He that Dashes in Pieces Nahum 2:1

As Nahum concluded the last section of his prophesy, he proclaimed, “Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace!” He charged “Judah” to “keep” their “solemn feasts, perform” their “vows” because “the wicked shall no more pass through” them and “he is utterly cut off.” In chapter two and verse one of his prophesy, Nahum continued to declare the judgment that was to come upon the city of Nineveh as he shared about Him “that dashes in pieces” where we read:

He that dashes in pieces is come up before your face: keep the munition,

watch the way, make your loins strong, fortify your power mightily.

The verse begins, “He that dashes in pieces is come up before your face:” Nahum began with the words, “He that dashes in pieces” which is all one Hebrew word “puwts” and means “scatters, disperses, overflows and spreads abroad” “is come up” or “ascended, climbed above, grown and shot forth” “before your face” which refers to “in front of, beforetime, forward and formerly”. Nahum declared how their opponents, Assyria by the Babylonian and Mede confederacy led by Nebuchadnezzar, would siege them.

The verse continues, “keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify your power mightily.” Nahum added, “keep the munition” which means “siege-works, stronghold and rampart”, “watch the way” or “look out or about, observe and spy closely the road, distance, journey and manner”, “make your loins” or “hips, side, waist or small of the back” “strong” which means “prevailing, hardened, courageous, made firm and resolute”, “fortify” or “make alert, courageous, brave, stout, bold, solid and hard” “your power mightily” which means “strength and might which is exceeding and much”. Nineveh was to fortify their “towers and magazines”, set guards upon all the avenues of the city, encourage their soldiers and animate themselves for battle.

When we think through these words of Nahum, we see the fierceness of God's agents of judgment against Nineveh. The Babylonians were known to “dash in pieces” their enemies, and since Nineveh was in their path, the charge given by Nahum was to prepare for battle. When we consider that Jesus Christ is loving, gracious, merciful and willing to forgive and cleanse, we should keep in mind that He will judge those who reject His offering. His “dashing” will be thorough, and those who are in His path should take heed and prepare with humility and repentance before they personally encounter the one who will “come up before” their “face”.

Next time we see Nahum write about “the excellency of Judah and Israel”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.