Nahum

1.       First Impressions

Nahum’s name means comfort and oddly enough that is exactly what this book filled with destruction is. It is a comfort to the people of Judah who are under Assyrian rule that God is going to punish their enemies. Nahum from Elkosh is called by God to pronounce judgment on Assyria about 100 years after Jonah because they had resumed their wickedness. Assyria was at its full strength before its destruction by the Babylonians in 609 B.C. According to Nelson’s Book of Maps and Charts Nahum may have been written between 663 and 654 B.C.

2.       Theme Tracing

·         What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

There is so much of God’s character revealed to us in Nahum, specifically in the first chapter! We see that He is a God of hope as this book gives hope and comfort to the people of Judah. Throughout Nahum 1:2-10 we see God’s character revealed so clearly. His justice, wrath and power are displayed. We see His holiness, goodness and mercy.. Chapter 1:14 shows us that God is true to His word. Just studying all these traits mentioned not only in the first chapter but throughout the book has been so interesting and well, I’ve come to see God among all the destruction which is so amazing!

·         What does this book show about God’s redemptive plan for mankind?

In Nahum we see God’s sovereignty as He uses each kingdom/empire in His time and for His will. This is just an image of the way God plans things in bringing us back to the place where we are in perfect relationship with Him as man was before the fall. God won’t allow His people to be oppressed for so long; we see this in Nahum 1:7-8. God allows Assyria to judge His chosen people and then uses Babylon to judge Assyria.