1. Nahum

2. (1) Nahum 1:1-15

3. Nahum … our God reigns! small book, big message
sequel to prophecy of Jonah
one string to his bow
God’s verdict on a superpower
death knell of Assyrian empire

4. Nahum … our God reigns! from Egypt in west
to border between Iran / India in east
from Russia in north
to Arabia in south

5. You are the weakest link. Goodbye!
Nahum … our God reigns!
God said to Nineveh …
You are the weakest link. Goodbye!

6. Nahum … our God reigns! you can’t sin and win
God is sovereign
you can’t sin and win
God is jealous – Nineveh will fall (1)
God is judge – how Nineveh will fall (2)
God is just – why Nineveh will fall (3)

7. Nahum … our God reigns! key verses – 1:2 and 1:7
God is against his enemies – ‘the Lord takes vengeance on his foes’
God is for his people – ‘the Lord cares for those who trust in him’

8. Nahum … our God reigns! Nahum came from Elkosh (1)
there is no CV for the prophet
God uses ordinary people
name means comfort / compassion
an ‘oracle’ – he felt it
a ‘vision’ – he saw it

9. Nahum … our God reigns! God can do anything
when God is on your tracks, you may run but you can’t hide
see the attributes of God in 2-7
he is the LORD (2)
God keeps his promises

10. Nahum … our God reigns! the LORD is a ‘jealous’ God (2)
he is envious of no one
he protects his glory and name
he ‘takes vengeance’ (2)
he is a God of ‘wrath’ (2)
he has a long memory

11. Nahum … our God reigns! he is ‘slow to anger’ (3)
he doesn’t blow a fuse
his anger reflects his holiness
he is long-suffering and patient
God cannot ignore sin
it is retribution, not retaliation

12. Nahum … our God reigns!
God’s jealousy has two ingredients – the warmth of his love and the fire of his wrath.

13. Nahum … our God reigns! he is ‘great in power’ (3)
he is the omnipotent God
God is bigger than all our enemies
they are grasshoppers, he is God
the Lord does what he wants to do
and … he does it when he chooses

14. Nahum … our God reigns! refers to the great, global flood (3)
God controls the forces of nature
God never backtracks on his word
God is the greatest warrior of all
nothing rivals his eternal power

15. Nahum … our God reigns! they didn’t walk on water (4)
refers to the Red Sea crossing
God rolled back the waters …
a cameo of the Christian life
we need to ‘move on’ in faith

16. Nahum … our God reigns! natural resources are hit hard (4b)
God alone can be trusted
he can make mountains shake (5)
men are scared stiff when he moves
his wrath is like molten lava
when God hits a man, he’s out cold

17. Nahum … our God reigns! an oasis of peace (7)
the uniqueness of God – he is good
he’s a shelter in the time of storm
find safety, security, and salvation
he ‘cares for those who trust in him’
we have nothing to worry about

18. Nahum … our God reigns! God is against his enemies (8)
on God’s clock, their time is up
resistance to God is futile (9-10)
one killer punch and Assyria is gone
like stubble burned in a prairie fire

19. Nahum … our God reigns! one ruthless person mentioned (11)
he thinks he can outwit the Lord
refers to Ashurbanipal ( BC)
his dynasty will end (14)
his little gods are all destroyed
God is seen as the gravedigger

20. Nahum … our God reigns! ‘this is what the Lord says’ (12)
numbers don’t frighten the Lord
God is on the side of the underdog
God uses unbelievers to fulfil his plan
there is relief for God’s people
God wants us to enjoy liberty

21. Nahum … our God reigns! 1:15 – echo of Isaiah 52/Romans 10
need to look to the hills for our help
the courier ‘proclaims peace’
it’s a reason for celebration
it’s time for making a commitment
God deals with all our enemies

22. Nahum … our God reigns!
take-home message …
our God is invincible!