Message 9

“Hopelessness”

 Nah.3:14-19   

 

Here in the final verses of the book of the vision of Nahum, the Lord does speak again regarding the utter destruction of Nineveh.  Having given the cause of the judgment (“woe”), i.e. the continual sins of the city, the example of No-Amon (Nah.3:8), the Lord now turns unto the terrible end of Nineveh: her hopelessness.  All those outside of Christ Jesus have the same hopelessness for there is NO HOPE outside of the Lord (Eph.2:12).  In spite of all of Nineveh’s resources and efforts, she shall meet with a terrible end. 

 

I.  An Overview:  Nah.3:14-19—Nahum bids them to get ready for the invasion.

a.  Nah.3:14—

                                      i.            Draw waters for the siege: to take in drinking water which is necessary for a long siege upon a city.  They would draw from the Tigris river which Nineveh did sit upon. 

                                 ii.            Fortify thy strong holds:  perhaps the water would be used in the making of the brick for the walls to defend. 

                            iii.            Clay, mortar, brick kiln: the Ninevites would use these things to repair the breeches in the walls made by the invading army.  They would tread in the clay and water mixing it with their feet into the proper substance to make clay for the fortification of the wall round about the city.  The brick kiln was to be made ready to dry the bricks quicker than leaving them out in the sun.  They would need to repair the wall quickly and much brick would be needed to do such. 

b.  Nah.3:15—

                                      i.            The fire and the Sword: Nah.3:13—We have relayed unto you concerning the fires there in Nineveh, how that the rubbish that remains and the ruins have much char upon them speaking to us that fire was used in the overthrow.  Devour and cutting off—these are the ends of those who oppose God. 

1.  The Description of Jesus: Rev.19:12,15—His eyes were as a flame of fire, and out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations. 

                                 ii.            Cankerworm and the locusts:  The cankerworm represents the enemy come upon the Ninevites while the locusts throughout this section of verses represent the Assyrians themselves (NOTE—Vv.16 further on ‘cankerworm’ and Vv.17 further on ‘locusts’).  (Joel.1:4-7). 

Nahum tells them to make yourself as  many as the cankerworm (equal in their numbers), make yourself as many as the locusts (that is double your size, gather your armies together, have as many soldiers as there are locusts; even then you shall be defeated).    

c.  Nah.3:16—

                                      i.            Multiplicity of Merchants:  We cannot read this part of Nahum without having the Holy Spirit remind us of Rev.18:9-19.  Nineveh was situated perfectly for commerce between the three known worlds (Asia, Africa, Europe).  There she sat as a cross roads between all three.  She herself was a merchant city.  We also know that she made herself great through the spoils of her own victories of other cities. 

                                 ii.            Cankerworm—spoils and flees:  Joel.1:4-7—the destruction of the cankerworm is very complete.  The cankerworm would come and destroy the locusts (Medo-Babylonian army would destroy this Assyrian Empire).  They would spoil the city of Nineveh and then they would flee the desolated land for it was good for nothing. Just as Nineveh had spread herself over everything until nothing remained; so too shall the invading army do to her—here we see that she did reap what she sowed (a Law of God just as strong and true as the Law of Gravity).   

d.  Nah.3:17—

                                      i.            Crowned and captains:  the crowned or those who wore the diadem.  Chief rulers and captains of the armies.  There would be many for it would be a vast army (hence the terms ‘as the locusts’ and ‘as the great grasshoppers’.  Locusts and grasshoppers become dormant in the cold weather. 

                                 ii.            Their respective end:  They would be destroyed as such.  They would become paralyzed in the day of calamity and thus be useless.  They would be destroyed utterly as a fleeing away (Nah.2:8), their place shall not be known for they have been destroyed as if they never were here (an utter complete destruction). 

e.  Nah.3:18—

                                      i.            Thy Shepherds: The counselors, upon whom the safety of the state depends.

                                 ii.            The King: The King of Assyria is being spoken unto here.  He represents the power and evil of Nineveh personified, for a king is responsible for all that happens in his kingdom.

                            iii.            Thy nobles:  the princes, whom were heirs of such a kingdom as Assyria inherited nothing more than the dust from which they were made (Gen.3:19; Psa.104:29; Eccl.12:7). 

                                 iv.            Thy People:  the shepherds being dead, the flock is thus scattered.  A flock which is scattered is likely to end as her shepherd: perished.  When there is no man to gather they will remain in the wilderness, a place of destruction for a flock (Jerm.23:1). 

                                      v.            Their respective end:  “slumber, dust” all speak of death.  To sleep the sleep of death.  That is what these rulers and counselors did do. 

f.  Nah.3:19—

                                      i.            God’s work upon them: Isa.1:5,6—there is no calming, no cessation of the work of God upon these evil people.  The wound(s) suffered is from the hand of God (Lev.26:21,22). 

                                 ii.            Rejoicing over the work of the Lord:  Nah.1:15  There should be a rejoicing over the work of the Lord.  Glad tidings these be that we have been delivered from the enemy.  “Alleluia”, there shall be, “for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth” (Rev.18:20-19:6; Lam.2:15; Zeph.2:13-15). 

                            iii.            The span of wickedness of a nation:  This is the universality of sin…it has compassed everything.  Wickedness has penetrated in everything that there is.  The sin of Assyria, her murdering and bloodshed…not one nation was left untouched by it.  The cruelty and oppression of Nineveh had been universally felt.  So can it be said of sin; the effects of sin have been universally felt as well. 

 

II.                     Purpose of God CANNOT be averted: 

     Recall Rabshakeh, who denied the God of the Israelites at the bidding of his king, Sennacherib.  This was all done in an attempt to destroy Jerusalem and her inhabitants.  However, the Lord God would not allow this to happen. 

     Here, these Ninevites are warned of their end, encouraged to take shelter with all human means possible, given the example of No-Amon, and told that their work shall come to an end.  The world does rage against the Lord (Psa.2:1).  But, with all their raging they have still yet to learn, that the purpose of a Sovereign God cannot be thwarted, changed, altered, tweeked, etc.  But the Lord did destroy Nineveh.  And He will destroy the Nineveh’s of our day as well.  Whether it be here on earth before His 2nd coming, or whether it be at that great day at the battle of Armageddon, He shall triumph over all evil and wicked forces of this world.  All their weapons shall be of none effect (Psa.76:6). 

     Here stands Nineveh, a representative of the world-Gentile powers.  Nineveh is the emblem of open, blasphemy against God and God’s people.  Now God is protective of His Name (Ex.20:7) and His people (Psa.17:8; Deut.32:10).  For His people are saved by calling on His Name (Acts.2:21;4:12; Rom.10:13).  And in our day how many nations openly defy God and blaspheme His Glorious Name?  Why our own state of Kansas is now endorsing the teaching of evolution in public schools, yet again!  The blasphemy against God to say that all that is seen was not created by Him?!  The Heathen Rage. 

     In the overthrow of the kingdom of Assyria, there is a prophecy of destruction unto all powers against God.  And they will all be utterly crushed in the latter day (Joel.2:1-3). 

     The rejoicing there shall be when the Lord reigneth.  I look forward to that day, don’t you?  When God’s righteousness shall be justly vindicated and all shall praise the Lord for it (Psa.81:1; 95:1; 98:4,6; 100:1; 66:1).  There shall be praising Him greatly for what He has done (Nah.1:15; Psa.47:1-9). 

     In our day, the church age, the Lord’s church does face the same enemy.  The nations of this world would be so glad to see the Lord’s churches removed from her lands.  Satan is on the scene working to rid the land of the Lord’s churches.  It was said of Nineveh that her wickedness passed continually upon all.  Let it be said of the Lord’s church here in Caldwell, that the gospel has passed upon all continually.  Let us stand for the truth of God’s Word.  Many shall fight against us, but they CANNOT thwart the purpose of the Lord (Acts.5:34-39).  The Lord has a purpose for this church, He has a purpose for each one of you here as well.  If the Lord did not have a work for you to do, I believe He would have taken you home to be with Him the day He saved you by His grace. 

     The hopelessness of those outside of Christ:  it is the same as those outside of the ark; it is the same as these Ninevites.  They shall do all to stand, but it shall not avail nor avert the Purpose of God.