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Daily Devotions

Nahum

Nahum 
Day 
Introduction

INTRODUCTION

Text: Nahum

The Assyrian Empire

The Assyrians were mentioned in a number of prophetic books. The prophet Isaiah wrote about Assyria. Jonah personally ministered there quite effectively in Nineveh. The Ninevites had repented of their wickedness and the Lord God had spared them from destruction!

The Book of Nahum

The prophet Nahum wrote about the destruction of the Assyrian Empire. How then should we understand the ministry of the prophet Jonah and the repentance of the city of Nineveh?

1. The repentance of Nineveh

a) The repentance was genuine.

b) Thus God spared that great city.

2. Related issues

a) Nineveh and other cities

i) This was only one city.

ii) The Assyrian Empire was huge.

iii) Other cities may not have been as repentant!

b) Short-lived repentance

i) Repentance was not meant to be short-lived.

ii) It was meant to be permanent.

iii) It should cause life-long changes.

iv) What if there were no permanent life-changes?

c) Returning to old sinful ways

i) This could happen if there was a new king.

ii) This could happen after the initial feelings of remorse and regret no longer hold sway.

The Prophet Nahum

The Scriptures do not inform us much about the personal life of prophet Nahum. We may note the following:

1. His father’s name was not mentioned. We are reminded of Elijah the Tishbite who was from Gilead, to serve as a prophet of God (1 Kings 17:1). Jonah’s father was mentioned as Amittai (Jonah 1:1).

2. We may assume that Nahum’s character was probably not like that of Jonah!

3. The mighty Assyrians destroyed Israel in 722-723 BC.

4. Nahum was raised as a prophet of God who proclaimed the ultimate destruction of the Assyrian Empire.