NOTES for Nah 1:1-15

Holy Scripture reveals to us God acting in history. It enables us to see events taking place before people's eyes not as a chain of coincidences, but as a manifestation of God's will and action. History then discloses a meaning, and therefore a purpose.

The Book of the Prophet Nahum is devoted to one episode in Israel's history. The Assyrians have already invaded the Northern Kingdom, and half of God's people have already been led into captivity. Disaster also threatens the other half—the Southern Kingdom, Judah. Has God turned away from His people and simply “given up” on them? Then the truth is revealed to the prophet Nahum: God used Assyria as an instrument to punish Israel for sin and unfaithfulness, but He also brings His judgment upon Assyria. Yet unlike Israel, whose remnant will be preserved and flourish again, Assyria will never rise again; its sentence is final.