Nahum, Now The Rest of The Story...
We see here the last few verses of Jonah, and where God does spare the guilty for the righteous, now as we leave here, we see the hand of a Righteous God moving on Nineveh, for the sake of a few. This sounds so familiar tome, in many instances we the Lord spare many for just a few righteous men. My whole point in showing this is to see where this leads, and the great resemblence to our America today, and flow if I had to title this lesson, I would probably call it “The Rest of the Story” or maybe even, “The forgotten Few” any way we say it will come out the same way.. Let us turn over to Nahum, just a few books past Jonah, and I have never heard a Preacher preach on this book of Nahum, so many have preached the book of Jonah to every jot and tittle, but never telling the rest of the story that is in Nahum, so that is where we are going to go, and look with me and see if you do not agree that this is a perfect picture of America, yester year and today..
Look here now in Nahum 1
* * This prophet denounces the certain and approaching destruction of the Assyrian empire, particularly of Nineveh, which is described very minutely. Together with this is consolation for his countrymen, encouraging them to trust in God.
1 The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkosluite.
2 God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he resen’eth wrath for his enemies.
3 The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
4 lie rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Cannel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.
7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
8 But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
1-8 About a hundred years before, at Jonah’s preaching, the Ninevites repented, and were spared, yet, soon after, they became worse than ever. Nineveh knows not that God who contends with her, but is told what a God he is. It is good for all to mix faith with what is here said concerning Him, which speaks great terror to the wicked, and comfort to believers. Let each take his portion from it: let sinners read it and tremble; and let saints read it and triumph. The anger of the Lord is contrasted with his goodness to his people. Perhaps they are obscure and little regarded in the world, but the Lord knows them. The Scripture character of Jehovah agrees not with the views of proud reasoners. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is slow to wrath and ready to forgive, but he will by no means acquit the wicked; and there is tribulation and anguish for every soul that doeth evil: but who duly regards the power of his wrath?
9 What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
10 For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
11 There is one come out of thee, that iinagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor.
12 Thus saith the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.
13 For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.
14 And the LORD hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.
15 Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! 0 Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.
vs 9-15 There is a great deal plotted against the Lord by the gates of hell, and against his kingdom in the world; but it will prove in vain. With some sinners God makes quick despatch; and one way or other, he will make an utter end of all his enemies. Though they are quiet, and many very secure, and not in fear, they shall be cut down as grass and corn, when the destroying angel passes through. God would hereby work great deliverance for his own people. But those who make themselves vile by scandalous sins, God will make vile by shameful punishments. The tidings of this great deliverance shall be welcomed with abundant joy. These words are applied to the great redemption wrought out by our Lord Jesus and the everlasting gospel, Ro 10:15. Christ’s ministers are messengers of good tidings, that preach peace by Jesus Christ How welcome to those who see their misery and danger by sin! And the promise they made in the day of trouble must be made good. Let us be thankful for God’s ordinances, and gladly attend them. Let us look forward with cheerful hope to a world where the wicked never can enter, and sin and temptation will no more be known. Oh what Heaven will be like, that is really our home, we are just passing through this old world, to get to a better world.
Now here in Nahum chapter 2 we see the Destruction of Nineveh foretold.
* Ninevehs destruction foretold. (vs 1-10) The true cause, their sinning against God, and his appearing against them. (vs 11-13)
1 He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.
2 For the LORD hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel:
for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.
3 The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.
4 The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.
5 He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared.
6 The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved
7 And Huzzab shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts.
8 But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water: yet they shall flee away. Stand, stand, shall they cry; but none shall look back.
9 Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture.
10 She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite to~ether, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.
1-10 Nineveh shall not put aside this judgment; there is no counsel or strength against the Lord. God looks upon proud cities, and brings them down. Particular account is given of the terrors wherein the invading enemy shall appear against Nineveh. The empire of Assyria is represented as a queen, about to be led captive to Babylon. Guilt in the conscience fills men with terror in an evil day; and what will treasures or glory do for us in times of distress, or in the day of wrath? Yet for such things how many lose their souls! This is just so typicial of America, we were founded on the Word of God, now most Americans only use the word of God when it is in vain.. God will not always strive with America, any more than He did with Nineveh. We really need to heed the word of God and repent as a nation and come back to orshipping God Almighty..
I Look at it as the days of Jonah, were the days of Billy Sunday. and the days of Nahum as in these days, and may Nahum as Jerry Farwell, or Jack Hyles, or one such as they, but where are the great Preachers today?? Let me take a minute to discuss this matter. Pastors are the overseer of the churches, and by the looks of all the American people they are really lacking their responsibility, now it is not just up to these Pastors either, were gonna get on everyones toes here, yeppers, even mine. I am so lacking when it comes to serving the Lord and teaching with all the ability that God has given me. What are we teaching our people?? What are the Parents teaching the children?? Shame on us all. We are not showing them the way to live for Christ, we are showing them how we can live on Sunday, but then the rest of the time live for the world, for Satan, and ourselves, it ought not be so people, who are coming up to fill the shoes of Jack llyles? Without a preacher what will become of the American people? 1 have no idea why I have gotten this message together, God dealt with me for a few weeks over the book of Nahum, I have been saved almost 30 years, and have been in the best Independent Baptist Churches all across the Country, and I have never heard a sermon preached out of Nahum. I can’t help but wonder why? It is a continuation of Jonah, it is the rest of the story.
11 Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feedingplace of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lion’s whelp, and none made them afraid?
12 The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin.
13 Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.
11-13 The kings of Assyria had long been terrible and cruel to their neighbours, but the Lord would destroy their power. Many plead as an excuse for rapine and fraud, that they have families to provide for; but what is thus obtained will never do them any good. Those that fear the Lord, and get honestly what they have, shall not want for themselves and theirs. It is just with God to deprive those of children, or of comfort in them, who take sinful courses to enrich them. Those are not worthy to be heard again, that have spoken reproachfully of God. Let us then come to God upon his mercy-seat, that having peace with him through our Lord Jesus Christ, we may know that he is for us, and that all things shall work together for our everlasting good.
Now we see here in Chapter 3
I Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not;
2 The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the pransing hones, and of the jumping chariots.
3 The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of caresses; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses:
4 Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredons, and families through her witchcrafts.
5 Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.
6 And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock.
7 And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee?
* The sins and judgments of Nineveh. (vs 1-7) Its utter destruction. (vs 8-19)
1-7 When proud sinners are brought down, others should learn not to lift themselves up. The fall of this great city should be a lesson to private persons, who increase wealth by fraud and oppression. They are preparing enemies for themselves; and if the Lord sees good to punish them in this world, they wiil have none to pity them. Every man who seeks his own prosperity, safety, and peace, should not only act in an upright, honourable manner, but with kindness to all.
8 Art thou better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea?
9 Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite; Put and Lubint were thy helpers.
10 Yet was she carried away, she went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.
11 Thou also shalt be drunken: thou shalt be hid, thou also shalt seek strength because of the enemy.
12 All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the firstripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater.
13 Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women: the gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies: the fire shall devour thy ban.
14 Draw thee waters for the siege, fortil~ thy strong holds: go into clay, and tread the mortar, make strong the brick kiln.
15 There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the canker worm, make thyself many as the locusts.
16 Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stan of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and fleeth away.
17 Thy crowned are as the locusts, and thy captains as the great grasshoppers, which camp in the hedges in the cold day, but when the sun ariseth they flee away, and their place is not known where they are.
18 Thy Shepherds slumber, 0 king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them.
19 There is no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually?
In Verse 19 it says:
19 There is no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually? How many times have we heard the other Countries making fun of American, most of the other Countries hate Americans, and will delight at her fall, just like here in vs 19, they clapped hands over the fall of Neneveh.
I believe our Neneveh (USA) is about to tumble, are we going to stand back and let this happen, or are we going to take a stand for God and His righteousness? it is our choice, just like salvation is our choice, now will be decide to follow after the Lord and His commandments or after the world and our own fleshly nature. God has given us the tools to do His work with, are we going to us them, or let them lay up and get rusted?
Let us meet this challenge head on and go forth for Jesus Christ, and act like Christians are supposed to act like, and stand up and be counted for. I call you out by name, Christians.. Ephesians 6:11-20
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins gin about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God:
18 Praying always with all payer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that 1 may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Amen and Amen!!
I do pray this has been a blessing to you, I know it has set a fire under my soul, and
I will never see Nahum and Jonah in the same way as before. May we not let it end
here, carry it out to a lost and dying world. Don’t just fatten your souls, share your
testimonies and witnesses with others. God bless you every one. So put on your sandals and be the witness God has chosen you to be.
