Daily Devotions
Nahum
"I will afflict you no more"
Text: Nahum 1:12
MAKING JUDAH PAY TRIBUTE
The Assyrians’ might was formidable and those who fought against them paid a high price. They were crushed and their countries became desolate. Some countries were made to pay tribute to avoid war. Judah was one of those countries.
“And in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah,
Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against
all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.
Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king
of Assyria at Lachish, saying, ‘I have done
wrong; turn away from me; whatever you impose
on me I will pay.’ And the king of Assyria assessed
Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents
of silver and thirty talents of gold.”
2 Kings 18:13-14
Hezekiah could barely scrape enough money to pay the king of Assyria. He went to the temple of the Lord and commandeered the silver and gold and gave them to the king of Assyria (2 Kings 18:15-16).
GOD’S WORD OF HOPE AND COMFORT
The Lord God was always concerned for Israel as a whole, even if they had been split asunder into two separate kingdoms. Israel had been duly chastised by the Assyrians and had been defeated, but Assyria would not be allowed to overwhelm Judah.
“Thus says the LORD:
‘Though they are safe, and likewise many,
Yet in this manner they will be cut down
When he passes through.
Though I have afflicted you,
I will afflict you no more.'”
Nahum 1:12
1. “Thus says the LORD”
a) Nahum was God’s servant and His spokesman.
b) He spoke as a prophet of the LORD.
2. The Assyrians
a) They felt safe.
b) Their soldiers were many.
3. The defeat of the Assyrians
a) The king of Assyria may threaten and made demands.
b) But the Assyrians would be cut down.
c) Judah must have faith in the Lord and in this prophetic promise.
4. “Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more”
a) The fortified cities had been captured and a heavy tribute had been demanded.
b) But there will be no further affliction was the Lord’s promise.
God will defeat the Assyrians. Judah must exercise faith and hope in the promise of the Lord!