Today, we continue our journey through the Bible with today’s study of Nahum. I pray God shows us what He wants us to learn.
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14
As we study the Bible alone or in a group setting, there are several questions we can ask ourselves to help us dig deeper. The five questions are:
- What does the scripture say about God?
- Then what does the scripture say about me?
- Does something in this passage challenge me?
- What gives me hope in this passage?
- Is anything unclear to me?
I hope these questions help you as much as they help me.
Book of Nahum
- Author: Nahum.
- Audience: Ninevah and Judah.
- Date Written: between 663 and 612 BC.
- Length: 3 Chapters.
- Keywords: comfort or full of comfort.
- Key Verses: The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him. (1:7).
- Key People: People of Ninevah and Nahum.
Summary of Nahum:
Nahum’s singular focus on the impending judgment of Nineveh offers a continuation of the story that began in Jonah. The book looks at the Lord’s judgment on Nineveh’s oppression, cruelty, idolatry, and wickedness. The book ends with the destruction of the city. God is not only slow in anger and a shelter for those who trust in God, but he also does not leave sin unpunished.
Sections of the Book:
The book of Nahum contains nine significant themes, which are:
- The Judge of Ninevah (Chap1).
- Judgement of the city (Chap 2).
- Destruction of the city (Chap 3).
Messages in Nahum:
Nineveh once had responded to the preaching of Jonah and turned from their evil ways to serve the Lord God. But 150 years later, Nineveh returned to idolatry, violence, and arrogance, showing that God’s people must continue to work on their faith daily. Once again, God sends one of His prophets to Nineveh warning of judgment as the destruction of their city and exhorting them to repentance. Sadly, the Ninevites did not heed’s Nahum’s warning, and Babylon destroyed the city. We too can still fall under the control of sin if we don’t stay active in our faith.
Final thoughts:
And like so many other books in the Bible, we see God’s character on display in this book. They are:
- Good–1:7.
- Jealous–1:2.
- Powerful–1:3.
- Sovereign–1:6.
Nahum also portrays the future arrival of Christ. The Book describes the protection of the faithful God by revealing “The Lord is Good, the Fortress of the Day of Trouble”. But this will not last forever and Christ will take revenge on his enemies with the Second Coming of Christ as his judgment.
All Lessons from the Bible
Each book of the Bible contains lessons for us to learn and historical information. We must study God’s Word to see what to do and what not to do in life. Paul reminds us of the importance of the words within the text in 2 Timothy 3.
2 Timothy 3:14-17; “14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Prayer
Please grant me the understanding and knowledge of You and Your word. As I open my Bible to read the scriptures, it gives me wisdom and discernment. And even as I sit and listen to the pastor, preacher or apostle reveal what Your Holy Book is speaking into my life, help me see and understand. Help me know Jesus Christ and how He lived His life so I can follow in His precious footsteps.
Grace and Peace to you,
Yvonne M. Morgan is a Christian #author, #blogger, and #speaker. #BibleGatewayPartner
Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, GO and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
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