Below is the outline of the sermon, I preached on Sunday 1 June 2014 at West Ewell Evangelical Church, Surrey - the third in a series on the book of Nahum.
Nahum chapter 3
Introduction
What generation describes you? The Who reminded us that they were ‘Talking bout my generation.'
The examples of the different generations are as follows: post-war, beat, baby boomers, Generation X (after baby boom – early 1960s to early 1980s), Millennial or Generation Y (1980s to early 2000s), post- millennial. However, the passage in Nahum is talking to whatever generation we belong to.
Nahum prophesied a flood of judgement on Nineveh– the judgement that happened after the revival there since they turned their back on God. The prophet makes his proclamations from the safety of Judah about 713 BC.
He was not the only prophet at the time as Micah was prophesying to the southern kingdom of Judah.
Nahum begins by telling the Ninevites what God will do, how God will do it and (finally) why God will do it – then the Babylonians acted in 612 BC (another century after Nahum).
In this section, God shows why He will impose judgement.
1. Wrong route
There is evidence in this chapter of self-gratification – a lie believed from Adam and Eve’s fall in the Garden of Eden.
There is so much in this passage that can identify with this nation:
a. City of blood – murder is now commonplace, it is no longer front page news. What starts in violence will continue in that vein (e.g. nations such as Zimbabwe, religions such as Islam when Mohammed attacked those around him). Violence and murder is seen on streets of major cities as people after prestige and mistaken view of honour.
Like Cain (the first murderer, the feelings are all about 'me.'
We can see the desecration of life – the destroying of pre-born, the lack of appreciation for the people with disabilities and the mistreatment of the older generation.
Jesus (in Matthew 5: 21ff) stated that anger and slander just as bad as puts me above other people, an insult to the One who created
b. Plunder can also be translated ‘extortion’
In financial greed, we can see the get-quick schemes, exploiting the elderly and other vulnerable.
Many people want to win the lottery or raffles – but it is at the expense of others without working to get it, which we then celebrate.
c. Continuous evildoing – there is no victimless society
We need to remember the families and friends of murder victims, indeed those of the murderer; and to support the victims of scams
All of society pay for the evil – through increased insurance (fraudulent claims) and increased costs (as shops cover cost of shoplifting).
If situation is bad now, we need to think how bad it would be if God withdrew His hand completely.
The 1st half of verse 1 in the form of a lament – God is grieving over us as a nation, we will grieve if we do not turn to Him.
Although Jesus spoke of loving enemies (cf. Matthew 5: 43 – 48), He also warned strongly of inevitability of judgement when choose to walk in opposition to relationship to Him, which He called sin.
Christ stated that all who live by the sword (or scalpel in case of abortions or poison pills in case of euthanasia) will perish by the sword (Matthew 26: 52). As much as it applied to Ninevah, so it also is to be applied to our nation.
It is easy to condemn those not here this morning, but we need to be aware of what we believe.
In UK, we have a population of approximately 63 million, of which around 59 million do not know Jesus, but most know someone who does. We need to know what we believe (be informed, not reliant on hearsay) and speak sensitively.
Psalm 119: 105 says: ‘Your word is a lamp to feet and a light to my path.’ It is not possible to know what God thinks unless read what He has said.
Above all, as Jesus wept over Jerusalem, we need to pray and weep over our neighbourhood.
2. Wrong expectations
The reason for destruction was promiscuity, not necessarily of a sexual nature but the hankering after what other people had.
In verses 5 – 6, as Assyria exposed other nations, it too will be exposed. The application to the UK as a nation, for in the past we sent out missionaries but now UK is clearly a mission field – how much are you involved in this commission?
The city Thebes was given as example of what happened before – so also a lesson to us that God can deal with us.
The imagery of prostitution found in Proverbs, especially chapter 7 for people led astray. The image symbolised those who victimise others, for both witch and prostitute exert their power over the weak, vulnerable or unwary (although prostitutes themselves are the weak of society).
It also tells of trusting other powers in the world and distrusting God, moving away from relationship from Him.
Moses reminded people of Israel: ‘you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God.’ (Numbers 15: 39 – 40)
In verse 11, there is the picture of drunkenness – as people stagger in bewilderment, helpless and defenceless, unable to fight. It is like our nation with confused morality and perplexed ethics.
By contrast, Ephesians 5: 18 states: ‘Do not get drunk on wine which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.’ It is a warning against not only physical drunkenness but also moral: for the clue in previous verse: ‘Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.’
In verse 19, it states literally ‘no dulling’ of the bruise for it cannot be softened or mitigated. The ultimate judgement on the nation is because God is holy, that is separate for sin.
We are told by God to ‘consecrate yourselves and be holy because I am holy’ (Leviticus 11: 44), which can only be through the finished work of Jesus (Hebrews 10: 10).
The vast majority of Christians (approximately 98%) spend vast majority of waking time (approx. 95%) in non-church related activities so we need to be on frontlines (workplace, shops, next doors) pointing people in direction of Christ.
Robert Farrer Capon wrote: ‘Christianity is NOT a religion; it is the proclamation of the end of religion. Religion is s human activity dedicated to the job of reconciling God to humanity and humanity to itself. The Gospel, however – the Good News of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ – is the astonishing announcement that God has done the whole work of reconciliation without a scrap of human assistance. It is the bizarre proclamation that religion is over – period.’
Christianity is not about not rules and regulations – but we should what He says out of love for God.
3. Wrong leaders
By wrong leaders, I am not talking politically as the passage's implications is wider than that. There are role models and influencers - which include song writers, thinkers, teachers, and even includes you as people observe you.
I want you to think who influenced you and who is shaping your life. It could be in any media (TV, radio, books, magazines).
In verse 18, the shepherds were responsible for the direction and the rule of the people.
The responsibility of the leaders, including religious, was not being undertaken so they were reprimanded by God: ‘My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders, for the Lord Almighty will care for his flock, the house of Judah, and make them like a proud horse in battle’ (Zechariah 10: 3) – then, in the same passage in Zechariah, comes the promise of the Messiah.
Restoring scattered people should be the duty of the shepherds, but they were not fulfilling it.
Leaders should be directing in wholesome ways, which can only be done in the light of the Bible.
Often our leaders imbued with the philosophies of the world, for they often want to be seen to be step with the world, rather than in step with the Holy Spirit.
Francis Chan wrote: ‘Lukewarm people don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they only want to be saved from the penalty of their sin.’
The antidote to confusion is to see what God says in His Word.
Discipleship is not programmes, books or DVDs. It is following the pattern of Jesus: disciples watched, did together with Jesus, Jesus sent them out and He watched. The question is: how much are we willing to open up our lives so others can walk closely with the Master?
Conclusion
We are commanded to go (not stay in safety of church building). In the Great Commission (Matthew 28: 18 – 20), the words of Jesus are literally ‘as you go’ for He presumed that we will be doing it.
CT Studd: ‘Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell, I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of Hell’
We should not be prepared to settle with status quo, as the Church designed for those outside of it. We need to be interactive on our frontlines, for we will be accountable to God for gifts, talents and abilities that He has given to us.
Mike Stachura; ‘The mark of a great church is not its seating capacity, but its sending capacity.’
Keith Green: ‘The church used to a lifeboat rescuing the perishing. Now she is cruise ship recruiting the promising.’
Count Zinzendorf: ‘I have but one passion – it is He, it is He alone. The world is full is the field and the field is the world; and henceforward that country shall be my home where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ.’
The only Christians God cannot use on earth are dead ones, either physically or spiritually.
Questions:
1. How can we proclaim God’s love to our society? – by our words (e.g. gossip the Gospel), by our actions
2. How can we draw personally to God so that we can demonstrate His love? – meditate on His sacrifice, read His word, talk to Him, read books and articles to help us
We are reminded by James (1: 22) that we are not merely to listen to the Word, but to be doers.
