Nahum 3:1-7 - Homilies By S.d. Hilman

The guilt and ruin of Nineveh.

We have here—

I. A MOURNFUL REVELATION OF NATIONAL GUILT AND DEPRAVITY . ( Nahum 3:1 , Nahum 3:4 .) The Assyrians are here charged with:

1 . Unrighteous war. ( Nahum 3:1 .) There may be times in a nation's history when war becomes a dire necessity; but all war prompted, not by the desire to defend against unworthy aggression, but by unholy ambition, aggrandizement, lust of conquest and glory, deserves the severest reprobation. And such were the wars of the Assyrians, and which secured to their capital the unenviable appellation here used, "the bloody city," i.e. "city of bloods," founded and built up by strife and bloodshed.

2 . Cunning craftiness. "It is all full of lies" ( Nahum 3:1 ). It gained its unrighteous ends by deceit. Like "the strange woman" ( Nahum 3:4 ), who bedecks herself in showy attire, puts on winsome manners, and resorts to bewitching arts, in order to attract, and then conducts her victim to the very "chambers of death," so Assyria, under show of friendship, brought other powers under her yoke, and effected their overthrow. With cunning craftiness she lay in wait to deceive, so as to enrich herself at the expense of others.

3 . Continuous spoliation. "It is full of robbery" ( Nahum 3:1 ); "The prey departeth not" ( Nahum 3:1 ). Nineveh was great in barbaric splendour, and abounded in costly treasures; but this was secured by spoils taken in war and by tribute extorted from feebler nations unable to resist her encroachments; by robbery she thus continually made additions to her stores. This iniquity was perpetrated despite professed penitence and reformation resulting from the ministry of Jonah; and now the cup was full. Hence we have—

II. A SOLEMN DECLARATION OF IMPENDING DIVINE JUDGMENT RESULTING IN NATIONAL RUIN AND SHAME . Observe:

1 . The intimate connection, between the sin and the shame. "Because of," etc. (verse 4). The war so graphically described (verses 2, 3) was declared by the prophet as the outcome of the national guilt.

2 . The marked retributive nature of the Divine judgment.

3 . The entire absence of sympathy towards her in her reverses. (Verse 7.) No regret should be felt at her fall. No sympathy should be expressed. From her shades men should flee (verse 7). She should be thought of only as a beacon and a warning—"to point a moral!" She should be utterly, "desolate"—"cut off" and "laid waste" (verse 7). This is the end of evil doing ( Job 18:17 ; Job 27:23 ; Proverbs 10:7 ; Ecclesiastes 8:10 ; Jeremiah 17:13 ).—S.D.H.