Nahum; 2 Kings 23:28-34; Jeremiah 22:10-17; 2 Chronicles 35:20-36:4; Habakkuk; 2 Kings 23:35-37

So much history unfolds in this section of scripture. Perhaps filled with confidence from his reforms and the renewal of his relationship with Yahweh, King Josiah inexplicably goes out to attack Pharaoh Nico II as the Egyptian forces are crossing to attack Babylon. In 609 BC, Josiah is killed in battle at Meggido. Judah becomes a vassal state of Egypt, and Jehoahaz (aka Shallum) the son of Josiah is taken into permanent exile in Egypt. Another son of Josiah, Eliakim, is placed on the throne and his name is changed to Jehoakim. Babylon is stirring, and Assyria is raging with Egypt as its ally. The end of Judah is in view.

Elohim Shaddai, Almighty God, sends two prophets – Nahum and Habbakuk – to pronounce judgment upon Assyria. At the height of power, lowly prophets proclaim the destruction of a mighty nation. Through Nahum, Yahweh encourages the faithful in Judah to keep the feasts and vows (NAHUM 1:15) because God is in control of the affairs of nations. The power of Yahweh is seen in the downfall of powerful nations (NAHUM 2:2).

The 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. The 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. He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; he dries up all the rivers; Bashan and Carmel wither; the bloom of Lebanon withers. The mountains quake before him; the hills melt; the earth heaves before him, the world and all who dwell in it. Who 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.

Nahum 1:2-6

The 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.” 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.

Nahum 1:14-15

Habakkuk takes a philosophical approach and ponders the not only the question of looming judgment upon Assyria, but also why a righteous God would choose to use unrighteous people (the Babylonians) as tools of His judgment (HABAKKUK 1:13). Yahweh makes it clear that it is HE who is preparing the Babylonians (HABAKKUK 1:6) and they will judge both Assyria and Judah. Make no mistake, Babylon will also be judged. Pronouncing five “woes” upon them, He promises,

Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you, for the blood of man and violence to the earth, to cities and all who dwell in them.

Habakkuk 2:8

Interestingly, the reason for all of this is the same. Idolatry. Egypt. Assyria. Babylon. Israel. Judah. Rome. all suffered the same fate for the same sin. They took created things like wood, silver and gold and formed with their hands things they pronounced to be gods. The more things change, the more they stay the same…

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Romans 1:18-25

It seems to be so obvious. A living being is worshiping a lifeless hunk of wood or metal with the evidence for a Mighty Creator all around. So, God steps aside and allows people to be people.

“What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation when he makes speechless idols! Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it.

Habakkuk 2:18-19

Where is God when the world runs after idols? Where is He when people suffer and die every day? Where is the Almighty when evil people are prospering and good people are not? Where is Elohim when Israel and Judah are defeated in battle? Where is He when Egypt, Assyria, Babylon and Rome rule the earth? Where is El Shaddai when Hitler, Stalin and Mao commit atrocities that would make Sennecharib blush? He is where He always has been. While the world loses it mind and moral compass, the holiness of God shines forth.

But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.”

Habakkuk 2:20

Consider His nature.  Consider His ways.  Strive to love Him more!