Nahum the prophet used the
analogy of “lions” destroying their prey to describe what
would happen to the city of Nineveh when the Babylonian army invaded
them. In chapter two and verse twelve of his prophesy, Nahum shared
about “the lions and the lionesses” where we read:
The lion did tear in
pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses,
and filled his holes
with prey, and his dens with ravin.
The
verse begins, “The lion did tear in pieces enough for his
whelps, and strangled for his lionesses,...” Nahum
began with the words, “The lion” or
“the lions who
would pluck or tear abroad”
“did tear in pieces”
or “rend, pluck or pull to pieces for food” “enough”
or “sufficient or according to and out of the abundance of” “for
his whelps” which refers to
“the young lions”, “and strangled”
which means “to choke, throttle or hang till death” “for
his lionesses” or “female or
older lions”. The enemy of Nineveh would tear them in pieces so as
to provide for their own “women, children and older people ”.
The
verse goes on to say, “...and
filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin.” Nahum
continued, “and filled”
or “made full and abundant, satisfied and accomplished” “his
holes” which refers to “caves,
cavities, sockets or dens” “with prey”
or “food, meat or leaves”, “and his dens” which
means “dwelling places, habitations and lairs” “with
ravin” or “that which is
torn like animals or beasts”. The gatherings of Nineveh's enemy
would be abundant in supply even as a “lion”
fills it's “caves and dens” with provisions.
When we
think through these words of Nahum, we see the fierceness of the
attackers against the city of Nineveh. Not only would they destroy
them, but they would do so to the degree that the city's abundance
would be their gain. When people reject the provision of salvation
through God's Son Jesus Christ, they subject themselves to be “prey”
before the LORD and will lose all they have ever gained. Those
who are wise will note Nahum's example of the complete manner in
which Nineveh was to be destroyed, and with that example in mind, let
everyone who reads these words humble themselves and repent before
all they have is taken away.
Next
time Nahum writes how the LORD
“is against” the
people of Nineveh,
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment