Abba,

There is a profound dichotomy in the reading of this oracle to Nineveh.  

On the one hand, there is great violence, wrath, anger, and divine judgment for a city whose “unceasing evil” has made them “vile.”  There’s was a “bloody” city whose violence had wrought destruction and evil among all lands, not just Israel, but many a land felt the brute and bloody hand of this evil and wicked city.  So much so, that the judgement of God descended upon the city and “utterly cut off” the wicked people.  Terrifying are these words….

Nahum 3:5–7 (ESV): 5  Behold, I am against you, 

declares the Lord of hosts, 

and will lift up your skirts over your face; 

  and I will make nations look at your nakedness 

and kingdoms at your shame. 

 6  I will throw filth at you 

and treat you with contempt 

and make you a spectacle. 

 7  And all who look at you will shrink from you and say, 

  “Wasted is Nineveh; who will grieve for her?”

Where shall I seek comforters for you? 

At the very first, having the God of all things, the creator of all that is, the sovereign and omnipotent maker standing opposed to and against you is no small thing.  I have had opponents, adversaries, and those who enjoyed belittling me.  But never have I had an enemy as mighty and as formidable as You.  The very thought of it causes me to pause, to tremble, and to fear even for the wicked people of Nineveh.

There’s would be a total destruction.

But not just a total destruction; a total and public shaming.  Their nakedness,  meaning the complete and unfiltered barren truth of who they are would be exposed for all the world to see.  No secrets, no modesty, no privacy.  Their full and complete nakedness would be laid bare for the world to see.  They would be made a spectacle of; a thing for others to look upon, to laugh at, to scoff and scorn at, to insult and deride.  They would become the object of shame and wrath; the very same that they heaped upon those who would now be turning the table and doing the same to them. 

And in their wasted destruction, the question with its rhetorical and implied answer exposes the truth that NO ONE would mourn for them or grieve for them.  Rather, there would be great rejoicing at their destruction for their wickedness and evil against the nations was severe.  There would only be rejoicing.

And that brings me to the dichotomy that this entire oracle shows.

Great wrath, Righteous anger, and divine judgment resulting in total destruction 

YET

A deep sense of satisfaction and pleasure.

It does not seem that these two ought to be blended here.  It does not seem that these ought to exist together.  

And yet…

Why not?

Your perfect holiness and spotless righteousness; your just demand would be satisfied at the retribution appointed to such wickedness and evil.  

Still, the contrast rose from the pages of scripture and struck me with a deep sense of….I am not sure what.  Awe.  Wonder.  Worship.

Who are you, Abba, that such perfect wrath can be blended with such deep satisfaction and be so perfect in the union?  What a wonder it is!  What a terror!  

I am ever more thankful that I will never fall under the condemnation of Nineveh.  I am ever more thankful that you, Jesus, bore that perfect wrath with perfect pleasure so that I would not have to.

I pray for the repentance of the “Nineveh’s” left in the world who, through their rebellion and evil, stand in danger of this total and divine judgement.  May they be granted faith and repentance while time still remains; while your patience persists.  

Thank you, Abba, for this picture of such divine beauty from the oracle of Nahum.  I worship you in the seeing and understanding given. I love you!