Nahum the
prophet told the people of Nineveh they would “be drunken, hid
and seeking strength because of the enemy” who was to invade
them. In chapter three and verse twelve of his prophesy, Nahum shared
how Nineveh's “strong holds shall be like fig trees” where
we read:
All your
strong holds shall be like
fig trees with the first-ripe figs:
if they be
shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater.
The
verse begins, “All your strong holds
shall be like
fig trees with the first-ripe figs:” Nahum
began with the words, “All your
strong holds”
which refers to “fortresses, castles and defenses” “shall
be like fig trees”
which means “fruit trees with large leaves” “with
the first-ripe figs”
which means “the first of the crops and fruit that ripened and was
gathered”. Though Nineveh had fortresses and defensive measures,
they were as penetrable as “fig
leaves” to
the enemy.
The
verse continues, “if they be shaken, they shall even fall
into the mouth of the eater.” Nahum
added, “if they be shaken”
or “quivering, tottering, staggering, wandering, moving, sifting,
waving and trembling”, “they shall even fall”
or “be cast down and fail” “into the mouth”
which means “opening orifice, extremity and end of the face” “of
the eater” or “devourer,
consumer and destroyer”. The “fig-leaf” like defenses would be
“quivering, tottering and falling” into the hands and mouths of
the enemy of Nineveh.
When
we consider these words of Nahum, we understand that no “defensive”
measure will ever keep a person “safe” from the onslaught of the
enemy sent by the LORD. The city of Nineveh repented under the
warnings of Jonah, but returned to their wicked and evil ways, and
now the wrath of the LORD was to come upon them through the
Babylonian army. Though Nineveh had “strongholds”, they
were no match for the onslaught of Babylon, and the same is true for
those who rely upon their own defenses when they have rejected
Salvation through Jesus Christ God's Son. There will be no “strong
hold” of defense that will prevent His judgment. The time for
humility and submission is now, and those who are wise will repent of
their ways and yield their lives to His reprieve.
Next
time Nahum shares how “people
in the midst of”
Nineveh “are women”,
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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