The Lord Scatters the Enemy and Restores His People

Even the most cursory reading of the small prophesy of Nahum reveals an unwavering and unmitigated decree of divine wrath and promised destruction of the enemy of the Lord and His covenant people. But is this the only message of the prophet? A slightly more detailed reading reveals that the prophet's burden included a message of hope and exhortation to steadfastness directed to the beleaguered nation. We must always try to put ourselves in the proverbial shoes of the original hearers. As they heard this message there was no conceivable and ordinary way that what was promised could or would come to pass. Their doubts were entirely reasonable – apart from the mighty power of the LORD. They did not realize the mystery of Providence would bring the might Assyrians down to the ground and that even another ungodly empire would be the means of that ultimate destruction. The deliverance of His people came in an unexpected way and by an unexpected means. This is a normal exhibition of the mystery of Providence revealed throughout redemptive history. From barren Sarah and aged Abraham to King Cyrus, the Lord used the weak to show His strength and the pagans to show His glory. Of course the greatest exhibition was the death and resurrection of the redeemer Messiah. – Pastor Schlegel