The Sanctifying Benefits of Justice
The Sovereign Conqueror of the Plunderers
Imagine a city in the seventh century so large, secure, great, and fortified that it even had a zoo. It featured an engineering marvel—a hydraulic irrigation system feeding its beautiful gardens—and it was a superpower in the known world. That was Nineveh. Nineveh had a zoo, a hydraulic irrigation system, beautiful gardens, fortified walls, and was a huge superpower. Nahum 1:12 describes it at the height of its power: full of strength and numerous. The city was ginormous—it would take three days to cross—and housed over 120,000 people.
The prophecy of Nahum is against Nineveh's impending destruction, but it is for God's people. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, correction, reproof, and training in righteousness, equipping us for every good work. Last week, we saw the surprise blessing of justice in this judgment text. God judges Nineveh not out of jealousy like earthly kings, but with justice for their crimes and atrocities. God is a God of vengeance in attribute but acts as the once-avenging God, avenging his honor, reputation, holiness, and glory.
Their justice is well-earned. But Nahum's prophecy benefits our sanctification. To see the sanctifying benefit of justice, we look at three things.
Assyria is at the height of its glory when this prophecy comes—no decline, civil wars, or bankruptcy. God picks them at their empirical peak. Nahum 1:14 switches to the singular: "The Lord has given a command concerning you." This likely refers to King Ashurbanipal, a prideful king who inscribed curses on a building in Nineveh, invoking his gods to judge anyone erasing his name.
Nahum 1:14: "No more shall your name be perpetuated. From the house of your gods I will cut off the carved image and the metal image. I will make your grave, for you are worthless."
God directly antagonizes Ashurbanipal's legacy, gods, and pride, calling him worthless. Like Isaiah 10:12:
"When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes."
God takes on kings, nations, and idols—and wins. Why destroy lifeless idols? It's not the idols themselves, but what they represent: what the worshipper treasures above God. Destroying the idol devastates the worshipper.
Idols aren't just statues. The Hebrew word for idol, maskil, means "idol" or "imagination." Anything not God can become what we treasure and devote ourselves to. We aren't above Old Testament sins. Revelation warns churches:
Revelation 2:4: "I have this against you."
Revelation 2:14: "I have a few things against you."
Revelation 2:20: "I have this against you."
Revelation 3:3: "If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you."
God judges Assyria by attacking what they value most, stinging their psyche. Verses 3–6 reverse their fortunes: they who siege others now panic. Their zoo (lions' den) is destroyed—Assyrians saw themselves as lions, secure at the top. Their irrigation systems, like a pool, dry up. God targets their pride, announcing judgment as already accomplished.
The Sovereign Comforter of the Plundered
God's justice comforts believers: his wrath was poured on Christ, so we face discipline but not vengeful punishment.
Historically, Nineveh fell in 612 BC, ending Assyrian oppression. The northern kingdom fell to Assyria in 722 BC; Judah was a vassal. Nahum brought immediate relief. But it extends further. Nahum 1:12–13: God breaks Assyria's yoke off his people—yet Assyria's rise was God's decree (Isaiah 10 calls Assyria the rod of his anger).
Nahum 1:12: "Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more."
God afflicts his people for their good, as Hezekiah says:
Isaiah 38:17: "Behold, it was for my welfare that I had been afflicted; but in love you have delivered my soul from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back."
Affliction brings shalom—completeness. Nahum 1:15: God publishes shalom. John Calvin explains affliction trains us to despise the present and aspire to the future, shaking our love of this world.
Nahum 1:11 mentions a "worthless counselor" (belial); 1:15 says the worthless will pass through no more. Compare 2 Corinthians 6:14:
"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? ... What accord has Christ with Belial? ... What agreement has the temple of God with idols? ... Come out from their midst and be separate from them ... Then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty."
2 Corinthians 7:1: "Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." Judgment texts instill fear of the Lord, balancing it with his love to avoid legalism or antinomianism.
Nahum calls for renewed feasts (celebration) and vows (consecration)—separation from worthless things. What pulls your attention from the God who judged Assyria?
The Sovereign Convictor Against Pride
God especially judges Assyria's pride. Verse 2:
Nahum 2:2: "For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob as the majesty of Israel, for plunderers have plundered them and ruined their branches."
The Hebrew allows "rebuking the pride" (as the Greek translates). God restores Jacob by rebuking their pride—through judging Assyria for the same sin. Watching judgment for your sin chases pride away.
Historically, Israel couldn't read Nahum proudly. Today, beholding Christ bearing wrath for our sins sanctifies us (1 Corinthians 10:11). Do you see Christ crucified bearing your specific sins—treated as the prideful sinner, liar, etc.? Repentance means seeing Christ judged as if he committed your sins.
Galatians 3:1: "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified."
Gospel preaching portrays Christ crucified bearing our sins.
Closing Questions
- Does it make you uncomfortable to think of Christ treated with your sins?
- Does it motivate you to change?
- Does it motivate you to worship God?
- If living with God was all you had, would you be satisfied?
