Nahum
& Habakkuk
Nahum
and Habakkuk are both three chapters long and both emphasize judgment.
Nahum
– Judgment for
Nineveh. Nahum is a sequel to the book of Jonah. The revival under
Jonah postponed judgment upon Nineveh for a century or more. But now in Nahum,
judgment is again predicted. •Certainty of the judgment (chapter 1): seen in the
character of God (His purity and power); and in the command of
God (when He orders judgment, it will come to pass). •Character of the
judgment (chapter
2): the judgment included fierceness (invasion by a vicious army,
viz. the Babylonian army); flood (river was used to flood part of
Nineveh); fetters (many citizens taken captivity); fleeing
(many citizens fled the city); fleecing (plunder of city by invading
army); fear (great fear comes to the city when invaded);
feebleness (the once strong nation becomes too feeble to resist
invasion); finality (Nineveh would never again rise to power—today her
ruins are in northern Iraq). •Cause of judgment (chapter 3): the sins of
Nineveh were many—they were a bloody city, full of lies and robbery and other
cruelties, immorality abounded, and they were given to heathen religion and
these sins would bring great judgment upon the city of Nineveh.
Habakkuk
– Judgment for
Judah. •Perplexity about the judgment: Habakkuk's
perplexity is summed up in two questions. (1) Why are the wicked not judged?
(Habakkuk sees the evil prospering but nothing is happening to the wicked); (2)
Why are the wicked performing the judgment (the Babylon army is used by God to
bring judgment upon Judah, yet they are more wicked than Judah). •Provoking
of the judgment: Israel's sins provoked the judgment—these sins included
pride, drinking (it causes gross evil), oppression (people gain wealth and power
through oppression of others), and corrupted worship (people were worshiping
idols). •Prayer in judgment: a plea to revive the people and deal with
them in mercy. •Purifying from judgment: judgment is to purify the
people and this knowledge will help give patience during the time of judgment.
•Prospects after judgment: though things look bad in time of judgment,
yet Habakkuk rejoices for the blessings that are to come after judgment.