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Daily Devotions

Nahum

Nahum 
Day 
Day 5

"What do you conspire against the LORD"

Text: Nahum 1:9

CONTEMPORARY PROPHETS

The prophet Isaiah prophesied strongly against the Assyrians (Isaiah 8, 10). He was thus a contemporary of other prophets who warned against the Assyrian threat (Jonah, Nahum and Micah). Isaiah had this important word about Assyria.

“Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger
And the staff in whose hand is My indignation.
I will send him against an ungodly nation,
And against the people of My wrath…”
Isaiah 10:5-6

1. Assyria described simply

a) As God’s “rod of anger”.
b) God’s staff in whose hand is His indignation.

2. God’s mission for Assyria

a) It was sent to an ungodly nation.
b) Against God’s people who had incurred His wrath.

ASSYRIA’S OPINION OF ITSELF

The Assyrians however did not see themselves as merely God’s instruments of God’s wrath against Israel. The arrogance of the Assyrians saw them plotting to do evil things!

“What do you conspire against the LORD?
He will make an utter end of it.
Affliction will not rise up a second time.”
Nahum 1:9

1. Assyria worshipped its own deities

a) The rulers of Assyria did not acknowledge the God of Israel.
b) They listened to the temple priests of the idols they worshipped.
c) Ultimately, the rulers listened to the dictates of their own wicked hearts.

2. “What do you conspire against the LORD”

a) The Assyrians had their own ideas about plans for the future.
b) They were not going to just conquer Israel. They had ambitions to conquer the entire world.
c) Even if a prophet of God had been sent to them with a message from God, they would not listen.

3. “He will make an utter end of it”

This was God’s way of showing His sovereign might and will. He will thwart the plans of the Assyrians! They may plot all they wish, but God will put an end to that which will go against His divine will!

4. “Affliction will not rise up a second time”

Assyria wanted to conquer Judah too and cause it to suffer affliction as well. But this was not God’s plan. Though Sennacherib sent a huge army against Judah, that plan ended in disaster! God and not Assyria is the Lord!