Nahum Part One Deep Dive

FOUR IDEAS IN THE BOOK OF NAHUM | RYAN KERRISON

The Book of Nahum is often nestled alongside some other minor prophets in the Protestant Old Testament; Habakkuk and Zephaniah. The reason for this bundling is because of a similarity in theme and chronological relevance. According to O. Palmer Robertson, the authors of the respective books ‘all ministered essentially to the same constituency and laboured within thirty years of one another’ and as such form a cohesive theological theme by which they are united by their shared testimony. This testimony focuses on the centrality of Yahweh and seeks to proclaim the coming judgement of Yahweh, accompanied by covenant and subsequent salvation. An interesting aside is the apparent absence of messianism, (the belief that a personal saviour will come to deliver a group from oppression of some kind) and in turn we might ask what, if anything, is the cause of this. This absence is unique in kind, as no other section of scripture fails to include dedicated sections concerning messianic themes.

Turning specifically to the Book of Nahum. Nahum was the first prophet to break the apparent 50-year silence brought about – potentially by Yahweh Himself – for the depraved state that Judah has found itself under the reign of Manasseh. The underlying basis of Nahum’s prophecy is the coming judgement of the Assyrian empire, all while they are at the political height of their power. Nahum spends time poetically unpacking four ideas: Yahweh’s justice, Yahweh’s judgement, Yahweh’s covenant and Yahweh’s salvation. It is important to remember here that both Nahum’s worldview and the primary worldview of those hearing his prophecies was theocentric. Basically, that the concept of ‘god’, impersonal or not, permeates the entirety of life. Everything from big to small is in some way involved with God. This idea is marinating every statement and idea within the Book of Nahum.

1. Yahweh’s Justice

Yahweh’s justice is impartial & perfect. He sees all things for what they are and will judge accordingly. He sees every circumstance and motivation and all (corporately & individually) will be held to account for the violations of the law of Yahweh, who is the only One able to deal justly with ample grace and truth.

2. Yahweh’s Judgment

Nahum makes it clear that Yahweh will judge people. However, that judgement may not necessarily look the way that humanity expects. It is retributive in nature. It will always be to the perfect measure, not vindictive or unfairly. If those who wrong Yahweh, and are rightly deserving of wrath are left unjudged, then the order of creation and the very goal of Yahweh, of redeeming the world that has fallen becomes compromised. On the other hand, Nahum refers to the notion of restorative judgment, particularly towards Judah.

3. Yahweh’s Covenant in Nahum

Not once does the word ‘covenant’ appear in Nahum, Habakkuk or Zephaniah, whereas it appears over 200 times throughout the rest of the Old Testament. There is however, an implicit paradigm of God’s covenant with Abraham. A reason for this may be apparent dislocation and separated status of Yahweh’s ‘covenant people’ and the difficulty facing the prophet when speaking to a people group who are inherently incomplete. This aside, the concept of covenant is present even if the word isn’t. In fact, so much is shifting during this time that the prophets of this time were forced to unpack and redefine covenantal realities as they applied to the people of the day.

4. Yahweh’s Salvation in Nahum

Finally, Nahum does what every good prophet does and articulates a link between judgement and salvation. Nahum shows the reader that Yahweh will not let the oppressor have the last word. Rather, deliverance is coming and with it, judgment for those who stood against Yahweh and performed evil deeds.

Given that Nahum means ‘comforter’ this book functions as such. A strong understanding of the injustice presented against both Yahweh and Judah is needed initially, so that the gravitas of Yahweh’s salvific work can be understood and celebrated. The notion of God being a pliable and frivolous Ruler, who doesn’t care for the reality of sin and its destructive influence on the Earth, is left behind. In its place stands a God who cares intimately for the corporate body of those called by Himself through His covenant, a God who takes seriously the condition of evil upon the world, and demands justice be met accordingly not simply for the sake of glee or malevolence, but for His plan for salvation and redemption of all creation.

Ryan Kerrison, originally from Darwin, came to Sydney to study and hasn’t left. Ryan works at C3 College as the Head of Bible and Theology, and lectures in Advanced Theology, Creation to End Times and many more subjects. As one of the founding writers and team members of TYB, Ryan is one of the smartest people we know. He has his Masters in Theology and will no doubt have his Doctorate and running Academic Colleges around the world in no time!