The Ninevites Lose Everything
April 5, 2022
Commentary
Nineveh fell in 612. B.C. to a combined force of Babylonians, Medes, and Scythians who pillaged the city of its vast treasures and then burned it to the ground. Once the dam blocking the Tigris River was released, there was nothing the Ninevites could do to stop the destruction and loss. They cried to the water “Stop! Stop!”, but the water would not stop (v. 8). Nineveh’s wealth came from centuries of conquest, taxation, and trade. Their wealth seemed endless, but their enemies took all of it for themselves: all the gold, silver, and other precious things (v. 9).
More the just material loss, the people of Nineveh experienced personal loss. They lost their homes, their places of safety and nurture. Nineveh is compared to a lion’s den (v. 11-12). This was a fitting analogy as the Assyrians often identified with Lions in the same way Americans might identify with the bald eagle. Once the young lion cubs lived in safety, being fed by their parents, with no fear of being disturbed. The Adult Lions killed their prey and brought the flesh back to the den. But they took more than they needed, filling the den with dead animals. The Lord of hosts announces that he is against the Assyrians (v. 13). The young lions would be killed with the sword and there would be no more prey for the lions to hunt. Lastly, the Lord promises that Assyria’s messengers would be silenced. This reminds me of Rabshakeh in 2nd Kings 18:19-37.
Application
There is no real security in wealth as people often think. Everything that I have of this world’s goods can be taken from me overnight. It is only the things of Christ that last. I must not find myself depending too much on the things of this world.
Nahum 2:8– 13 (NET)
8 Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her days, but now her people are running away; she cries out: “Stop! Stop!”— but no one turns back.
9 Her conquerors cry out: “Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!” There is no end to the treasure; riches of every kind of precious thing.
10 Destruction, devastation, and desolation! Hearts faint, knees tremble; every stomach churns, all their faces have turned pale!
11 Where now is the den of the lions and the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion, lioness, and lion cub once prowled and no one disturbed them?
12 The lion tore apart as much prey as his cubs needed and strangled prey for his lionesses; he filled his lairs with prey and his dens with torn flesh.
13 “I am against you!” declares the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: “I will burn your chariots with fire; the sword will devour your young lions. You will no longer prey upon the land; the voices of your messengers will no longer be heard.”
Illustration: Missionary Handed a Wire His Family Had Drowned
Eric Barker was a missionary from Great Britain who had spent over fifty years in Portugal preaching the gospel, often under adverse conditions. During World War II, the situation became so critical that he took the advice to send his wife and eight children to England for safety. His sister and her three children were also evacuated on the same ship. Barker remained behind to conclude some mission matters. The Sunday after Barker’s loved ones had left, he stood before the congregation and said, “I’ve just received word that all my family have arrived safely Home.” He then proceeded with the service as usual. Later, the full meaning of his words became known to the people. He had been handed a wire just before the meeting, informing him that a submarine had torpedoed the ship, and everyone on board had drowned. Barker knew that all on board were believers, and the knowledge that his family was enjoying the bliss of heaven enabled him to live above his circumstances despite his overwhelming grief. (Encyclopedia of Illustrations #5149).