There are things, I believe, in scripture that are there to be a warning to us. I think Nineveh is one such thing. We see the judgment that is coming to them. This chapter ends by telling us that no one escaped their cruelty. They lived by the sword, and now they die by it. As Christians, we do not believe in karma; we believe in grace. But within that, if we live a life dictated by values and decisions that run contrary to God, that will result in pain and destruction. That’s what happened to Nineveh. And that is a cautionary tale to us as well.

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Good morning. It’s wonderful to be with you on this Monday morning as we conclude our days in Nahum. Today, we’ll read chapter three. As I mentioned earlier, these minor prophets, originally part of the Jewish scriptures, were compiled into one book known as the Book of the Scroll of the Twelve. Despite their brevity, each of these prophets addresses significant themes.

When we finish Nahum and transition to Habakkuk, you’ll notice that while Habakkuk isn’t exactly a rebuttal of Nahum, it provides additional context. Chapter three of Nahum is quite similar to chapter two—both are filled with scathing condemnation. Although there are glimpses of grace and hope, Nahum predominantly condemns Nineveh. Habakkuk, while also addressing the presence of evil, reflects more on its nature and the larger context. Reading these prophets together can be illuminating because, despite addressing different events and times, their themes are interconnected.

I almost wish we could merge chapter two or three of Habakkuk, which we will read next week, with chapter three of Nahum. Let’s delve into Nahum chapter three. You’ll see it’s far from flattering for Nineveh:

Verse 19 serves as a fitting end to the prophecy against Nineveh: “There is no assuaging your hurt; your wound is mortal. All who hear the news about you clap their hands over you. For who has ever escaped your endless cruelty?” Nineveh was notorious for its brutality. Babylon is often depicted as the epitome of evil in scripture, especially in Revelation, which describes the fall of Babylon as the overthrow of great evil. Whenever you encounter Babylon in scripture, it represents opposition to God and His people. However, Nineveh was arguably even worse in its treatment of others.

As Christians, we do not believe in karma, the idea that good or bad actions return to us. Instead, we believe in grace, which forgives our mistakes and calls us to love others despite theirs. We are a people of forgiveness and mercy. So, when considering Nineveh, we should not think in terms of karma but recognize that their downfall was a consequence of their own relentless cruelty and violence. They lived by the sword and perished by the sword.

Bishop Swanson once reminded us that we should not fight spiritual battles with worldly weapons. If we engage in the world’s battles using the world’s methods, we become indistinguishable from it. Instead, we must use the weapons of grace, conversion, mercy, and sanctification. No one was ever argued into heaven, but many are loved into it.

Nineveh’s fall serves as a cautionary tale. Empires like Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome all fell, but only God is eternal. The Bible often provides examples of what not to do, and Nineveh exemplifies this. They lived by fear and perished by fear. We must not follow their path but instead embrace grace, love, hope, and goodness. As Philippians 4:8 encourages, “Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable—think about such things.”

I’m looking forward to exploring Habakkuk with you tomorrow. It’s a powerful, though brief, book. Have a great rest of your day, and I’ll see you tomorrow. Thank you.