Sharper Iron — Majoring in the Minors – Nahum 2:1-13: The LORD of Armies Attacks

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Nahum vividly describes the coming destruction of Nineveh at the hands of the Babylonian army. No matter what preparations the Assyrians attempt to make, the LORD will lead the Babylonian army in bringing His destruction. Nineveh will be plundered and left desolate as the LORD carries out His judgment against the unrepentant city.

Rev. Phillip Fischaber, pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Nahum 2:1-13.

To learn more about Holy Trinity, visit htlcwalnut.org.

“Majoring in the Minors” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the books of Hosea, Joel, Jonah, Micah, and Nahum. Although the books of these prophets are shorter, the Word of God they preached was important in the years leading up to the coming of the Christ, and that Word remains important for the Church today. Just as we still need to listen to their call to repentance over our idolatry, so we still need to heed their call to trust in the Savior, Jesus.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund. Together in faith, LCEF helps to start, sustain and strengthen LCMS ministries through financial and strategic partnerships. Visit lcef.org.

Nahum 2:1-13

The Destruction of Nineveh

2 The scatterer has come up against you.
Man the ramparts;
watch the road;
dress for battle;[a]
collect all your strength.

2 For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob
as the majesty of Israel,
for plunderers have plundered them
and ruined their branches.

3 The shield of his mighty men is red;
his soldiers are clothed in scarlet.
The chariots come with flashing metal
on the day he musters them;
the cypress spears are brandished.
4 The chariots race madly through the streets;
they rush to and fro through the squares;
they gleam like torches;
they dart like lightning.
5 He remembers his officers;
they stumble as they go,
they hasten to the wall;
the siege tower[b] is set up.
6 The river gates are opened;
the palace melts away;
7 its mistress[c] is stripped;[d] she is carried off,
her slave girls lamenting,
moaning like doves
and beating their breasts.
8 Nineveh is like a pool
whose waters run away.[e]
“Halt! Halt!” they cry,
but none turns back.
9 Plunder the silver,
plunder the gold!
There is no end of the treasure
or of the wealth of all precious things.

10 Desolate! Desolation and ruin!
Hearts melt and knees tremble;
anguish is in all loins;
all faces grow pale!
11 Where is the lions’ den,
the feeding place of the young lions,
where the lion and lioness went,
where his cubs were, with none to disturb?
12 The lion tore enough for his cubs
and strangled prey for his lionesses;
he filled his caves with prey
and his dens with torn flesh.

13 Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts, and I will burn your[f] chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall no longer be heard.

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Footnotes

Nahum 2:1 Hebrew gird your loins

Nahum 2:5 Or the mantelet

Nahum 2:7 The meaning of the Hebrew word rendered its mistress is uncertain

Nahum 2:7 Or exiled

Nahum 2:8 Compare Septuagint; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain

Nahum 2:13 Hebrew her