Fire, Sword, Cankerworms and Locusts Nahum 3:15

Though the people of Nineveh had repented at the preaching of Jonah, they subsequently rebelled and faced the judgment of God. The prophet Nahum declared the destruction that was to fall upon the city of Nineveh which included penetration within their “water” barriers, their “strongholds” and their “clay, mortar and brickklin”. In chapter three and verse fifteen of his prophesy, Nahum uses the examples of “fire, the sword, cankerworms and locusts” to share concerning their pending destruction. We read:

There shall the fire devour you; the sword shall cut you off, it shall eat you up like the cankerworm: make yourself many as the cankerworm, make yourself many as the locusts.

The verse begins, “There shall the fire devour you; the sword shall cut you off, it shall eat you up like the cankerworm:” Nahum began with the words, “There shall the fire” or “flames, altar-fire and supernatural fire” “devour you” which means “eat, burn up, feed, destroy and consume the Ninevites”; “the sword” or “knife and cutting tool” “shall cut you off” which means “eliminate, kill , hew and permit the Ninevites to perish”, “it shall eat you up” which means “devour, burn up, feed and consume the people of Nineveh” “like the cankerworm” which refers to “young locust or caterpillar”. When the “flame” of God's judgment come upon the people of Nineveh, it would “consume and devour” them as completely as the “young locusts” destroy vegetation.

The verse goes on to say, “make yourself many as the cankerworm, make yourself many as the locusts.” Nahum added, “make yourself many” which means “weighty, grievous, hard, honorable and burdensome” “as the cankerworm” which refers to “young locust or caterpillar”, “make yourself many” or “weighty, grievous, hard, honorable and burdensome” “as the locusts” which refers to “a locust swarm and activity”. Nahum's charge was to multiply themselves like the “cankerworms and locusts” do, but even this would have no effect against the LORD's invading army.

When we consider these words of Nahum, we see how completely the LORD brings judgment upon a rebellious and wicked people. This wasn't God's first desire as He was compassionate and forgiving when they repented under the prophesy of Jonah. However they turned again to their evil ways, and the judgment of God was upon them. The LORD appeals to “whosoever” today, and if they humble themselves, repent before Him and accept His Son Jesus as their Savior and LORD, they shall be saved from His future wrath. May everyone who reads these words yield to Him lest they be the food of consumption by “cankerworms”.

Next time Nahum shares about “multiplied merchants” being “spoiled” by “cankerworms”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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