Read:
Chapter 1 and as much of Nahum possible.
Name:__________________________________________Date:______________________
Vital
Statistics:
PURPOSE:
To
pronounce God’s judgment on Assyria and to comfort Judah with this truth.
AUTHOR:
Nahum,
he calls himself an Elkohshite, (Probably a village in Judah). He was referred
to as The Prophet of Vengeance and
Comfort (Vengeance against the short-lived repentance of the Ninevites, and
Comfort for the people of Judah. His name means “comfort” or “penitent”.
He ministered for about 30 years, during the reigns of Manasseh, Amon and Josiah
of Judah.
TO
WHOM WRITTEN:
The people of Nineveh and Judah.
DATE
WRITTEN:
Covers
a period of about 30 years during the reigns of the Manasseh, Amon and Josiah of
Judah, Possibly written between ________B.C
& __________B.C.
SETTING:
This particular prophecy takes places after the fall of Thebes in Egypt in 663 BC (See 3:8-10)
(No
is another name for Thebes).
KEY
VERSES:
"The
Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that
trust in Him. But with an overrunning flood He will make an utter end of the
place thereof, and darkness shall pursue His enemies. What do you imagine
against the Lord? He will make an utter end; affliction shall not rise up the
second time.” (1:7-9)
KEY
PEOPLE:
The people of Nineveh and Judah.
KEY
PLACES:
Nineveh,
the capital of Assyria.
SPECIAL
FEATURES UNIQUE TO NAHUM:
One hundred years earlier Jonah had preached in the streets of the capital city of the Assyrians: Nineveh; the people heard God’s message and repented, but now they have returned to their evil ways. Nineveh is called a “bloody city” (3:1) Nahum predicts their complete destruction which happened within 50 years. As you read Nahum, sense God’s wrath as He avenges sin and brings about justice.
THE BLUEPRINT:
A.)
NINEVEH’S JUDGE (1:1-15)
B.)
NINEVEH’S JUDGMENT (2:1-3:19)
MEGATHEMES
FOUND IN THE BOOK OF NAHUM:
God Judges – God would judge the city of Nineveh for its idolatry, arrogance,
and
oppression. God would completely destroy this “invincible” nation
God
allows no person or power to assume or scoff at His authority.
God Rules - God rules over all the earth, even those who do no
acknowledge
Him.
Human power is futile against God
QUESTIONS:
1.)
What do we learn about the attributes and actions of the Lord in vvs.
1-8? ________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
2.)
In what does Nineveh place her confidence?
_______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
3.)
Of Nahum highly pictorial language, What images seem literal to you and
which do you feel are figurative?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
4.) The Lion was the national symbol for Nineveh. In what ways had Nineveh lived up to this symbol in the past? How is it used to taunt her in defeat?_________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
5.)
What impression do the short staccato phrases used in vs 3:2,3 make on
you as you read them?
(If you have an NIV Bible look up the verses there & and see if it makes any
impression.) __________________________
SUMMARY:
Nineveh,
the capital of Assyria , had the ministry of two prophets, Jonah and Nahum.
Jonah was a Prophet of mercy, calling
the city to repentance. At that time Nineveh repented and was spared from the
destruction prophesied by Jonah. In the 100 to 150 years following its
repentance, the city lapsed back into idolatry worse than before. Thus Nahum was
sent to Nineveh to announce the vengeance of
God in the soon-coming destruction of the city. Assyria, after being
shown God’s mercy , showed no mercy to Israel in the Assyrian
Captivity and thus God rendered
to them judgment (James 2:13).
Nahum’s declaration of Divine vengeance upon Nineveh was a comfort
to
Judah.
CHRIST
SEEN:
Christ is seen as the Prophet of Comfort and Vengeance, comforting His own (John 14:16) and “executing vengeance on all them that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ”. (II Thessalonians 1:8)
Thank
you for studying with us today. At this point you may choose to either save an
unfinished assignment or submit it to the Pastor’s office for review and
feedback.
See
you next lesson: J J
J
J
J
J
J
J
J
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