Opening Up Nahum

by Clive Anderson

Publisher:

Day One

, 2005

Overview

In Nahum's prophecy, we see the Lord's involvement in history as the ultimate judge and king. It deals with the difficult subject of God's righteous wrath against sin, which is practically demonstrated in the book of Nahum as his vengeance revealed in Nineveh's overthrow. Yet even in this, the grace and mercy of God in salvation shines through to bring hope to his people. Here is a guide to help the reader gain an understanding of this difficult subject and to see its relevance to the twenty-first century.

Contents

Top Highlights

“Nineveh was going to receive the judgement that had been postponed at the time of Jonah. God did not judge the city then, but it did not mean that he would ignore the sins of subsequent generations—far from it! Past blessing does not guarantee present peace. The people of each generation must seek and serve God for themselves.” (Page 24)

“God’s incomprehensible mercy had been revealed through Jonah and his unimaginable wrath through Nahum.” (Page 98)

“The famous Welsh preacher of a former generation, Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, said that there are two types of history: ‘The history God permits and the history God promotes.’ Many things take place that are beyond human comprehension but, in the permissive will of God, events are allowed to unfold. God alone has total understanding of what is happening and we are to trust in his goodness and overriding control of every situation.” (Pages 12–13)

“Nineveh’s power waned dramatically and its end came in August 612 BC when it was mercilessly sacked and laid waste by the coalition armies of the Babylonians and the Medes. Its destruction was so complete that for almost one thousand five hundred years its exact location remained a mystery. Sceptics sneered at tales about Nineveh, and treated it, along with the book of Jonah, as a mere legend that belonged to an age of fantastic tales and fables.” (Page 15)

“God is not out of touch with the world but intimately interested in it. So much so, that his one and only Son became a human being. Jesus bore his people’s sin in his body on the cross; he suffered the full force of God’s vengeance. But if repentance for sin does not take place and the free offer of salvation and life is not accepted, then, instead of experiencing the warmth of God’s love, we shall be the recipients for evermore of the fire of his wrath.” (Pages 25–26)

Product Details

• Title: Opening Up Nahum
• Author: Clive Anderson
• Publisher: Day One
• Publication Date: 2005
• Pages: 112

About Clive Anderson

Clive Anderson is the pastor of the Butts Church in Alton, Hampshire, and a member of the British Museum Society, the British School of Archaeology in Iraq, the Egyptian Exploration Society and the Tyndale Society. He leads tours to the Middle East and Egypt, and is the author of Travel with C. H. Spurgeon and co-author with Brian Edwards of Through the British Museum with the Bible. He and his wife, Amanda, have one son.