports figure idols, just to name a few that people invest their time in instead of investing in the Lord Jesus Christ.
• The United State is every bit as evil as Assyria was, and New York City is more evil than Nineveh in its day. The murder rate in New York City alone is more than 7 European countries combined.

Will God judge the evil in our nation? Do you think He has already?

• Sinful rebellion against the Lord will not go unpunished.
• God will hold the wicked and wicked nations accountable in His own time.
• The final word belongs to the Lord.
• Jude warned that in the Last Days men would be"... godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord." Jude 1:4 (NIV) In other words, "anything goes--God loves us and he made us this way, so do as you wish. We are free in Him!" This is not God's way. He is holy and must punish sin. We are and have been under national judgment, and it is getting worse! If men do not turn to Christ in sincerity we will begin to see things men have not dreamed of. It is just a matter of time before the nation is judged and destroyed. All serious prophecy students know that America is not mentioned clearly in end time scripture. That leaves one with the conclusion that the nation imploded due to sin. God judged Nineveh and He will judge America. There is forgiveness with God, but it is not a license to live immoral!

III. GOD JUDGES LEADERS – NAHUM 3:18-19

18 King of Assyria, your shepherds slumber; your officers sleep. Your people are scattered across the mountains with no one to gather them together. 19 There is no remedy for your injury; your wound is severe. All who hear the news about you will clap their hands because of you, for who has not experienced your constant cruelty?

How cruel and evil were the Assyrian leaders?

• Nahum called Nineveh a city of blood (3:1).
• Assyrian kings enjoyed depicting their handiwork on reliefs in their palaces.
• Kings sometimes would hang the heads of their enemies on trees in their gardens like Japanese lanterns.
• Assyria chose repeatedly to be a brutal occupier. Their cruelty was well known.

How does cruelty show up in our day-to-day lives? How are we sometimes cruel to others?

What does Nahum remind us about God?

• At any level, God will not tolerate disobedience.
• Wrongdoing will be exposed and punished by God, who is just, holy, and fair in all His ways.
• We all contribute to the well being or suffering of others.
• God expects leaders of nations to lead responsibly.
• God’s judgment against wickedness is sure.
• God is sovereign to judge the wicked and to deliver the faithful.

The judgment of God is not one of our most favorite topics. Some people want to deny it. Others are uncomfortable with it and unsure how to reconcile harsh judgment as an act of a good, loving, and righteous God. Yet, judgment is a recurring theme throughout Scripture; thus, it cannot be denied. As believers we are not responsible to defend God and His judgment, but we are responsible to declare it as part of the divine message. When Jesus comes again, so will the final judgment of God come against individuals and the nations.

How do you explain the judgment of God against the wicked as being consistent with a God who is good, loving, and righteous? 

• Regardless of how things may seem, God does not forget His people. Good will eventually triumph over evil.

Prayer of Commitment

Lord, because You are righteous, You will judge the wicked. Knowing that, may I be certain my heart is right. Then may I faithfully warn others by sharing the gospel of Jesus who bore the judgment for the sin of the world. Amen. 

Be in prayer this week as we begin this new series on messages through the Minor Prophets of the Old Testament - are they speaking to us today?

See you on Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan