Nahum

I. Introduction
   A. Nahum
   B. Condemnation of Nineveh
      1. Nahum as "comfort"
      2. Comfort to Judah regarding fate of Nineveh
   C. Let us consider the book

II. Nahum: The Details
   A. Authorship
      1. Final compiler unknown (cf. Nahum 1:1)
      2. Material comes from Nahum himself
   B. Dating
      1. Thebes of Egypt destroyed ca. 664 BCE (cf. Nahum 3:8-10)
      2. Nineveh itself destroyed ca. 612 BCE
      3. Nahum prophesies, therefore, between 664 and 612 BCE
      4. Likely written soon afterward
   C. Audience
      1. Judah and Assyria
      2. Much we can gain from it
   D. Purpose
      1. To reveal the word of God that came to Nahum
      2. To pronounce judgment, destruction on Nineveh

III. Nahum: The Story
   A. The Power of the LORD (Nahum 1)
      1. LORD as jealous, avenging God; wrath against adversaries; 
         great in power, just; works in whirlwinds, dries up rivers; 
         mountains, trees wither; mountains and hills melt, earth 
         heaves before Him (Nahum 1:1-6)
      2. None can stand before Him in His anger; wrath poured out like 
         fire; LORD as good, stronghold in difficult days, knows those 
         who take refuge in Him; adversaries destroyed, enemies 
         pursued; to plot against the LORD futile, for He makes a 
         complete end (Nahum 1:7-11)
      3. Even if enemies are in full strength, they will be cut down; 
         God has afflicted Judah, will do so no longer; yokes and bonds 
         to be broken; command given that gods and idols to be cut off, 
         grave made for enemies; on mountains, feet of him who brings 
         good news: feasts to be kept in Judah, enemy cut off 
         (Nahum 1:12-15)
   B. Destruction of Nineveh (Nahum 2)
      1. Scatterer against them; people to be prepared for war; LORD 
         restoring majesty of Israel after being plundered; soldiers, 
         shields of red, chariots prepared; siege towers set up; river 
         gates opened, palace disturbed; stripped, plundered, wealth 
         removed (Nahum 2:1-9)
      2. Desolation; people tremble, are anguished; Nineveh seen as 
         lion who provided in past for cubs; LORD against them, will 
         destroy them, devour young lions, prey cut off, voice no 
         longer heard (Nahum 2:10-13)
   C. Woe to Assyria (Nahum 3)
      1. Woe to city full of lies, no end to prey; horsemen, chariots 
         within city; dead in heaps; all of this because of their 
         prostitution (Nahum 3:1-4)
      2. LORD against them, will expose their nakedness, shame to 
         kingdoms; God will treat them with contempt, make them a 
         spectacle; all who see will shrink, seek comforters for 
         Nineveh (Nahum 3:5-7)
      3. Comparison to Thebes of Egypt; they had assistance from Cush, 
         Put, Libya; yet she was destroyed, made captive, exiled; thus 
         also to Nineveh-- will go into hiding, seek refuge; fortresses
         will be shaken and will fall, soldiers as women, gates as wide
         open to enemies (Nahum 3:8-13)
      4. Prepare for siege: water, strengthen forts; fire will destroy 
         them; sword will cut off; they are to multiply, become as 
         locusts and grasshoppers; they will flee, not be found; 
         shepherds of Assyria asleep; no easing of pain; wound 
         grievous; all who hear will rejoice, for evil of Assyria on 
         everyone (Nahum 3:14-19)

IV. Nahum: Important Passages
   A. Nahum 1:15 / Romans 10:15

V. Conclusion
   A. Thus we have the prophecies of Nahum against Assyria
      1. Memory of Assyrian action against Israel, Judah maintained
      2. Nineveh, Assyria getting what is due for their iniquity
   B. A message of condemnation and yet comfort
      1. Nineveh, Assyria to fall
      2. Yet Judah can feel vindicated-- their enemy no longer will 
         exist!
   C. Let us learn from the example of Assyria what God does to those 
      who stand against Him!
   D. Invitation/songbook