The season of Advent is really quite unlike any other season.
As people make their holiday plans, there’s a hopefulness that is often missing during other times of the year. For some reason, as Christmas draws nigh, people find the courage to open their hearts to far-fetched, idealistic possibilities.
Like peace on earth.
For the people living in the holy land during Nahum’s time, Assyria was the oppressive superpower that made peace seem impossible. Led by brutal and barbaric emperors such as Sennacherib and Ashurbanipal, fear and terror flowed from the capital city of Nineveh to the far reaches of the empire.
There was a reason Jonah, when called by God to go to Nineveh, ran in the opposite direction. There was a reason Jonah threw a fit when the king of Nineveh repented and God extended mercy.
Nahum’s prophecy made it clear the Assyrians were deserving of God’s wrath, and God made it clear this time there was no hope for the people of Nineveh. Interestingly, the loss of hope for the Ninevites provided great hope for the people of God.
Now I will break the yoke of bondage from your neck
and tear off the chains of Assyrian oppression.
Look! A messenger is coming over the mountains with good news!
He is bringing a message of peace.
Nahum 1:13 & 15
This time of year, we readily apply the title “Prince of Peace” when talking about Jesus. I wonder what peace means to you. I wonder what peace feels like to you. I wonder what peace looks like to you.
A challenging and helpful reading of scripture includes putting ourselves in the place of every character in the biblical account. What I mean is that my instinctual reading of the book of Nahum is to think of myself as the people of Israel and Judah, and that the word of the Lord is telling me God is after my enemies.
That may be true. But it is likely not the whole truth.
What sorrow awaits Nineveh,
The city of murder and lies!
She is crammed with wealth
And is never without victims.
Nahum 3:1
Perhaps I am more of a Ninevite than I’d care to admit?
Questions for reflection:
1. How can the message of Nahum apply to our lives today when dealing with injustice and oppression?
2. When you read about God’s plans to destroy Nineveh, how does that shape your view of God?
3. How can good news of the arrival of the Prince of Peace be good news for you and your enemy?