What kind of God steps into the darkness for the sake of His people?
Nine months after SEAL Team Six took out Osama bin Laden, they carried out another extraordinary mission. Jessica Buchanan, an American aid worker, had been kidnapped by Somali pirates. In the dead of night, two dozen SEALs parachuted into southern Somalia, killed nine armed captors, and rescued her—all without a single American casualty.
What happened next is even more powerful. Jessica later shared that after her rescue, the SEALs had her lie down, then formed a human shield by lying on top of her. Why? Because there was still the threat of more armed terrorists in the area. These men had already risked their lives to save her, and now they were laying down over her to protect her until the helicopters came.
To the world, that moment was extraordinary. But for the SEALs, it was simply what they do—because it’s who they are.
That’s what Nahum wants us to see about God. In Nahum 1, Judah was surrounded by a brutal empire. Assyria seemed unstoppable. Their cruelty was legendary. And yet, God declared that the oppressor would fall, the yoke would be broken, and His people would be free again.
Why? Because it’s what He does—because it’s who He is.
Nahum gives us a vision of a God who is not distant or indifferent, but one who rescues, redeems, and restores. And in this short but powerful passage, we witness both judgment on evil and hope for God’s people.
The Futility of Evil Schemes (Nahum 1:9–10)
“Why are you scheming against the Lord?” Nahum asks. Assyria had set itself against God’s people—and in doing so, against God Himself. But their power, their alliances, their strategies—none of it could stand. Their downfall was inevitable.
Verse 10 paints the image clearly, even if it’s difficult to translate. They’ll be tangled in thorns, stumbling like drunkards, burned up like dry stubble. It’s vivid, poetic language for a simple truth: no matter how powerful evil appears, it cannot outlast the justice of God.
We may not always understand the timing, but the promise is firm: the wicked will not win. This is the hope we hold onto as we await the return of King Jesus—who will bring justice and restore all things.
The Power and Promise of God’s Justice (Nahum 1:11–14)
Verse 11 introduces the one behind Assyria’s evil schemes. Most commentators identify this as a wicked king—an advisor leading the empire into oppression and violence. But in verse 12, God Himself speaks: “This is what the Lord says…”
This is the only time in Nahum we hear that familiar prophetic refrain. And what follows is God’s declaration: Assyria may be great in number and strength, but they will be cut down. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
Here’s the hard part: God says He used Assyria to discipline Judah. That’s difficult to process, but it’s consistent with covenant language throughout the Old Testament. God allowed hardship—not because He delighted in suffering, but because He was shaping and correcting His people. Yet even that had a limit. God promises: “I will afflict you no more.” (v. 12)
God then issues a military-style command. The word “commanded” in verse 14 carries the weight of a king’s decree. The dynasty will be ended. Their gods will be shattered. Their grave is ready. This isn’t symbolic—it’s exactly what happened. The Assyrian empire fell, never to rise again.
The Celebration of the Redeemed (Nahum 1:15)
The tone changes in the final verse. There, on the mountains, is a messenger bringing good news: peace has come!
This echoes Isaiah 52:7, which Paul quotes in Romans 10:15: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” In Nahum’s context, it’s the good news of Assyria’s defeat and Judah’s redemption.
Even though the final collapse hadn’t yet occurred, the announcement of it was cause for celebration. Judah was told to resume its festivals, to keep the vows made in desperate prayer. Deliverance had come.
This peace wasn’t just the end of violence—it was the restoration of wholeness. It was shalom: the return of what sin and oppression had fractured. That’s the peace God promises His people.
So live like it’s already here.
What This Means for Us
Nahum isn’t just about ancient Assyria—it’s about God’s judgment on all evil. His people have found comfort in this book across centuries, from Babylon to Rome. And we find comfort in it today.
We still live in a world where injustice, violence, and oppression seem to reign. Sometimes it even feels like God is silent or distant. But Nahum reminds us: God sees, God cares, and God will act.
Yes, some hardships are the result of our own disobedience. But many come simply from living in a broken world. Either way, they are not outside of God’s sovereignty. Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” in 2 Corinthians 12 wasn’t removed. But God used it to shape his faith and remind him that God’s power is made perfect in weakness.
So trust God in every circumstance. Whether in hardship or joy, loss or triumph, trust that God is at work—for your good and for His glory.
And celebrate the Gospel! Jesus has already won the decisive battle. The cross and the resurrection were our D-Day. Now we live in that in-between time—awaiting the full arrival of VE-Day, when Christ returns, evil is fully destroyed, and peace reigns.
In the meantime, we worship. We proclaim. We live in hope.
Final Thought
We worship a God who does not ignore evil. He sees every injustice, hears every cry, and promises that one day He will make all things right.
The downfall of the oppressor is not just a historical event—it’s a gospel pattern. God breaks the chains of the enemy, rescues His people, and invites them into peace.
So when the weight of the world feels heavy, when evil seems to have the last word, remember Nahum’s message: The victory belongs to God. Evil will fall. Peace will come.
And until that day, we live by faith, we celebrate the good news, and we rest in the refuge of our Rescuer.
Because rescue isn’t just what He does—it’s who He is.
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