#155. Waiting on God When Evil Seems to Win: Lessons from Nahum | Biblical Parenting

Steph: 00:00:00

This is The Dwelling Place from Entrusted Ministries.

2

: 00:00:02

I'm Stephanie Hickox.

3

: 00:00:04

Today, as we glean from the Book of Nahum,

we will be reassured that God certainly

4

: 00:00:08

cares about the suffering of His people

and the injustices occurring in the

5

: 00:00:13

world whether it's today or long ago.

6

: 00:00:15

God will confront evil and

rescue his righteous remnant

7

: 00:00:19

the book of Nahum is filled

with a collection of poems

8

: 00:00:22

that proclaimed the

impending doom of Assyria

9

: 00:00:25

but the audience is also God's righteous

remnant As you'd expect, Nahum is the

10

: 00:00:29

author, but we know very little about him

11

: 00:00:32

His name means comfort and is

a shorter version of the name

12

: 00:00:35

Nehemiah, which means Yahweh comforts

13

: 00:00:38

We don't encounter Nahum

anywhere else in scripture

14

: 00:00:41

one, one tells us that

Nahum lived in Elkosh

15

: 00:00:43

There are several theories

about where Elkosh was located.

16

: 00:00:47

Some speculate that he was part

of the exile and that Alkosh

17

: 00:00:50

was in the Assyrian Empire.

18

: 00:00:52

And some believe that Alkosh later

became Capernaum, which literally means

19

: 00:00:56

Land of Nahum

20

: 00:00:57

God sent this prophet to deliver a message

21

: 00:01:00

declaring that the evil empires

of the earth will not endure,

22

: 00:01:03

and though they prosper for a

time, they will meet their end

23

: 00:01:07

although Nahum's prophecy particularly

related to the Assyrian Empire

24

: 00:01:11

and to their great city of Nineveh

25

: 00:01:13

These prophecies extend

far beyond their wickedness

26

: 00:01:15

And confirmed that one day God

will bring an end to every nation

27

: 00:01:19

that does not submit to Him.

28

: 00:01:20

it was about 100 years before Nahum

that Jonah in absolute reluctance

29

: 00:01:24

appeared in Nineveh preaching a brief

yet effective message of repentance

30

: 00:01:28

At that point, many of the Ninevites

did repent and look to the Lord.

31

: 00:01:32

But Nahum comes about

a hundred years later

32

: 00:01:35

When Assyria is the largest empire the

world has ever seen, and they are ruled

33

: 00:01:39

by Asher Banipal who was known as

the cruelest king of the Assyrians

34

: 00:01:43

Ashurbanipal was the grandson

of Sennacherib and his father

35

: 00:01:46

stressed the importance of learning.

36

: 00:01:49

His dad required him to learn to read

and write, many of the depictions

37

: 00:01:52

that have been uncovered of him

38

: 00:01:54

reveal him

39

: 00:01:54

With a stylus or writing

utensil tucked in his belt

40

: 00:01:57

If you've ever heard his name, it's

likely not because of his cruel acts,

41

: 00:02:01

but because of his world-renowned

library, it was the greatest library

42

: 00:02:06

in the world at that time, and may

have even inspired the Library of

43

: 00:02:09

Speaker 34: Alexandria

44

: 00:02:10

Steph: When the Library of Alexandria

caught fire, all of the scrolls

45

: 00:02:14

contained inside were destroyed.

46

: 00:02:16

But Ashurbanipal's library

was full of clay tablets

47

: 00:02:19

And when it was burned, it only served

to harden and preserve these tablets.

48

: 00:02:24

however

49

: 00:02:24

They were hidden from archaeologists

for thousands of years one of the

50

: 00:02:28

tablets reveals a detailed flood account

51

: 00:02:30

And we learn much

52

: 00:02:31

about the cruelty of this empire.

53

: 00:02:33

From their own words, they were

ruthless and didn't just defeat

54

: 00:02:37

enemies They devoured and tortured them

55

: 00:02:39

Ashurbanipal was his father's fourth son.

56

: 00:02:42

When his oldest brother died, his

dad passed over the next two sons.

57

: 00:02:46

They rose up in rebellion

against Ashurbanipal, but he

58

: 00:02:48

crushed them and defeated them

59

: 00:02:50

in a merciless manner

60

: 00:02:51

When he became ruler of the Assyrian

Empire, his first act was to crush a

61

: 00:02:56

rebellion in Egypt, in the city of Thebes.

62

: 00:02:59

It was one of the greatest

cities in Egypt at the time.

63

: 00:03:01

And keep this point in mind

64

: 00:03:03

We'll speak of this city

again in chapter three

65

: 00:03:05

Because Thebes fell in 663

66

: 00:03:07

And

67

: 00:03:07

Speaker 34: Assyria fell in

612, we know that Nahum was

68

: 00:03:11

written between those dates.

69

: 00:03:12

Steph: Nahum is largely

trying to encourage his people

70

: 00:03:16

that have been oppressed

by the Assyrian Empire.

71

: 00:03:18

He wants them to know That

God is a God of justice

72

: 00:03:21

He sees their suffering and

it will not go unpunished

73

: 00:03:24

and so we move from the Book of Isaiah

where God tenderly describes himself

74

: 00:03:28

as a shepherd, and his love for Israel

as the love of a mother and the love

75

: 00:03:32

of a father and now we're gonna see God

rise up in righteous anger to defeat

76

: 00:03:37

those who have harmed his children

77

: 00:03:38

I remember a time I gained the

courage to tell my parents that

78

: 00:03:41

something terrible had happened to me.

79

: 00:03:43

I remember My dad patiently

and kindly asking me questions.

80

: 00:03:47

He wanted to know

exactly what had happened

81

: 00:03:50

I'm so grateful for how gently

and delicately my dad responded.

82

: 00:03:53

But I think there was a part of me

that wanted to know that my dad was

83

: 00:03:56

angry at what had happened to me

84

: 00:03:58

As I've gotten older, I've

realized the audience matters.

85

: 00:04:02

I was still a little girl, and

my dad didn't want me to think

86

: 00:04:05

that he was angry at me at all

87

: 00:04:06

and I'm certain that he saved

his anger for another moment

88

: 00:04:10

So as I look to Nahum and I think

about the protective love of a father

89

: 00:04:13

I think it's beautiful to see God rise

up to defeat the enemies of Israel

90

: 00:04:17

The book begins quoting Exodus 34,

91

: 00:04:20

but instead of beginning that the Lord

is slow to anger, it begins with judgment

92

: 00:04:25

And it's because that aspect

of his character is what is

93

: 00:04:28

on center stage at this point

94

: 00:04:30

An oracle concerning Nineveh, the

book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.

95

: 00:04:34

The Lord is a jealous and avenging God.

96

: 00:04:37

The Lord is avenging and wrathful.

97

: 00:04:39

The Lord takes vengeance on

his adversaries and keeps

98

: 00:04:42

wrath for his enemies.

99

: 00:04:43

The Lord is slow to anger and

great in power, And the Lord

100

: 00:04:47

will by no means clear the guilty.

101

: 00:04:49

His way is in whirlwind and storm, and

the clouds are the dust of his feet.

102

: 00:04:53

He rebukes the sea and makes it dry.

103

: 00:04:55

He dries up all the rivers.

104

: 00:04:57

Bashan and Carmel wither.

105

: 00:04:59

The bloom of Lebanon withers.

106

: 00:05:01

The mountains quake before

him, the hills melt.

107

: 00:05:03

The earth heaves before him, the

world and all who dwell in it.

108

: 00:05:07

Who can stand before his indignation?

109

: 00:05:09

who can endure the heat of his anger?

110

: 00:05:11

His wrath is poured out like fire, and

the rocks are broken into pieces by him.

111

: 00:05:15

The Lord is good, a stronghold

in the day of trouble.

112

: 00:05:18

he knows those who take refuge in him.

113

: 00:05:21

But with an overflowing flood, he will

make a complete end of the adversaries,

114

: 00:05:25

and will pursue his enemies into darkness

What do you plot against the Lord?

115

: 00:05:29

He will make a complete end.

116

: 00:05:31

Trouble will not rise up a second time.

117

: 00:05:33

For they are like entangled thorns,

like drunkards as they drink

118

: 00:05:37

They are consumed like

stubble fully dried.

119

: 00:05:40

From you came one who plotted evil

against the Lord, a worthless counselor.

120

: 00:05:44

Thus says the Lord, " Though they

are at full strength and many, they

121

: 00:05:47

will be cut down and pass away.

122

: 00:05:49

Though I have afflicted you,

I will afflict you no more.

123

: 00:05:52

And now I will break his yoke from off

you and will burst your bonds apart."

124

: 00:05:57

The Lord has given commandment about you.

125

: 00:05:59

No more shall your name be perpetuated.

126

: 00:06:01

From the house of your gods, I will cut

off the carved image and the metal image.

127

: 00:06:05

I will make your grave, for you are vile.

128

: 00:06:08

Behold, upon the mountains the

feet of him who brings good

129

: 00:06:11

news, who publishes peace.

130

: 00:06:14

Keep your feasts, O Judah.

131

: 00:06:15

Fulfill your vows, For never again

shall the worthless pass through you.

132

: 00:06:20

He is utterly cut off.

133

: 00:06:22

When verse six said, "Who can

stand before His indignation?"

134

: 00:06:25

It reminded me of Psalm 7:11.

135

: 00:06:27

God is a righteous judge and a God

who feels indignation every day

136

: 00:06:32

Webster defines indignation as a strong

feeling of anger caused by something

137

: 00:06:36

you believe is unfair, wrong, or mean.

138

: 00:06:38

It's often described as righteous or moral

anger because it is a justified desire

139

: 00:06:43

for fairness I remember reading this

psalm and thinking about some of the ways

140

: 00:06:47

that my children disobey and thinking,

" Yeah, I feel indignation every day too."

141

: 00:06:51

But I can't honestly say that all

of my indignation is righteous

142

: 00:06:55

we know that the Lord's is, and He

has patiently held this indignation

143

: 00:06:59

But now he acts.

144

: 00:07:01

Chapter 1 didn't even mention

Nineveh or Assyria, and actually

145

: 00:07:04

used many of Isaiah's words regarding

the end of the Babylonian Empire.

146

: 00:07:09

As I said, these words of Nahum will

extend beyond the Assyrian Empire

147

: 00:07:13

But in chapter two, we're introduced

to the overthrow of Nineveh

148

: 00:07:17

Nineveh was a well-protected city and

had a reputation for being indestructible

149

: 00:07:22

It's believed that the walls were 100

feet high and that there was a moat 150

150

: 00:07:27

feet wide and 60 feet deep surrounding

it but just as Nahum prophesied in 1:8

151

: 00:07:31

With an overflowing flood, God

made an end of his adversaries.

152

: 00:07:35

God made the Tigris River overflow

153

: 00:07:38

and it destroyed some of the

walls of Nineveh so that the

154

: 00:07:41

Babylonians were allowed through.

155

: 00:07:43

we also know that much of the city burned

156

: 00:07:45

And as chapter three will tell us The city

would be hidden And it wasn't uncovered

157

: 00:07:49

until archeologists discovered it in 1842

158

: 00:07:52

Chapter two begins, " the

scatterer has come up against you.

159

: 00:07:55

Man the ramparts, watch the road, dress

for battle, collect all your strength.

160

: 00:08:00

For the Lord is restoring the majesty

of Jacob as the majesty of Israel.

161

: 00:08:05

For plunders have plundered

them and ruined their branches."

162

: 00:08:08

And chapter two ends, " Behold, I

am against you," declares the Lord

163

: 00:08:12

of hosts, " and I will burn your

chariots in smoke, and the sword

164

: 00:08:15

shall devour your young lions.

165

: 00:08:17

I will cut off your prey from

the earth, and the voice of your

166

: 00:08:20

messengers shall no longer be heard."

167

: 00:08:22

Chapter three zooms out from Nineveh's

destruction as Nahum describes

168

: 00:08:26

God's judgment upon the nation of

Assyria, he reminds this bloodthirsty

169

: 00:08:30

nation of their wickedness and

cruelty toward those they oppressed

170

: 00:08:34

Woe to the bloody city, all full of

lies and plunder, no end to the prey.

171

: 00:08:39

The crack of the whip and rumble of

the wheel, galloping horse and bounding

172

: 00:08:43

chariot, horsemen charging, flashing

sword and glittering spear, hosts of

173

: 00:08:48

slain, heaps of corpses, dead bodies

without end, they stumble over the bodies

174

: 00:08:54

and beginning in three eight we

read about the downfall of Thebes

175

: 00:08:57

Are you better than Thebes that sat

by the Nile, with water around her,

176

: 00:09:02

her rampart a sea and water her wall?

177

: 00:09:04

Cush was her strength, Egypt too,

and that without limit; Put and

178

: 00:09:08

the Libyans were her helpers.

179

: 00:09:10

Yet she became an exile, she went into

captivity; her infants were dashed

180

: 00:09:14

Speaker 33: in pieces

181

: 00:09:15

Steph: At the head of every street.

182

: 00:09:17

for her honored men, lots were cast, and

all her great men were bound in chains.

183

: 00:09:21

You also will be drunken; you will go

into hiding; you will seek a refuge

184

: 00:09:26

from the enemy All your fortresses are

like fig trees with first ripe figs.

185

: 00:09:30

If shaken, they fall into

the mouth of the eater.

186

: 00:09:33

Behold, your troops are

women in your midst.

187

: 00:09:36

The gates of your land are

wide open to your enemies.

188

: 00:09:39

Fire has devoured your bars.

189

: 00:09:41

The city of Thebes

190

: 00:09:43

Which in some Bibles might be read as No

Ammon was the capital of southern Egypt

191

: 00:09:47

It was known for having 100

gates, and it had a highly

192

: 00:09:50

sophisticated system of canals.

193

: 00:09:52

And Nahum warns the Assyrians and

Ashurbanipal, if Thebes could meet

194

: 00:09:56

its end, surely Nineveh could as well

195

: 00:09:59

I believe the message of Nahum

calls us to trust and to endure well

196

: 00:10:03

Let's be honest, in our current society,

we and our kids are being trained so

197

: 00:10:08

that we do not have to wait for anything.

198

: 00:10:10

Forgot to order that birthday present?

199

: 00:10:12

No problem.

200

: 00:10:13

Amazon Prime to the rescue having

to stand in line for a minute?

201

: 00:10:16

That's okay.

202

: 00:10:17

Be entertained on your phone

having a craving Don't worry.

203

: 00:10:20

get that late night snack delivered

204

: 00:10:22

And I'm not cutting down

these modern conveniences

205

: 00:10:25

but I do want to encourage us to

balance these comforts with a focus

206

: 00:10:29

on intentional character building

that would also teach our children,

207

: 00:10:32

waiting well and trusting in God's timing

208

: 00:10:36

This is probably one of

the hardest lessons of life

209

: 00:10:38

So let's make sure that our kids

aren't shocked by the waiting of

210

: 00:10:42

life when they leave our homes

211

: 00:10:44

Heavenly Father

212

: 00:10:45

We praise you that you are

213

: 00:10:46

available and forgiving toward all who

come to you we thank you for your tender

214

: 00:10:51

love and care and for the protective,

jealous love that you have for us

215

: 00:10:56

though you require us to be patient we

can trust That you will use difficult

216

: 00:11:00

circumstances for our good I pray

that you would bless us with a

217

: 00:11:03

patience in the midst of suffering

218

: 00:11:05

that is based upon a deep

faith in your goodness

219

: 00:11:09

And I ask that our patient endurance

would be inspiring to our kids in

220

: 00:11:14

the midst of a society, so focused

on instant gratification, I pray

221

: 00:11:18

you would faithfully instruct us

222

: 00:11:20

and how to develop our kids' character

223

: 00:11:22

So they learn to wait well upon you

224

: 00:11:25

We thank you that all

you do is worth the wait

225

: 00:11:28

And we praise you for the goodness that

you have stored up for those that love you

226

: 00:11:32

As we see the judgment of those who

do not follow you, we are grieved and

227

: 00:11:36

we pray for many to come to salvation

228

: 00:11:39

Make us bold, that our feet would

be those that bring good news

229

: 00:11:42

to those that do not know what

a wonderful Savior you are.

230

: 00:11:46

It is in your name we pray, Jesus.

231

: 00:11:48

Amen.