The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Nahum

  • A Warning

    “Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire”

    Isaiah 29:6

    God often uses the weather to speak. “Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire” (Isaiah 29:6). Sometimes God visits man with thunder, earthquake, or storms. He may even send droughts.

    There is one memorable time where God dwelt with His people through a three and a half year drought. It was in the days of King Ahab and Jezebel (see 1 Kings 17-18). God sent Elijah to warn King Ahab. This even culminated in a memorable event on Mount Carmel. Consider a few of the people involved.

    Elijah was a great prophet of the Lord. He was vocal for God.

    King Ahab and Jezebel (his wife) were wicked and worshiped Baal (see 1 Kings 16:30-33). Ahab said Elijah was a trouble maker, but Ahab was the one who troubled Israel (see 1 Kings 18:17-18).

    There was a man named Obadiah, who was a compromiser (see 1 Kings 18:3-6). Obadiah feared the Lord, but he was a servant of wicked King Ahab. During this great drought, Obadiah was looking for grass. No mention of prayer in repentance or asking God for rain. Instead, he was just trying to survive. No one knew that he served the Lord but those men he hid. When Elijah met him, Obadiah had to explain to Elijah that he feared the Lord. Elijah told Obadiah to deliver a message to King Ahab, and Obadiah reluctantly obeyed (see 1 Kings 18:7-16).

    Notice the state of the Isrelites. They appeared confused (see 1 Kings 18:19-21). When Elijah asked the question, who is God – the people had no answer. It was as if they did not know enough about God to know that He is God.

    Elijah presented a challenge (see 1 Kings 18:22-35), and whoever answered by fire is the true God.

    After the prophets of Baal had their opportunity, Elijah restored the broken down alter of the Lord and prepared the burnt sacrifice. When it came time for the evening sacrifice, Elijah prayed. “36. And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again” (1 Kings 18:36-37). God answered with fire from heaven. “Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench” (1 Kings 18:38). The fire consumed the sacrifice, the water, the wood and the stones. When the fire fell, the people believed and declared God was the God. It wasn’t until then that the people recognized God is the God (see 1 Kings 18:39).

    With this response (and the destruction of the prophets of Baal by death), God told Elijah to pray for rain. Elijah prayed, and God sent the rain. The drought ended.

    Remembering that God often uses the weather to speak, consider the following.

    Living in the capital of Tornado Alley can be interesting at times. Often the weather is volatile, and ever changing. Late one night, ripe tornado conditions appeared. It was later declared an EF-3 tornado that traveled about 24 miles, right through a town. In a populated area, this can cause tremendous damage and death. Although this tornado struck in the middle of the night, passing through town, there were only two lives lost in this storm. Surveying the damage the next day, one could notice that although it was extremely damaging, many of the monstrous trees missed or only clipped homes and property. Although there were several homes, churches, and businesses damaged. a majority of those huge trees were just blown over. Some were only stripped of leaves and limbs while still standing. Yes, the power lines that were taken out and the utility poles that were destroyed were many. Yet, even though this tornado was disastrous, it could have been so much worse.

    After this, I was reminded that God does use the storms. God often sends a warning. He gives people the opportunity to acknowledge Him, and to respond in repentance before He sends catastrophic judgment. Remember that God sent Jonah to warn Nineveh of pending doom because of their wickedness before God. The entire city repented, and God turned from the wrath they deserved because of that repentance. About one hundred years later, the people of Nineveh forgot God. Read the following verses from the book of Nahum: “3. The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet… 6. Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. 7. The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him” (Nahum 1:2-7). The book of Nahum was written to proclaim judgment upon Nineveh for turning away from God.

    “26. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:26-27).

    To which person can you identify:

    • are you vocal for God (like Elijah)
    • are you wicked and a troubler (like Ahab and Jezebel)
    • are you a compromiser, who has to explain you fear God (like Obadiah)
    • are you confused, not knowing who God is (like the Isralites)

    Do you recognize God’s warnings for repentance in your life, turning and avoiding His judgment?

  • The Consequence of Apostasy

    “The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked …”

    Nahum 1:3a

    Remember Jonah? God sent Jonah to warn Nineveh of destruction for their wickedness. “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me” (Jonah 1:2). In addition, he told them, “… Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4b). We also learned of the repentance that city showed. “So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them” (Jonah 3:5). Because of that repentance, God spared the city. “And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not” (Jonah 3:10). For a brief period in history, the people of Nineveh believed in God. For that turning to God, God spared them.

    The book of Nahum took place over 100 years after Jonah. The words Nahum preached were against the nation of Assyria with the capital of Nineveh. Nineveh was the world’s greatest city at this time in history. Although the nation repented in Jonah’s time, they had reverted back to their sin, falling even deeper. See what we should recognize about God. “The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked …” (Nahum 1:3a). (Another verse to consider is Psalm 9:17: “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”) Assyria, especially Nineveh, had forsaken God, becoming exceedingly wicked. In the book of Nahum we learn that God’s wrath would fall upon those wicked, sinful men. God would send complete and utter destruction upon Nineveh because they forsook God and were against His people. The people of Nineveh saw complete physical destruction.

    The problem with Nineveh was that God had revealed Himself to them, and they had believed. Just a few generations later, the people forsook God. They rejected God and worshiped false gods. This is apostasy. In the book of Nahum, there was no longer a call to repentance. Only a decree of the wrath of God to come.

    The longer this world is in existence, the worse mankind becomes. “1. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

    Today, we are warned of hearing of God, living a good life (yet without the saving faith of Christ), and then living like the rest of the world. Unless one truly trusts Christ, it would be better to never have tried to live a Christian life. Read of what we are warned: “20. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire” (2 Peter 2:20-22). Head knowledge of Jesus and the Christian life is not enough. Without Jesus in one’s heart, it is impossible to live a true Christian life. That one will eventually return to “wallow in the mire.” That is an apostate without hope.

    Just as Nineveh saw complete physical destruction, there is another kind of judgment that one must consider as well. Each person will be accountable for his or her own actions; good or evil. After we die, we will all stand before the Lord and He will pass eternal judgment upon each individual according to what that person has done with his or her life. “10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men …” (2 Corinthians 5:10–11a). These verses are written as a warning to Christian people. Terror in this verse means “a deep and reverential sense of accountability to God or Jesus.” How many Christians are living their lives with a deep and reverential sense of accountability to God? Or are most just living a life pleasing self? In the book of Nahum, one can see the wrath of God fall upon a nation that had forgotten God and forsaken Him. Each person must consider the things done in his body, whether they are good or bad, knowing God is a perfect and righteous judge. Not only are we to be accountable, but we should live a life that persuades others to have a reverential fear as well. God had spared the city of Nineveh once before. Nevertheless, when they returned to sin, forsaking God, there was a price to pay.

    Have you truly trusted in Jesus, following Him?

    Or

    Have you once known of Jesus and turned from Him to live a life pleasing to self?

    http://biblicalpath.com/index.php/how-to-be-saved/

  • The Accounting

    “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
    Ecclesiastes 12:14

    There were times in the Old Testament that God warned a people that He would send complete and utter destruction upon them because they were against God’s people and because of their wickedness (remember Nineveh in the book of Nahum). The city of Nineveh saw complete physical destruction. In remembering the book of Nahum, one can see the wrath of God fall upon a nation that had wronged His people. However, more than that, remember that the people in Nineveh had once repented from their sin and wickedness and turned to God (during the days of Jonah). Nevertheless, the people of Nineveh forgot God.

    Nevertheless, we must consider another kind of judgment as well. Each Christian will be accountable for his or her own actions: good or evil. After we die, we will all stand before the Lord and He will pass eternal judgment upon each individual according to what that person has done with his or her life. “10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men …” (2 Corinthians 5:10–11a). These verses were written as a warning to Christian people. Terror in this verse means “a deep and reverential sense of accountability to God or Jesus.” How many Christians are living their life with a deep and reverential sense of accountability to God; or are most people just living a life pleasing self? Just as in the Bible times, today, each person must consider the things done in his body, whether they are good or bad, knowing God is a perfect and righteous judge. Not only will we be accountable, but we should live a life that persuades others to have a reverential fear of God as well. God had spared the city of Nineveh once before (remember Jonah). Nevertheless, when they returned to sin, forsaking God and His people, there was a price to pay.

    In the New Testament, we can read pictures of a life apart from Christ. These are then compared to a life with Christ. Be encouraged to compare your own life to these verses and see what kind of a life you live in comparison to God’s Word, revealing the kind of witness you are.

    We must understand the law reveals the sinner (remember that all are sinners according to Romans 3:23). “9. Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10. For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine” (1 Timothy 1:9–10). 

    Christians are not to live like the world. “17. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19. Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness” (Ephesians 4:17–19).

    How are Christians to live? Read and then reread the following verses: “22. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour … 26. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27. Neither give place to the devil. 28. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good … 29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying … 30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God … 31. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:22–32).

    Remember what Solomon recorded for us to remember. “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

    Do you live a life in which you are ready to give an accounting to the Lord?

  • Lesson 11: Nahum: Nineveh’s Destruction Foretold

    Key Verse

    Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves … Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

    —Romans 12:19

    Key Verse Thought: After reading the key verse, understand that vengeance means “to execute justice; penal retribution; execution of right.” Think about a time that you have known someone who may have wanted to get back at someone for something that was done to them. We often call this revenge — or getting even. After learning of Israel’s captivity by Assyria last week, do you think the Israelites wanted to take revenge? They had been taken from the land God had promised them — by their enemy! As we read our memory verse today, we must remember that it is not our place to get back at anyone. God has reserved that right for Himself. He will repay — He said so!

    Emphasis: We are to know that God is a stronghold for those who trust in Him — and to live with that in mind!

    Lesson Summary: We have been studying and learning about the history of Israel, God’s chosen people. Remember that this was only ten of the twelve tribes, the Northern Kingdom. We read how after many warnings, God’s people were carried captive out of the land God had promised to them. They were carried into an enemy land and scattered (see 2 Kings 17:6). After reading of the prophets’ many cries for Israel to repent and turn back to God, we learned of God’s discipline that fell upon Israel for disregarding that call to repentance. As we enter into our study of Nahum today, we should remember back for a minute to Jonah. God sent Jonah to warn Nineveh of destruction for their wickedness. “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me” (Jonah 1:2). In addition, he told them, “… Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4b). We also learned of the repentance that city showed. “So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them” (Jonah 3:5). Because of that repentance, God spared the city. “And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not” (Jonah 3:10).

    The book of Nahum takes place over 100 years after Jonah. Nineveh was the world’s greatest city at this time in history. Although the nation repented in Jonah’s time, they had reverted back to their sin, falling even deeper. See what we will learn. “The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked …” (Nahum 1:3a). (Another verse to consider is Psalm 9:17: “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”)  Today we will read the words Nahum preached against the nation of Assyria — the same nation that carried God’s people, Israel, away from their homeland.

    The book of Nahum takes place about the time of 2 Kings 21. Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria, was utterly destroyed around 612 B.C.

    Y2Q1 – Lesson 11 Questions

    Y2Q1 – Lesson 11 Children’s Worksheets

    If you teach this lesson to children, see the following for a craft idea:

    We decorated a frame with the verse Nahum 1:7 inside of it.

  • Lesson 10: Nine Pre-Exile Minor Prophets Hosea – Zephaniah

    Key Verse

    “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,”  Hebrews 1:1

    Understanding the key verse:  “God, who at sundry times (refers to the incremental and progressive manner in which God disclosed Himself up until the appearance of the Son. It was fragmentary, piece by piece – kind of like pieces of a puzzle) and in divers manners (this word is used to qualify the manner in which divine revelation during the Old Testament time-frame was given.  It shows the diverse ways through which God disclosed His word, such as dreams, visions, angelic visitation.) spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,”

    The first nine Minor Prophets are included in the final division in the Old Testament:  Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah.  Once again we see there is an obvious division:  these are pre-exile – before the people were expelled from Israel.  Something of interest:  we know very little about these prophets.  Amos was a herdsman (Amos 7:14), Micah was from an obscure town 25 miles SW of Jerusalem who preached to the poor and oppressed, and Zephaniah was a descendant of good King Hezekiah.  NOTE:  They were just ordinary men that God chose to use.

    Our emphasis today will be to understand that God revealed himself to people through the ages in different ways at different times.  He had an extra special job for the prophets.  God has an extra special job(s) for His people today as well – if we will only obey!  Make our time on earth count for God – live for him daily.  Allow God to use us.  Respond when God calls.  It may be a minor thing God asks of us in our eyes, but very important to the kingdom of God.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 10 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 10 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

     

    Ideas for children:

    In any lesson, you may want to work on your coloring timeline – especially when it relates to the lesson.

    Review the 3×5 cards if you made them, practicing the divisions.  Focus on putting the Minor Prophet books in order for today’s lesson.

    Display the poster of the books of the Old Testament (may be downloaded from the Lesson 4 Blog). Review the Minor Prophet books (showing them on the poster).  You may have them write or draw a picture of their favorite event from the first nine of the Minor Prophets.  Because Jonah’s life is such a popular event in the Bible, you may find some Jonah stickers to work on to help them remember the Minor Prophets.  Or you may find a coloring picture that fits today’s lesson.  There are many free coloring sheets online.  Just type in a favorite and search away!

    Younger classes:  You could have the room in disarray when they come to class.  Assign different children to “clean” or “organize” the clutter (i.e.:  crayons out, papers scattered, books off of the shelf, marker on the board to be erased, etc.)  Help them understand the importance of doing what they are asked to do.  God had a special job for the prophets.  God has special things for His people to do, also.  Hand out the first worksheet to complete. After the lesson, help the students do the worksheet that reinforces what they learned in the Bible lesson.

    Younger classes:  Play “Simon Says” to reinforce obedience.  Remind them the Prophets obeyed God.

     

    Youth:  Think of a time when you were told to do something you didn’t really want to do (Have someone share, but if no one says anything, give some examples:  clean your room, be home by curfew, be nice to a sibling, etc.)  Help them see the importance of obeying (once again, give examples.)  Today, we will learn about some men that God called for a special purpose.  One of these disobeyed God.  See what happened to him!

    On the wall you have chosen in your classroom to become a huge mural:  For this week, have them each choose a Minor Prophet (1 or more to include all of them.)  Have them write a few things that they learned that helps identify them from the other prophets.  Encourage them to include the time God called them to become a spokesman for God.  Have them look for opportunities that God places before them (especially this week) to be a voice for God in this world.

    Continue to have them bring a picture, a news article, a poem they have written, a picture they may have drawn, etc. of something that is relevant to each week’s lessons.  Encourage everyone to participate.  Watch as it grows weekly, as they express what God is revealing to them through our study of how the Bible fits into His plan to help us become more like Him.

    Minor Prophets Pictures