Sharper Iron — Majoring in the Minors - Nahum 1:1-15: A Prophet of Comfort

Although little is known about Nahum himself, the meaning of his name, “comfort,” describes well what is found in his preaching. The people of God had been regularly oppressed by the nation of Assyria and its capital city, Nineveh. Therefore, the LORD comforts His people by speaking about the destruction of Nineveh. To those who are the LORD’s enemies, He comes with vengeance and wrath. He promises that Nineveh will not be able to withstand Him. While there is no comfort for all who stand against the LORD, those who take refuge in Him have Him as their stronghold and rejoice in the good news that He sends to them.

Rev. Ned Moerbe, pastor at Memorial Lutheran Church and School in Houston, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Nahum 1:1-15.

To learn more about Memorial Lutheran, visit mlchouston.org

“Majoring in the Minors” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the books of Hosea, Joel, Jonah, Micah, and Nahum. Although the books of these prophets are shorter, the Word of God they preached was important in the years leading up to the coming of the Christ, and that Word remains important for the Church today. Just as we still need to listen to their call to repentance over our idolatry, so we still need to heed their call to trust in the Savior, Jesus.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund. Together in faith, LCEF helps to start, sustain and strengthen LCMS ministries through financial and strategic partnerships. Visit lcef.org.

Nahum 1:1-15

1 An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.

God’s Wrath Against Nineveh

²The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
    the Lord is avenging and wrathful;
the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries
    and keeps wrath for his enemies.
³The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,
    and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.
His way is in whirlwind and storm,
    and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
⁴He rebukes the sea and makes it dry;
    he dries up all the rivers;
Bashan and Carmel wither;
    the bloom of Lebanon withers.
⁵The mountains quake before him;
    the hills melt;
the earth heaves before him,
    the world and all who dwell in it.

⁶Who can stand before his indignation?
    Who can endure the heat of his anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire,
    and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.
⁷The Lord is good,
    a stronghold in the day of trouble;
he knows those who take refuge in him.
⁸    But with an overflowing flood
he will make a complete end of the adversaries,^[a]
    and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
⁹What do you plot against the Lord?
    He will make a complete end;
    trouble will not rise up a second time.
¹⁰For they are like entangled thorns,
    like drunkards as they drink;
    they are consumed like stubble fully dried.
¹¹From you came one
    who plotted evil against the Lord,
    a worthless counselor.

¹²Thus says the Lord,
“Though they are at full strength and many,
    they will be cut down and pass away.
Though I have afflicted you,
    I will afflict you no more.
¹³And now I will break his yoke from off you
    and will burst your bonds apart.”

¹⁴The Lord has given commandment about you:
“No more shall your name be perpetuated;
from the house of your gods I will cut off
the carved image and the metal image.
I will make your grave, for you are vile.”

¹⁵^[b] Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him
    who brings good news,
    who publishes peace!
Keep your feasts, O Judah;
    fulfill your vows,
for never again shall the worthless pass through you;
    he is utterly cut off.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

Nahum 1:8 Hebrew of her place
Nahum 1:15 Ch 2:1 in Hebrew

Rev. Timothy Appel

Although a mathematics degree may not be incredibly helpful to (proudly born-and-raised Texan) Rev. Timothy Appel while hosting Sharper Iron, his love of CFW Walther and the season of Easter will come in handy. His Call is shepherding the flock at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois, and he’s also husband to wife Kristin and dad to their growing basketball team of children. When he’s not carrying out pastoral duties, you may find him reading “The Lord of the Rings,” snacking on Reese’s peanut butter cups, playing dominoes with his boys, or studying up on Texas history (including Sam Houston, of course).