The Reason for the Judgment…  (3 Reasons)

• 1^st –Nineveh seduced the nations… vs. 1-7
  • 1^st – Just like their father… vs. 1
    • Woe to a blood city (murders) – full of lies and robbers – its victims never leave…
      • Nahum gives an ominous accusation of the people of Nineveh…
      • One that showed their true color – they followed in the footsteps of their father!
      • John 8:44 – “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
    • The devil is a murdered – and was from the very beginning…
      • It was through the temptation in the garden – the devil brought death into the world!
      • Those who like to tempt others to sin – are acting like the devil…
      • Because sin separates us from God – hardens our heart to Him – leads to death!
      • That is why God does not play around when it comes to stumbling His children…
      • He is a VERY protective Father – and will deal with anyone who threatens His kids!
      • Luke 17:2 – “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.”
    • The devil is a thief – he tries to steal our hope…
      • In Genesis 3:1 – satan asked the first question in the Bible – ‘Did God say?’
      • He did so in a successful attempt to steal Adam and Eve from God!
      • The tactic of satan have not changed – he still tries to get us to doubt the Word…
      • Satan subtly tires to get us to look elsewhere for answers – not to Jesus…
      • He tries to keep us from church from the Bible – from listening to the Word!
      • The reality is satan has only one desire – to steal / kill and destroy us!
      • John 10:10 – “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…”
    • The devil is a liar – he is the father of lies…
      • Nothing that the devil says is true – everything that comes from him is a lie!
      • He lies and tells us sin is fun – just give it a try – and sin can seem to be enjoyable…
      • But it gets us hooked like a drug dealer – it sucks us in and we are trapped!
      • He lies and tells us once you have sinned – we cannot go back to God…
      • Our enemy would love to try and make us think we are worthless – ruined…
      • But the truth is we are never more than a step away from restoration – I John 1:9!
  • 2^nd – Playing the harlot… vs. 2-4
    • The armies of Babylon were raging through the streets…
      • The sounds of chariots – cracking whips / galloping horses / rattling wheels…
      • Calvary rushed in with swords and spears – killing multitudes of people…
      • There were so many slain – people were stumbling over the corpses!
    • A morbid picture of the devastation / annihilation of the people of Nineveh – because…
      • Nineveh had played the seductive / irresistible harlot to the nations…
      • She was the Ba-alah (female lord) of witchcraft – leading nations into spiritual adultery…
      • Assyria was the biggest kid on the block – a true super power…
      • It made it easy for people to be seduced into thinking they had the answers…
      • But in the end they only destroyed families that followed their pagan practices!
      • The United States is a modern day super power – we are number one with…
      • The most powerful military – the largest economy ever seen on earth…
      • But also lead the world in other ways: debt / prison population / drugs…
      • 89% of all pornography is produced in the US – with which we seduce the nations!
      • We live in country that would love try to and change our character…
      • Try to seduce with the things of this world – rather than keep our eyes on Jesus…
      • Ultimately trying to make us servants of satan – rather than children of God!
      • All the more reason to stand up – though it will most definitely mean trials and tribulation!
      • Hebrews 11:25 – “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin…”
  • 3^rd – Lift the skirt… vs. 5-7
    • The Lord was against Nineveh – and He was going to expose her for what she was…
      • God was going to ‘lift her skirt’ – show the nation her nakedness and shame…
      • Cast down her abominations (idols) – and let the nations see it – so they fade away!
      • Show the world how powerless the idols were to help – then the world would reject them!
      • Everyone who saw would flee from the example of Nineveh – not even care they were gone!
    • I am amazed at how people blindly follow after whoever is ‘on top’…
      • People buy the books of the guys who ‘made millions in the stock market’…
      • We idolize the lives of those who have ‘made it in Hollywood’ – Johnny Depp…
      • The follow the fad – and often bizarre ideas – of those who have the most ‘success’…
      • Assuming that the person who is on top – has all the answers – so we should follow them!
      • And what people rarely stop to ask – is what they are doing right / does it honor God…
      • They foolishly follow the world – then wonder why the Lord does not bless them…
      • But then God ‘lifts the skirt’ – exposes the truth about our idols…
      • The heroes that people look up to – are revealed for the fools that they really are…
      • To show us if we do not put the Lord first – everything we try in life will ultimately fail!

• 2^nd –Nineveh thought they were better… vs. 8-13
  • 1^st – The example of Thebes… vs. 8-10
    • No-ammon (portion of Ammon) – the Egyptian name for Thebes in Upper Egypt…
      • The Greeks called it Diospolis (city of god) – where the the god Amon-Ra was worshiped…
      • Egyptians referred to Amon-Ra as ‘one one’ be cause they considered him the supreme god!
    • The city of Thebes was surrounded by water – it covered both sides of the Nile River…
      • It was famed in ancient times for its hundred gates [Homer’s Iliad]…
      • Even today circumference of the ruins stretch twenty-seven miles…
      • Included in those ruins are the famous temples of Luxor and Karnack!
    • Thebes had powerful allies – Ethiopia (Cush) / Put (Algeria) / Lubim (Libya)…
      • Representing most of northern Africa – giving Thebes boundless strength!
      • Yet Thebes was taken into captivity – her children killed in the streets…
      • Her nobles were auctioned off as slaves – her leaders bound in chains!
      • In 667 B.C. Thebes was conquered by the Assyrians – never to regain its former glory…
      • PROUD Thebes though they were untouchable – but ultimately fell to Assyria!
    • Pride is the first sin – the sin of satan…
      • One day Satan decided he was as good as / equal to God – Isaiah 14:14
      • The result was he was kicked out of heaven – separated from God…
      • Pride already knows it all / Pride does not say sorry  / Pride is never wrong…
      • And if we allow ourselves to be prideful – we will also be separated from God!
      • James 4:6 – “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
      • But pride can be tricky – it is not always easy to see – but it always sets us up for a fall…
      • Pride can be – I think I know it all / I am never wrong / I do not need correction…
      • Pride can also be – thinking I am nothing / being shy / pride means its all about me…
      • Whether it is arrogance / or ‘false’ humility – if I am the focus it is pride…
      • If I am the focus – then I am not looking to Jesus – and I am destruction is sure to follow!
      • Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction, an arrogant spirit before a fall.”
  • 2^nd – History repeats… vs. 11-13
    • Just as Thebes was conquered by Assyria – so Nineveh would be conquered by Babylon…
      • When that day came – the people would be so bewildered they would stager like drunks…
      • They would hide in fear because of the Babylonians – their fortresses would fall…
      • Like overripe figs – just a little shaking and they would fall into the mouth of their enemies!
      • Their warriors would fight like little girls – as their gates burned to the ground!
    • PROUD Nineveh did not learn the lesson of Thebes – and would ultimately fall to Babylon!
      • A fool learns from his own mistakes – a wise man learns from the mistakes of others…
      • Other peoples sins always seem so much more obvious than our own…
      • We tend to think God will be gracious to us – even though He judges the sin of others…
      • But why would we think that we are the exception to the rule!
      • We have to be so careful not to turn the grace of God into an excuse – Jude 1:4
      • Instead see consequences others face – and learn not to walk in their footsteps!
        

• 3^rd – Nineveh was cruel and caused suffering… vs. 14-19
  • 1^st – Get ready for the siege… vs. 14-15
    • Ancient cities would have high / thick walls that protected them from attack…
      • But their one flaw was their fields / food – were often outside the city walls…
      • So a siege – that could last years – would slowly starved the city to surrender!
      • In II Kings 6 – Syria completely surrounded the Samaria – cutting off their access to food…
      • Even the head donkey – a forbidden unclean animal – sold for over $750…
      • And 2 ounces of the dung of a dove – cost almost $50!
      • The siege caused a GREAT famine in the city – there was NOTHING to eat!
    • God sarcastically tells Nineveh to prepare for their siege…
      • Gather water into the city – go make up spare bricks – make them strong in the kiln…
      • The idea being you had spare materials to reinforce the walls if they were breached…
      • But even as they were baking bricks – the fire – sword of Babylon would consume them!
      • People tend to focus too much on storing away for a rainy day…
      • Not that I am saying we should not be wise – live within our means…
      • But there is no wall we can build – no amount of resources we can compile…
      • That will be able to help us in the day of trouble – if we are not living for the Lord!
      • In Luke 12:20 there was a rich man whose fields had a bumper crop…

• He had so much he did not even have enough room to store all he had harvested…
• So he decided to tear down his barns – so he could build bigger and better barns…
• He would have enough room to be able to store all he had harvested…
• Then he could sit back and enjoy the easy life – eat / drink / and be merry!
• God said to him – Fool – tonight you die – then who will get the things you have stored up!
• At the same time we are given the promise – God will provide all we need – Luke 12:32-34
  • Jesus goes on to say ‘fear not’ – our Father want to give us His whole kingdom!
  • The only reason He would not give us something is He knows its not good for us…
  • Since He desires to give us EVERYTHING – what do we have to worry about anything!
  • Instead He says lay up treasures in Heaven – where our treasure is there our heart is also!
  • We tend to think we invest in the things that are important to us – on our heart…
  • The truth is our heart follows our investments – our choices dictate what our heart wants!
  • That is why we should never follow our heart – it is deceptive – Jeremiah 17:9
  • Instead we need to be wise were we choose to invest our time and treasures!
  • If we are spending all of our time focused on the things of this world – heart for the world…
  • In contrast if we are investing in the things of God – we will find we have a heart for God!

• 2^nd – The example of insects… vs. 15-17
  • Nahum uses three different insects to describe Nineveh – and their fate…
    • ‘Young’ Locusts – yekeq – the beginning caterpillar stage of the locust life cycle…
    • Swarming locusts – arbeh – the adult stage in the locust life cycle…
    • Grasshoppers – gowb – speaking of the most mature locust – end of the life cycle
  • The young Locusts would devour Nineveh…
    • Speaking of the fledgling state of Babylon – that would swarm in and devour the city…
    • Nineveh had once been young locusts – and grown to become swarming locusts…
    • They many merchants – more numerous than the stars – had accumulated great wealth…
    • But the young locusts – Babylon – would swoop in carry it all away…
    • The Assyrian princes were like swarming locusts – their generals like grasshoppers…
    • But just like locusts that cower together in the cold – but fly away when the sun comes out…
    • These leaders of Assyria would tremble – and disappear with the fall of Nineveh!
  • I realize that is a LOT of locusts – and perhaps a bit too much entomology…
    • But I think the point is – there was no difference – both Assyria and Babylon were locusts…
    • Just as Assyria devoured everything in its path – so Babylon would now devour them!
    • Because men / nations apart from God – are just ravaging insects bent on destruction!
    • I downloaded an app that allows me to see what bills our government is working on…
    • It is depressing – at times infuriating – to see the legislation they are trying to pass…
    • Making it against the law to not address transgender people with the proper pronoun…
    • But is should not be surprising – nations apart of from God are bent on destruction!
    • Which is why we should never put our hope in government – instead pray for them…
    • Pray for our leaders – those entrusted with power – pray for their salvation…
    • Pray they will be righteous God fearing rulers – who listen to and obey God!
    • I Timothy 2:1 – “I exhort first of all that prayers be… for all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”
• 3^rd – Everyone rejoiced at the fall of Nineveh… vs. 18-19
  • Nahum gives a final address to the king of Assyria…
    • The shepherds are dead (slumber) – the nobles are buried (in the dust)…
    • All the leaders are gone – and the people are scattered like sheep on the mountains…
    • There was no healing the mortal wound given to Nineveh – it was fatal…
    • And that was great news for the nations – they clapped in joy when they heard…
    • Because all of them had suffered under the wicked cruelty of Assyrian Empire!
  • The fall of a great city / empire…
    • Nineveh was sixty miles in across – with a population of 2.5 million inhabitants…
    • With walls 100 feet high – so thick three chariots could race side by side on top of them…
    • It had 1500 towers – each 200 feet in height – a seemingly impregnable fortress!
    • And yet so totally was it destroyed the location of the ruins was hidden for centuries!
    • Because they seduced the nations / because of their pride…
    • Because of the cruelty and suffering they caused – because they lived for this world…
    • All of their great accomplishments – wiped away as if they had never existed!
    • Unfortunately most people today strive after the things of this world…
    • They seek to be rewarded for their efforts here on earth – with fleeting gifts…
    • 10,000 years from now in heaven – no one will care how much money we made…
    • No one will be impressed by where we worked – what care we drove…
    • But the thanks of a friend who you introduced to Jesus – will never fade away!

It is the things we do for the Lord that last forever – Matthew 6:20