Nahum’s Warning of Accountability

Who among us doesn’t yearn for justice, accountability?  The evildoers.  Yeah, that would be the only group.  The rest of us look at people getting away with things and it leaves us feeling a range of emotions from depressed, to frustrated, to angry.  Our available human recourses seem to vaporize before our eyes, and even when we see the satisfaction of a glimmer of accountability, those charged seem to get away light or off completely.

Not so with Nineveh.

Nahum 1:14 The LORD has given a command concerning you, Nineveh: “You will have no descendants to bear your name. I will destroy the images and idols that are in the temple of your gods. I will prepare your grave, for you are vile.”

Imagine how Judah must have felt, living under the heavy yoke of Manasseh, a puppet king of the cruel Assyrians, and made political prisoners.  Nahum’s warning from God to Nineveh was “It’s over.” And it was.

For Judah, there was hope and help in the form of an invasion, but this was one to punish their enemies. 

Yet, the conqueror would be Babylon which would eventually take Judah into exile and captivity.  From the fire back to the frying pan as it were…for a time…since the Assyrians were brutal beyond standards of their day.  The Babylonians conquered too but didn’t skin people alive like the Assyrians did. 

Babylon would go on to destroy the temple in Jerusalem
and haul Judah off to captivity. 

All would seem truly lost, including freedom and faith.

Sometimes, the plan of God takes time and strange turns. Things had obviously not improved for Judah markedly. Had God’s plan failed since shortly after Nahum, Habakkuk complains to God?

“How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict bounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.” (Habakkuk 1:2-4)

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Not at all! God’s plan is long range. Back to Nahum, God proclaims hope…for starters, it’s the short-term fulfillment as in its context of final accountability for Nineveh.  Nahum 1:15 “Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed. “ 

But there’s a long view too.  Eventually all evildoers will be held accountable.  Similar verses are quoted to tell of the Gospel of Jesus Christ who brings true peace in its fullest enduring form.

Nahum’s warning for mankind would be that accountability for each of us is coming.  For some it is near.  For others, we go from the fire to the frying pan and back to the fire …before… (and in the bigger picture… so that) we will finally hear and receive the Good News and receive that ultimate peace.

Lord God, help us to always remember that You are a sovereign God who holds time and events in Your control.  Help us to see Your larger picture, to wait with patience, and to hold onto our faith in Jesus no matter the circumstances we’re in. May we trust in Your righteous nature to achieve true vengeance in Your perfect time. May we never give in to temptations to make it right through wrongful actions on our part.  Give us eyes to see You at work in our midst, embolden us to preach the Gospel while there is still time, and do our part to use the righteous means available to hold the line on our culture.  Forgive us, Lord, for the times we’ve partnered—actively or passively—with those who hate You, who mock You, and who deny Your existence.  Help us to see this evil as You see it.  For we love You, Lord Jesus.  Amen.