Nahum: Chapter 1 Part 2

After describing in verse 8 about God's wrath as an engulfing flood and darkness so that Nineveh would not escape it, Nahum continued on with how God would actually overthrow Nineveh and restore Judah's joy.

Verse 9-15 :
Here it obviously states that no conspiracy would topple down God's kingship and authority. (But as humans, why do we constantly think we can? Why did Jonah run away if he knew God would find him? Why would we choose to constantly sin even if we know God is not happy with our actions?) We see here a resolved God who just wants to say to the Ninevites or anyone who opposes him for that matter that all attempts would be futile. Tangled in thorns? Drunken like drunkards? I think this is suppossed to somehow illustrate the futility of Nineveh's plots against the Lord. (This is like saying "You brought this upon yourselves!")

Verse 11 mentions a wicked counselor. It is interesting to note that this may refer to Ashurbanipal or Sennacherib (kings of Assyria). This makes a lot of sense. Most of the time, a king should be the representation of the state of the country. If you have a wicked king, naturally/generally you have a wicked country who would do wicked practices. But this time, they picked on the wrong country to bully - Judah. (Remember vengeance is of the Lord's)

Verse 12 is like the Lord talking to Nineveh (they) and Judah (you). It is a statement of comfort for Judah because although 1) Nineveh has walls to protect them (safe) 2) Nineveh has a lot of people (many), God will cut them down. It is as if a yoke has been lifted from the backs of Judah. Picture chains and bonds being broken just like that. Imagine that these were the chains that you wore for almost your whole life, now God is saying let me break them for you. What a nice relief!

Verse 14 is the ultimatum for no other than the king, the gods and the people of Nineveh themselves. First, we see that the king's name shall perpetuate no more. (We know that the king represents his kingdom so this means that Nineveh and its inhabotants will be no more.) Secondly, this concerns the gods in the temple of Nineveh. God will destroy all these man-made idols. And lastly, the Lord has passed judgment on the king of Nineveh that he will be put to death.

Verse 15 is the result of what happens in verse 14. After the destruction of Nineveh, Judah will once again be able to hear the good news and do their feasts. (Not sure what this mountains and the feet and the feasts pertain to.) But rest assured that the summary of this second part of chapter 1 was to see the judgment on Nineveh by the Lord. As these have been foretold by Lord through Nahum, so shall it pass.

Notes and Questions:
1) Actually, the cross reference of this book runs through some parts of the book of Isaiah and some scattered verses from Micah, Ezekiel, and Zephaniah. It may be wise to also look at those verses. (Is. 10:5, 24-27, 14:24-25, 30:31-33, 31:8-9 and many more!)

2) Acording to the study Bible, feet on the mountains signify the feet of those who would announce the deliverance from Babylon (Is. 52:7). So is it used here because being free from Nineveh would also be a good news?

3) The feasts, on the other hand, represents the original feasts that they had when they were free. Of course, Nineveh and its people prevented the people of God in celebreating their annual feasts. That is why God here is reminding that His people should perform the vows the they made when they were in slavery and to observe the annual feasts.