Thorns, Drunkards and Stubble Nahum 1:10

As Nahum the prophet continued to share about the judgment of God that was to fall upon the city of Nineveh, he questioned, “What do you imagine against the LORD?”, and he declared how the LORD would make “an utter end” that would not allow for “affliction” to “rise up the second time”. In chapter one and verse ten of his prophesy, Nahum continued to describe the destruction as he wrote of “thorns, drunkards and stubble”. We read:

For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards,

they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.

The verse begins, “For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards,...” Nahum began with the words, “For while they be folden together” which is one Hebrew word “cabak” which means “interweaved or interwoven” “as thorns” which refers to “pots, caldrons, wash-pots, pans and fishhooks”, “and while they are drunken” which means “having drunk heavily or largely and imbibing” “as drunkards” or “as potations and drunks”. The people were so consumed by their own pernicious ways, they were like “folded thorns” and “drunken people”.

The verse continues, “... they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.” Nahum added, “they shall be devoured” or “eaten, devoured and consumed” “as stubble” which means “chaff or straw” “fully dry” or “completely without moisture and dried”. Because they were in their “thorn-like” state and as “drunkards”, they would easily be destroyed by the mighty and powerful hand of God.

When we think through these words of Nahum, we imagine how these people became so self-oriented they were an easily consumable group. They had rejected the ways of God and made themselves subject to His wrath. Those who reject the repeatedly offered the grace of Jesus make themselves as “thorns and stubble” before the fiery wrath of God to come. There is an escape available now, and to reject it is to behave like one who has been intoxicated by the world. May all who read these words examine themselves to discover whether they are true believers in Jesus Christ.

Next time we see Nahum shares about “a wicked counselor”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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