Below is the outline of the sermon, I preached on Sunday 19 January 2014 at West Ewell Evangelical Church, Surrey - the first in a series on the book of Nahum.
Nahum 1: 1 - 14
Introduction to the Book
Nineveh is 280 miles north of Babylon and 600 miles east of Jerusalem, in modern Iraq. It was known as ‘the Robber City’ as overran and stole from other countries so it would enrich itself.
The Assyrians had attacked Jerusalem in 701 BC (in the reign of Hezekiah), having already conquered and dispersed the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC.
Nahum made his proclamations from the safety of Judah about 713 BC.
He was not the only prophet at the time for Micah was prophesying to Judah (the remaining southern kingdom).
Previously , Jonah, who is known principally for being swallowed in a great fish, tried to run from what God wanted him to do. It was not surprising considering the size of the job! He preached in Ninevah in 862 BC – over a century before Nahum.
Nahum begins by telling Ninevites what God will do, how God will do it and (finally) why God will do it – then the Babylonians did act in 612 BC (another century after Nahum).
The Babylonians destroyed Nineveh so thoroughly that it remained hidden for 2,500 years.
Introduction to Sermon
We have had historical background – it is very interesting, but is it relevant?
Nahum’s name means ‘comfort’ or ‘consolation’ – but his ministry was otherwise.
We are not brought to this book not because many people know that it is there, let alone read it – but because our nation very much like the city of Nineveh.
This nations has had material benefits and have had the hand of God upon us in revival in the past.
In UK, there were many revivals in our nation but most think of 1730s onwards (Wesley, Whitfield, Howell Harris, Daniel Rowland) followed by others, including 1904 – 5 (Wales – the next most well-known), 1905 (Edinburgh), 1921 (Norfolk [Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth] leading to the Scottish east coast fishing ports), 1931 (Aberavon in Wales)…but what next?
In this passage, we will look at:
a. Duty to pass on
b. Judgement
c. Refuge
a. Duty to pass on
Revival is God first moving His people in repentance so they will have a strong sense of God’s holiness.
Nahum was part of God's covenant people for God revealed Himself to them – the prophet had the responsibility to tell those not heard or fallen away from His message.
God gives many chances - He does not want people to go to hell.
If we do not demonstrate God’s love and mercy to those around us, who will?
We live in postmodern world – ethics is relative according personal preference, people re-evaluate everything so long as God is not involved; its key beliefs are consumerism (with its twin materialism) and individualism – there needs to be urgency in the message we proclaim.
Everything that is not in line with God’s holiness is wrong - it is not either excusable (‘not my fault’) or valid to make comparisons (‘not as bad as someone else’).
In contrast to Nahum’s warning (verse 2, for example) is Isaiah 52: 7 – ‘How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”’
Our desire to share God's good news should be outcome and indicative of our relationship with God.
In book My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers: ‘There is only one relationship that matters, and that is your personal relationship to a personal Redeemer and Lord. Let everything else go, but maintain that at all costs, and God will fulfil His purpose through your life…Always remain alert to the fact that where one man has gone back is exactly where anyone may go back…Kept by the power of God – this is the only safety.’
We are commissioned by Jesus to bring God’s good news and empowered by the Holy Spirit, which we cannot and will not do alone. We need look to grow in Christ so that we can fulfil His Great Commission.
b. Judgement
We have seen the responsibility to pass on.
The Hebrew word used by Nahum for ‘anger’ means ‘heavy or hot breathing’ – like raging bull snorting, or a person that is so het up that literally hot headed and steam almost coming out of their nostrils.
God acting out of His righteous holiness for he hates sin. He is not acting out of retaliation but calls people to repentance.
2 Peter 3: 9 – ‘The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.’
No-one can accuse God of wanting people to go to hell – (John 3: 18) ‘Whoever believes in Him (Jesus) is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.’
It is not that people are atheists but most would describe themselves as ‘nones’ – not thinking about God at all.
Mark Driscoll wrote: ‘Many people don’t believe in Jesus because they think they are Jesus, saving the world through causes and good deeds.’ They will do anything that will exclude God in their lives.
By not accepting God , they will be rejecting – ‘Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.’ (John 3: 36)
There will be a time when God brings about ultimate judgement – (Jude 14 and 15) “See, the Lord is coming with thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
Shelby Foote, the historian, tells of a young soldier who was brought before General Robert E. Lee in the US civil war. The soldier had deserted his post . He was young, tired and frightened, and also trembling uncontrollably. General Lee tried to reassure the young man: ‘Don’t worry, son. You’ll find justice here.’ To which the young soldier replied, ‘That’s what I’m afraid of.’
God is just and rational, keeping to His eternal rules of righteousness
c. Refuge
We have seen our responsibility to pass on the good news of Jesus and judgement that God will bring.
In midst of this harsh prophecy, Nathan offers hope in verses 7 and 8: ‘The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him…’ God is not harsh.
God is not remote, but wanting to be close and indwell with those who choose Him.
Psalm 18: 2 – ‘The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.’
The atonement for our sin is found in the provision of God – it is cross-shaped.
We are reminded in Exodus 20: 5 that God is jealous – He has the determination to defend zealously and aggressively that which belongs to Him from those who would claim it. This includes men, women, young people and children who He created to love and worship Him, to be in relationship with Him - to reclaim them from Satan.
We need to think about our own relationship with God and how to bring others to know Him – as we look forward to New Year, as we look to adding to our staff so that we reach out to our community.
Conclusion
In the midst of overwhelming judgement, there is great hope and obligation.
God always ready to forgive, but He has obligation as part of His character to uphold good and justice. Judgement will come in His timing for He cannot be the good God and be otherwise.
As Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19: 41 – 44), we should for our neighbourhood and our nation - we need more intercessors.
There are billboards along US highways with supposedly messages from God, one states: ‘Don’t make Me come down there.’ The glorious message is that Jesus did and will come again, seen in the memorial feast He instituted and we celebrated this morning.
He is calling for us to move forward – the church leaders willing to pray with you if you sense God speaking to you.
Be aware for the time and things He has prepared for us.
