Principles of Impenitence
Having recently journeyed with Jonah on his prophetic mission toward the Greater Nineveh area (today’s city of Mosul, Iraq), we now consider how things turned out for Nineveh in after years. We do so while the context of Jonah’s mission remains fresh in our minds.
For this sequel we look at the much neglected prophecy of Nahum (found between the Micah and Habakkuk). So closely is Nahum connected to Jonah that in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures) the former is located immediately following the latter. In our English Bibles, however, Nahum appears as the seventh of the twelve “minor prophets.” Together, they cover a period of about three hundred years, 750 B.C. to 450 B.C. We call them “minor” only because of their word count (Nahum runs to just 47 verses). The books are, David Baker writes, “often major in terms of literary quality and theological relevance.”
The Background of Nahum
The “oracle” of Nahum (1:1) may be described in terms of its contrasts with the book of Jonah.
Firstly, whereas Jonah went to Nineveh in the eighth century B.C., Nahum prophesied about the city in the next century. Although Nahum’s prophecy is undated, internal evidence reveals a time of writing somewhere between the fall of Egyptian Thebes to Assyria in 663 B.C. (3:8) and the fall of Nineveh to the Babylonians and Medes in 612 B.C.
Secondly, whereas much of the book of Jonah is taken up with the prophet’s disobedience to his call, we do not read that Nahum went to Nineveh. This does not mean to say that he didn’t go, nor does it mean he was disobedient to a call to go. All the book gives us is the oracle of the vision he was given in Jerusalem concerning Nineveh (1:1). By Nahum’s day Nineveh had become capital of the Assyrian empire.
Thirdly, Jonah was called to preach a message of repentance to the Ninevites as a last chance for them to receive grace. They did repent and were spared the judgment of God. Nahum by contrast was called to preach a message of judgment, for there was no more space left to repent.
Fourthly, whereas Jonah found it very difficult to fathom that God would be gracious to the Ninevites—which is never a good spiritual place to be, and represented the outlook of the people of Judah—Nahum’s message of judgment upon the Ninevites was a comfort to God’s people. They had been long beleaguered by the brutality and oppression of the Assyrians since the capture of the ten tribes of Israel along with some of the weaker towns of Judah (722 B.C.). Of course, God’s people had plenty of their own sins, but Micah was the one called to prophecy about those.
The Use of Nahum
Firstly, the oracle of Nahum reminds us of the character of God (1:2–8). God is both “jealous and avenging” on his adversaries, and “good, a stronghold in the day of trouble,” for those taking refuge in him.
Secondly, we see that as special as is God’s love for the covenant community of his people, he is interested in all the nations as well. Indeed, he raises up the church to speak to them, as he did through his servants such as Nahum.
Thirdly, the prophecy reminds us that injustice and brutality really do matter to God. He may be slow to anger—a fact which may frustrate its victims but not its perpetrators—and yet he always demonstrates his rectitude in the end; whether here, hereafter, or here and hereafter.
Fourthly, the oracle helps us to weigh the global happenings of our own day with greater consciousness that God is both almighty and aware. We are calmed to know that, behind all the political details, God is very conscious and discerning of all, and is particularly concerned to preserve his church amid the troubles of the world and to advance the gospel of his Son.
Fifthly, Nahum reminds us that the victory is not ultimately against this nation or that one, but against the prince of the power of the air who works his evil wherever he can and for so long as he can. Since Nahum’s day, victory for justice and for grace has been won at the cross. The battle may go on against wickedness in high places, but the outcome is certain. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Welcome, then, to the study of one of the least read books of the Bible.
Dr. Tim J. R. Trumper