As Nahum the
prophet continued to share about the power of the nation God used to
destroy the city of Nineveh, he gave the reason for their judgment,
“the multitude of whoredoms of the well-favored harlot and the
mistress of witchcrafts” with which they used to “sell
nations”. In chapter three and verse five of his prophesy,
Nahum shares some of the most ominous words that could ever be spoken
to a people, “I am against you, says the LORD” where we
read:
and I
will show the nations your nakedness, and the kingdoms your shame.
The verse begins,
“Behold, I am
against you, says the LORD of hosts; and I will discover your skirts
upon your face,...” Nahum
began with the word, “Behold I am
against you says””
which is the Hebrew word “nĕ'um”
and refers to “the utterance, declaration and revelation of”“the
LORD”
which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the
proper name for the one true God” “of
hosts”
which means “that which goes forth as an army to war and service”;
“and I will discover”
or “uncover, remove, depart and send into exile” “your
skirts”
which refers to “the high priest's rob, God's train, ignominy and
defilement” “upon your face”
or “in your presence, on the surface and before and in front of”.
When the LORD comes against a people, His judgment is out front and
there is no hiding from Him.
The
verse goes on to say, “...and
I will show the nations your nakedness, and the kingdoms your shame.”
Nahum continued, “and
I will show” or “look at,
inspect, perceive and consider” “the nations”
which refers to “people, dependents and swarms” “your
nakedness” which means “bare
places, pudenda or vacant places”, “and the kingdoms”
or “dominions, reigns and sovereignty” “your shame”
which means “disgrace, dishonor and ignominy”. The LORD was to
expose the “bareness” of the city of Nineveh, and all their
“reign” would be brought to “disgrace and dishonor”.
When we consider these
words of Nahum, we see not only the power of God to destroy a people,
but He also exposes everything upon which they depend. Those things
and ideas that allowed them to be in control of others is revealed
and found “shameful”
when God begins to word “against”
them. The Bible shares concerning the judgment of God where there is
no“creature that is not manifest in
his sight: but all things are
naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do”
(Hebrews 4:13). Jesus Christ came into the world to “save
sinners”, and those who will not humble
themselves and receive Him as Savior and LORD position themselves
with LORD “against them”
and all the “shameful”
things they have ever said or done shall be revealed.
Next
time Nahum shares how
the LORD will “cast
abominable filth upon”
Nineveh, “make”
them “vile”
and “set”
them “as a gazing stock”,
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.
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